OT: One More Off Topic Off Season Thread

[joestevens29]

Does the Edmonton's Valley Line Southeast LRT need crossing arms?

The design of the Valley Line Southeast LRT is being questioned by riders and city councillors.

edmonton.ctvnews.ca

I'm completely shocked

The whole "people will need to learn to follow the rules when they drive" was the funniest thing I ever heard when they originally said they weren't going to have crossing arms. Obviously the people that said that never drove Edmonton roads before

Yet another project the City elected to save money that will eventually cost us a pile more because of inflation and it not exactly being easier to add after the fact.

 

[K1984]

Does the Edmonton's Valley Line Southeast LRT need crossing arms?

The design of the Valley Line Southeast LRT is being questioned by riders and city councillors.

edmonton.ctvnews.ca

I'm completely shocked

The whole "people will need to learn to follow the rules when they drive" was the funniest thing I ever heard when they originally said they weren't going to have crossing arms. Obviously the people that said that never drove Edmonton roads before

Yet another project the City elected to save money that will eventually cost us a pile more because of inflation and it not exactly being easier to add after the fact.

And I'm sure it will take a 5 year feasibility study along with a "pilot" of the new crossings prior to just doing the obvious.

I'm curious to see what the LRT looks like when it's all finished. Will it continue to be a dystopian hell hole like it is now that I wouldn't allow any family or friends to ride in good conscience, or will it actually be cleaned up and become a convenient, safe means of transportation?

Who am I kidding, we all know it's going to end up being the former, not the latter. I know a few people that live close to new stations and I know a few people that have businesses close to the new stations, all of them are dreading when it's operational. Only in this City could you take something that would conceivably be very lucrative/convenient for these people and turn it into something they don't want for no reason other than they have seemingly zero interest in improving safety on the LRT.

 

[joestevens29]

And I'm sure it will take a 5 year feasibility study along with a "pilot" of the new crossings prior to just doing the obvious.

I'm curious to see what the LRT looks like when it's all finished. Will it continue to be a dystopian hell hole like it is now that I wouldn't allow any family or friends to ride in good conscience, or will it actually be cleaned up and become a convenient, safe means of transportation?

Who am I kidding, we all know it's going to end up being the former, not the latter. I know a few people that live close to new stations and I know a few people that have businesses close to the new stations, all of them are dreading when it's operational. Only in this City could you take something that would conceivably be very lucrative/convenient for these people and turn it into something they don't want for no reason other than they have seemingly zero interest in improving safety on the LRT.

Two things I was told many years ago.

Don't live close to the LRT/Bus stations and move out when a bottle depot opens up near you.


The bus/lrt situation could be safe, but there is no money for it.

The City is finally starting to realize(talk about) being as spread out as we are isn't feasible. Like shocking. We couldn't keep up with services for years, but we think continuing to build on the outskirts and pushing the limits is going to make things better?

There were complaints 2-3 years ago how the city has issues removing snow in cul de sacs, but they continue to allow developers to build new communities with these restrictions.

City maintenance is complaining to the neighbourhood renewal division that they have to double their staff because of how they changed these remove and replace roads/sidewalks programs into beautification programs.

Seems like at least these morons can identify problems, but they don't do anything to fix them and continue to allow the stupidity. Although I did hear the Neighbourhood renewal program is going to be a lot less next year as they sit down and figure out how to make things more feasible. I mean simple solution is remove the roads, sidewalks and underground and replace it with similar specs. Not remove and replace it with total new designs that make an area look nicer, but costs homeowners and taxpayers money and headaches.

Edit: On a side note if you are looking to buy a house in a neighbourhood that has recently or is currently under renovation please check into what the previous owner did with regards to payment. If it's been deferred onto the taxes you should lowball the homeowner so you don't get stuck paying higher taxes.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Two things I was told many years ago.

Don't live close to the LRT/Bus stations and move out when a bottle depot opens up near you.


The bus/lrt situation could be safe, but there is no money for it.

The City is finally starting to realize(talk about) being as spread out as we are isn't feasible. Like shocking. We couldn't keep up with services for years, but we think continuing to build on the outskirts and pushing the limits is going to make things better?

