ready to engage! L A C K O F T R A N S P A R E N C Y | I N C - - PDF document

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engage! ready to

Please walk through to review the information boards and locate your community table to discover the impact that this project could have on you and your quality of life. Welcome to the SW Transitway & Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Community Information Forum This Event is for You!

Tonight's event is sponsored by your neighbours through

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What is ready to engage!? To give a voice to those who have had none to date. Our mandate We are a group of concerned citizens, spanning over 14 SW Calgary communities, who have joined together to give SW Calgarians a voice on The City’s SW Transitway & Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. We are in support of well-planned, efficient and cost-effective public transit improvements for all Calgarians.

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The SW Transitway and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is in excess

• f $40 million public transit project that was approved by

Council in February 2011 based on a flawed preliminary functional planning study and deficient public engagement process. The project had been dormant for almost five (5) years with NO known public consultation during that time. The new bus rapid transit service would extend from Woodbine to the downtown core and includes 28 "Light Rail Transit (LRT)-style" platforms along the route, many of which will be constructed in community parks and green spaces. $20 million will be spent on 3.3 kilometres dedicated bus lanes alone. $5.4 million per year operating cost. (coming from property taxes) The budget does not include significant items such as relocating the high pressure gas line that runs under the 14th street right of way. Budget approved by City Council is in 2010 dollars.

What is the SW Transitway and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)?

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The numbers just don’t work!

The city is estimating 12 million riders per year on the SW Transitway & BRT.

• Even if buses ran at 100% capacity, 260 working days,

15 hours each working day, the maximum number of workday riders would be 4.7 million riders per year (this number is 7.3 million riders less than what the City is estimating).

• Assuming buses ran at 100% capacity, 365 days a

year, 18 hours per day, the average frequency of a northbound & southbound bus passing through each intersection would be every 1 minute! Existing transit service on this route already exceeds demand.

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No public transit commuter time savings for $40 million investment

50-55 minute commute estimated from Woodbine to downtown (same as now). That’s an average of 26 km/hr or less. Only 3km of bus-only lanes of out a total 22km route. Buses will sit in gridlocked traffic at choke points at:

• 14 Street Flyover onto Glenmore Trail
• Crowchild Trail southbound near Glenmore Trail
• On Glenmore Trail between 14 Street and Crowchild

Trail

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Bad Plan

• Project based on 2010 incomplete and inaccurate

engineering study.

• Project based on 2010 dollars (passed 5 years ago by

City Council) with a capital budget that does not include pedestrian overpasses, 90th Avenue underpass and many

• ther critical project needs.
• Serious safety and health concerns for all Calgarians.
• Does not take into account the design of the recently

approved Southwest (SW) Ringroad.

• Does not take into account the additional transit-capacity

resulting from 4-car LRT’s.

• Restricted access to Rockyview Hospital for patients,

visitors and staff.

• NO solution at Glenmore flyover.
• Increased traffic congestion along 14 Street, Glenmore

Trail, Southland Drive, 24 Street & 90 Avenue.

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City planning to build two lanes over high pressure gas pipeline contrary to their own engineering study's recommendations. Restricted access to Rockyview Hospital. No environmental impact studies will be completed. Narrower lanes on 14th Street and Glenmore Trail. Concrete barriers will divide two dedicated bus lanes and vehicular traffic. No snow clearing solution has been identified for bus-only lanes. Dangerous manoeuvres of articulated buses crossing over 3-lanes of traffic.

Serious Safety Concerns

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Dangerous Narrow Lanes & Soundwall to Soundwall Pavement

What council approved February 7, 2011

Note the green space, trees, and multi-user pathway

What City Administration is planning to go ahead with WITHOUT Council approval and in contravention to The City's 'Complete Streets' Policy

Note no green space, no trees and no multi-user pathway – just wall to wall pavement

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Impacts on Braeside

• Bus inlay/loop located in residential area where large articulated

buses will enter community before heading north into the bus-only lanes along 14th Street.

• Underpass at 90th Avenue and 14 Street not funded.
• New traffic lights at Bradbury Drive & Southland Drive with bus

priority signalling.

• Increase of traffic and parking from outside of community.
• No provision for Park n' Ride activity which WILL occur.
• Increase of air emissions and noise pollution from large articulated

buses.

• Difficulty getting into and out of the community.
• The project will be the catalyst for high density housing development

in and around transit hubs.

• 4 years of construction congestion.
• Pedestrian safety issues.
• Loss of green spaces.

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• Greatly increased travel time along 14th Street for all

vehicles, before and after 4 years of construction.

• Increase of traffic from outside of community.
• More difficulty getting into and out of the

community.

• Pedestrian safety issues.
• Commuter safety concerns along SW Transitway

route.

Impacts on Canyon Meadows

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• Heavy bus traffic on 24th Street and on Southland

Drive causing traffic congestion.

• No provision for Park n' Ride activity which WILL
• ccur.
• Increase of traffic from outside of community.
• Increase of noise pollution and air emissions from

large articulated buses.

• Difficulty getting into and out of the community,

especially at intersections where buses will have a priority.

• Unfunded underpass planned at 90th Avenue &

14th Street.

• Pedestrian safety issues.
• High density Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)

in proximity to transit station will occur.

Impacts on Cedarbrae

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• No solution for Glenmore causeway causing greater

traffic congestion.

• 14th Street widened on east side by two lanes - green

berm eliminated & asphalt from soundwall to soundwall across 14th Street.

• Safety and security issues with new lanes being

constructed over high pressure gas line and other critical utilities.

