The Capital Line South Extension project is ready for procurement and would extend the LRT another 4.5 kilometres from Century Park to the Heritage Valley Park and Ride at Ellerslie Road with a new station at Twin Brooks. Executive committee will consider the project's budget, an estimated $1.025 billion (which will require city council approval), at its meeting on June 14. The project has committed funding of $392 million and $300 million from the federal and provincial governments, respectively. The City of Edmonton would contribute the remaining $333 million.
A separate report provides an update on the $5.8 billion worth of LRT expansion projects underway, including Valley Line Southeast, Valley Line West, and the Metro Line extension from NAIT to Blatchford.
Here's what else is coming up at city council this week:
- To date, the Program and Service Review (PSR) project has completed 35 of 73 service reviews, with 87 of 185 recommendations implemented, and an estimated $30 million in cost avoidance and net savings identified. Administration said the PSRs have "created a culture of self-assessment and continuous improvement" at the City of Edmonton.
- If approved, the Facilities Off-Site Levies Bylaw would take effect on Jan. 1, 2022 and would impose a tax subdivisions in developing areas to help pay for the construction of fire halls. Administration expects to collect 40-45% of the estimated $185 million cost to build 12 new fire halls through the program.
- Executive committee will receive the 2020 annual reports and audited financial statements for all 13 Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) on June 14.
- The developers of the proposed A1 Athletic Facility at 16420 26 Street NW, a location "not identified as a priority location for activation in The City Plan," are requesting $5-7 million from the City of Edmonton to help pay for road improvements and sanitary servicing. The project would feature outdoor fields and two inflatable domes covering several indoor fields.
- Two reports from the Edmonton Transit Service Advisory Board (ETSAB), on inclusive transit and transit use by vulnerable populations, include a number of recommendations such as implementing BIPOC-friendly human resources practices which could mean hiring a director of anti-racism and inclusion, de-escalating fare enforcement, and launching a training course for community volunteers to help vulnerable populations become fully-versed in the use of ETS services.
- An audit of five programs to support the City of Edmonton's environmental strategies - the Building Energy Retrofit Accelerator, Home Energy Retrofit Accelerator, Community Solar Program, Electric Vehicle Charger and E-Bike Program, and the Green Building Grant Program - found they are "performing as intended" with funding that is "secure and adequate to satisfy program demand."
- The audit committee will receive an update on the auditor's dashboard which shows that of 48 outstanding recommendations as of May 27, 12 are overdue. Since the last report on March 29, administration has closed six recommendations.
Meetings are streamed live on city council's YouTube channel.
Photo: Century Park Station in 2010 shortly before the South LRT extension opened. (City of Edmonton/Flickr)