This map is made up. I'm sure you've noticed. Made up probably isn't the best way to put it. Let's say it's currently just a dream. It's a map of Future Edmonton, stolen (with thanks) from a powerpoint presentation by the City of Edmonton.
I don't know if it's just me, but I can't stop thinking of Edmonton compared to the infrastructural juggernauts from around the world; the cities where, despite their extreme sprawl, one can get absolutely anywhere with just a transit pass. (Key word: Transit Pass.) Sure we can get anywhere in Edmonton, just as long as we own a vehicle. In the best and brightest cities in the world, its faster to take transit than your own vehicle.
I'm guessing a lot of your are examining the above picture, trying to figure out which of these hypothetical stops is nearest your home. In most cases, there's going to be a stop nearby. Now imagine you are a still a student (circa...2050?) waking up for school in the morning, walking (or bussing) the short distance between your house and the brand new LRT station nearby, only having to take a single train to University. No traffic, no noise, just pure locomotive paradise.
It sounds nice, doesn't it?
Despite all of the wonderful anecdotal maps we've been provided in class, they all focus on the small details of everyday urban life. I love these. I really do (I'm even warming up to Hitotoki). However, I think it's just a product of my futurist personality that I can only see Edmonton for what it could be: a massive, dense, smart city that prides itself on being able to get wherever you want in a flash and do whatever you want with relative ease.
(For those whose interest I've piqued, the aforementioned presentation as well as this website is chock full of information pertaining to LRT plans for the future, including concept drawings of stations throughout the city.)
After reading your post I poked around the LRT planning pages and presentations, which was all very interesting. However, the presentations inspired me to dig and see if there really is an LRT station already built and waiting at WEM. Sadly, there is no such phantom station—BUT, there is an opening for a side-loading station between churchill and stadium stations underneath the Remand Center. It is this big hole in the side of the LRT tunnel, and is supposedly used sometimes to transport fugitives from the Center tot he Law courts. I just thought I'd share some of what I found.
ReplyDelete