There were complaints 2-3 years ago how the city has issues removing snow in cul de sacs, but they continue to allow developers to build new communities with these restrictions.

City maintenance is complaining to the neighbourhood renewal division that they have to double their staff because of how they changed these remove and replace roads/sidewalks programs into beautification programs.

Seems like at least these morons can identify problems, but they don't do anything to fix them and continue to allow the stupidity. Although I did hear the Neighbourhood renewal program is going to be a lot less next year as they sit down and figure out how to make things more feasible. I mean simple solution is remove the roads, sidewalks and underground and replace it with similar specs. Not remove and replace it with total new designs that make an area look nicer, but costs homeowners and taxpayers money and headaches.

Edit: On a side note if you are looking to buy a house in a neighbourhood that has recently or is currently under renovation please check into what the previous owner did with regards to payment. If it's been deferred onto the taxes you should lowball the homeowner so you don't get stuck paying higher taxes.

Good luck lowballing an owner in this sellers market. Agreed with some of the other comments.

Busses and LRT for all time used to be safe here. But of course once they permitted drug users and homeless to just sleep on and ride all day and occupy the transit stations the whole system turned to shit. But it was of course the lack of standing up to this that lead to the demise. Was always going to be a slippery slope until all the public infrastructure got "occupied".

Anybody look at the DT funicular lately? Anybody sense said that was a bad idea and bad location. You don't even want to go near that on a lot of days now even when it is in operation and not vandalized and windows knocked out etc.

 

[K1984]

Good luck lowballing an owner in this sellers market. Agreed with some of the other comments.

Busses and LRT for all time used to be safe here. But of course once they permitted drug users and homeless to just sleep on and ride all day and occupy the transit stations the whole system turned to shit. But it was of course the lack of standing up to this that lead to the demise. Was always going to be a slippery slope until all the public infrastructure got "occupied".

Anybody look at the DT funicular lately? Anybody sense said that was a bad idea and bad location. You don't even want to go near that on a lot of days now even when it is in operation and not vandalized and windows knocked out etc.

When I lived downtown from about 2010-2020 I used to take LRT all the time and it was fine. The City Centre/Churchill stations were always a little sketchy, but nothing overwhelming or out of the norm for any transit station in a city centre. Now it's totally f***ed. Don't know if there is any other way to describe it.

This column is timely. The Japan comparisons are a bit grating due to the cultural and societal differences, but a more heavy handed approach to petty crime is pretty much the one and only answer to getting this under control. An answer that the Federal government and City counsel have no interest in whatsoever. It could be Night of the Living Dead out there and they would still shrug their shoulders and pretend harm reduction will make it all work.

Josh Dehaas: Japan convinced me Canadians don’t need to accept urban disorder

 

[timekeep]

Good luck lowballing an owner in this sellers market. Agreed with some of the other comments.

Busses and LRT for all time used to be safe here. But of course once they permitted drug users and homeless to just sleep on and ride all day and occupy the transit stations the whole system turned to shit. But it was of course the lack of standing up to this that lead to the demise. Was always going to be a slippery slope until all the public infrastructure got "occupied".

Anybody look at the DT funicular lately? Anybody sense said that was a bad idea and bad location. You don't even want to go near that on a lot of days now even when it is in operation and not vandalized and windows knocked out etc.

Is the funicular working presently?

 

[joestevens29]

Is the funicular working presently?

It didn’t collapsed into river yet?

 

[timekeep]

It didn’t collapsed into river yet?

Only go downtown for games it seems like, the last time was for Taste of Edmonton but we didn't go by it. Or I didn't notice if it was working.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Is the funicular working presently?

I'd need an hour by hour report to answer that. Also define working beyond it often being used as a place to smoke crack and go for rides to score more.

What a friggen waste of money. The whole area there is sketchy on every level of the development. Sometimes they do a sweep through there and tell some people to beat it.

It was closed most of August and in June. Theres half a chance its closed if you go. Was supposed to be back open August 30th but in COE time frames that means open by spring. haha

 

[timekeep]

I'd need an hour by hour report to answer that. Also define working beyond it often being used as a place to smoke crack and go for rides to score more.

What a friggen waste of money. The whole area there is sketchy on every level of the development. Sometimes they do a sweep through there and tell some people to beat it.

