City councillors identified a host of transit projects they hope will qualify for provincial dollars, including a new south park and ride, a smart card fare system and an LRT connection to the heart of the city.
Councillors voted unanimously to accept a list of projects that will now be forwarded to the Capital Region Board (CRB) and then onward to the provincial government as part of the province's Green Trip grant program for transit projects.
The 10 possible projects are a wish list for the city with no money currently budgeted and no final decisions made. The top priority is a proposed $30-million park and ride south of Anthony Henday Drive near Campbell Road.
The proposed facility would include 1,750 parking stalls and allow 18 buses to arrive and turn around at any one time. It would be a sizeable increase from the current Village Landing park and ride, which accommodates only 500 parking spots.
The CRB is collecting proposals from across the region and will make recommendations to the province about projects the board feels deserve funding.
If St. Albert is successful, the province would cover two-thirds of project costs, which would still leave the city with a $10-million bill.
Mayor Nolan Crouse said finding a sum that large will be a challenge, but the city is taking it one step at a time.
"We are not sure. We haven't had that discussion. It is going to have to either come from reallocating our grant money or re-prioritizing what we do."
Crouse said the city's park and ride proposal should receive broad support at the CRB because so many people from outside the city would use the facility.
"It is going to be supported by Edmonton, St. Albert, Sturgeon County, Legal, Morinville so there are going to be lots of positive notions about that park and ride."
Those municipalities might also be asked to participate in the facility, but it is far too early to consider that, he said.
Borrowed land
The city is proposing to build the park and ride on provincially owned land in the transportation utility corridor.
The land is in Edmonton on the south side of the former Newman College site, directly off Campbell Road.
The City of Edmonton has projected that the northwest LRT project will terminate in that area, and the park and ride could eventually become the station.
Crouse said he is unsure if the province will release the land once the ring road opens, but he is hopeful.
"I would expect that with it being provincial owned land and trying to encourage park and ride the province would be willing to work with us on this one."
LRT Project
City administration initially proposed seven projects for possible funding, including a park and ride on the northern edge of the city, as well as the smart card system and a satellite garage for transit buses.
Coun. Len Bracko, proposed and received unanimous support to add three more projects, all related to bringing the LRT to downtown St. Albert.
Bracko proposed adding a functional alignment study at a cost of $3 million, a detailed design at a cost of $15 million and LRT line construction at $150 million.
Under the Green Trip formula the city would be responsible for one third of those costs.
Given that funding could become available it makes sense to show the province what it could cost, he said. He said he would like to see the planning work completed by 2013, so St. Albert can present a strong case for the project.
"We are going to be competing with Sherwood Park for LRT and perhaps other municipalities," he said. "If you are shovel ready you get the dollars and if you aren't they go somewhere else."
He said it would be up to the city council of the day, as well as residents and business to actually approve such a huge project, but it makes sense to demonstrate the city is considering it.
The full list of regional projects including proposals from other municipalities will go to the CRB on Sept. 9.