It was closed most of August and in June. Theres half a chance its closed if you go. Was supposed to be back open August 30th but in COE time frames that means open by spring. haha

How much been spent on that piece of art? Because it's not much more than that.

 

[Drivesaitl]

How much been spent on that piece of art? Because it's not much more than that.

Original cost I believe is 24M but the operational costs servicing the many breakdowns and emergency alerts on the line adds to that. Of course the city doesn't tell us how much that is costing. Or replacing all the windows the many times they've been shattered.

 

[timekeep]

Original cost I believe is 24M but the operational costs servicing the many breakdowns and emergency alerts on the line adds to that. Of course the city doesn't tell us how much that is costing. Or replacing all the windows the many times they've been shattered.

Ouch

 

[brentashton]

Do they call it the Stove Top Stauffer. A heated roof rack? SMH.

'It's a big pizza': Edmonton pizzeria selling pie that can feed up to 60 people

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Does the Edmonton's Valley Line Southeast LRT need crossing arms?

The design of the Valley Line Southeast LRT is being questioned by riders and city councillors.

edmonton.ctvnews.ca

I'm completely shocked

The whole "people will need to learn to follow the rules when they drive" was the funniest thing I ever heard when they originally said they weren't going to have crossing arms. Obviously the people that said that never drove Edmonton roads before

Yet another project the City elected to save money that will eventually cost us a pile more because of inflation and it not exactly being easier to add after the fact.

The entire LRT is a giant waste of money fuelled by an increasingly activist city council. Pretty soon they will ban cars altogether.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1839683370000757209

 

[Stoneman89]

This guy could add some toughness to any lineup.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1837516546899313091

Until the guy comes back with a hand gun to settle the score

 

[oobga]

 

[Stoneman89]

Edmonton road construction planning at it's finest

 

[bellagiobob]

Edmonton road construction planning at it's finest

View attachment 911388

Can hardly wait for the inevitable snowfall, and all the shocked look form the construction companies that are surprised that they didn't have more time to complete their projects, and we have to drive around barriers for the entire winter where no work is done.

 

[K1984]

Can hardly wait for the inevitable snowfall, and all the shocked look form the construction companies that are surprised that they didn't have more time to complete their projects, and we have to drive around barriers for the entire winter where no work is done.

I *think* it was two years ago (the length of this project is causing the years to blend together), but the intersection of Stony Plain Road and 142nd got ripped up right about this time of year, just before snowfall. Couldn't have been a decision more "City of Edmonton" than that. Needlessly tear up and constrict a major intersection juuuuuust before the snow flies to really f*** things up. Naturally, very little to no work whatsoever took place in the following 6 months after.

 

[Stoneman89]

Can hardly wait for the inevitable snowfall, and all the shocked look form the construction companies that are surprised that they didn't have more time to complete their projects, and we have to drive around barriers for the entire winter where no work is done.

Have you ever noticed that city road construction crews will take weekends and holidays off during perfectly good days the summer, but then work feverishly into the night and beyond once October arrives?

 

[bellagiobob]

Have you ever noticed that city road construction crews will take weekends and holidays off during perfectly good days the summer, but then work feverishly into the night and beyond once October arrives?

Used to be when you worked in construction that you busted your ass in the summer, made a ton of money, and then screwed off somewhere warm for a few months during the winter.

 

[yukoner88]

I'm sure someone will find it mind blowing

 

[Fourier]

I *think* it was two years ago (the length of this project is causing the years to blend together), but the intersection of Stony Plain Road and 142nd got ripped up right about this time of year, just before snowfall. Couldn't have been a decision more "City of Edmonton" than that. Needlessly tear up and constrict a major intersection juuuuuust before the snow flies to really f*** things up. Naturally, very little to no work whatsoever took place in the following 6 months after.

Edmonton is not the only city that does this I am afraid. I think it is just a fact of life with urban planning. NO common sense when it comes to making big decisions.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Edmonton is not the only city that does this I am afraid. I think it is just a fact of life with urban planning. NO common sense when it comes to making big decisions.

The lack of common sense is a prerequisite when it comes to serving on Edmontons city council and planning commissions however.