• Loss of merge lanes onto 14th Street from 75th

Avenue, Heritage Drive and 90th Avenue.

• Increased air emissions and noise pollution from large

articulated buses (no environmental studies).

• Vibration impacts for residences.
• 4 years of construction.
• Pedestrian safety issues crossing 8-lanes of traffic at

75th & Heritage Drive.

• LRT-style platform to be built on green space.
• Loss of trees.
• High density Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) in

proximity transit stations will occur.

Impacts on Chinook Park, Kelvin Grove, Eagle Ridge

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• Pedestrian safety issues heading west across 14th

Street (no budget dollars allocated towards building pedestrian bridges).

• Loss of green space on the east side of 14 Street.
• Increase of air emissions and noise pollution from large

articulated buses.

• Vibration impacts for residences.
• Loss of access to Glenmore Landing from 14 Street.
• Difficulty getting into and out of the community.
• No solution for Glenmore Causeway bottleneck.
• Increase of cut through traffic and on street parking

from outside of community because of several years of construction.

• High density Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) in

proximity to transit stations will occur.

Impacts on Haysboro

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• More challenges exiting and entering community

with only one point of entry/exit.

• Dangerous 3 lane cross over by buses South of

50th Ave on Crowchild Trail.

• Loss of green space and toboggan hill.
• Proposed large articulated buses travelling

through community every 2 minutes and turning

• ff of Crowchild Trail to new bus merge lanes.
• Increase of traffic from outside community -

vehicles cutting through to avoid traffic congestion on other main arteries.

• Increased traffic congestion on Glenmore Trail.
• New LRT-style bus terminal to be built in

community is being considered.

• If a transit terminal is introduced, this opens up

the possibility of Transit Oriented Developments (TOD) and the possibility of high density developement within 600m of the transit hub.

Impacts on Lakeview

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• More challenges exiting and entering community.
• Massive traffic congestion along Crowchild Trail

and Glenmore Trail.

• Proposed large articulated buses travelling

adjacent to community every 2 minutes and turning off of Crowchild Trail to new bus merge lanes.

• Loss of green space and trees.
• Increased air and noise pollution from large

articulated buses.

• Increased safety concerns for commuters with

the introduction of narrower lanes on Glenmore Trail.

Impacts on North Glenmore Park

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• Unfunded underpass planned at 90th Avenue & 14th

Street.

• Traffic turning right onto 90 Avenue from 14 Street

south will have new traffic lights with bus priority signalling.

• Increase of traffic and parking throughout community

as transit riders park cars in community to take BRT into downtown core.

• No provision for Park n' Ride activity which WILL
• ccur.
• Increase of noise pollution and air emissions from

large articulated buses.

• 4 years of construction.
• Difficulty getting into and out of the community.
• Redevelopment of Glenmore Landing with Transit

Oriented Development (TOD) and the potential for high density developments.

• Loss of green space (5.48 acres on east and south

sides of Glenmore Landing).

Impacts on Oakridge

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• Increase of traffic through community as transit riders

park cars in community to take Bus Rapid Transit into downtown core.

• Increase of air emissions and noise pollution from large

articulated buses running adjacent to community.

• Unfunded underpass at 90th Avenue & 14th Street.
• Traffic turning right onto 90 Avenue from 14 Street South

will have new traffic lights with bus priority signalling.

• Loss of right hand turn onto southbound 14th Street at

75th Avenue, Heritage Drive and 90th Avenue.

• Redevelopment of Glenmore Landing with Transit

Oriented Development (TOD) and the potential construction of high density developments.

• Several years of construction on 14th Street and along

Southland Drive.

• Dedicated bus lanes divided from cars by concrete

barriers.

• Vibration impacts on residences.
• Difficulty getting into and out of the community.

Impacts on Palliser, Pumphill and Bayview

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• 24th Street & Woodpark Boulevard with eventual

parking expansion into green spaces.

• No provision for Park n' Ride activity which will occur.
• Increase of traffic and parking from outside

community.

• Loss of green spaces and parks.
• Transit terminal station and facilities developed at

Woodbine Park.

• Several years of construction congestion along 24th &

14 Street.

• Transit Oriented Development (TOD) and the

construction of high-density development will occur.

• Large number of articulated buses turning around in

neighbourhood.

• Buses holding for return trip will sit idling next to park.
• Children and others will be subjected to increased

levels of air pollution.

Impacts Woodlands & Woodbine

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Impacts Woodlands & Woodbine

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Source: 2011 Functional Planning Study (approved by City Council)

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Lack of Accountability & Public Engagement

City Project Team is NOT required to report back to City Administration or City Council at any point of the project before it is constructed. No known public engagement over the past 5 years with affected residents and stakeholders. The City has not shared 2015 Functional Planning Study despite repeated requests.

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Transit Oriented Development tied to Transit Stations

Redevelopment of Glenmore Landing into proposed high density commercial and non-market housing. "The City desires comprehensive transit-oriented development in proximity to transit stations." Development of 5.48 acres of green space (City "surplus" lands) to the south and east of Glenmore Landing.

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Environmental Impacts

• Increased air emission, noise and light pollution.
• No environmental impact study will be completed.
• Loss of green spaces and trees.
• Wall to wall pavement on sections of 14th Street

SW - existing green spaces/berms will disappear.

• More pavement along 14 Street will increase the

co-efficient of runoff and over tax the existing stormwater system.

• Diesel buses are heavy polluters.
• Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses pose

concerns regarding Green House Gas (GHG)

• emissions. Natural Gas Methane (CH4) is 25 times

worse as a Green House Gas than Carbon Dioxide (CO2).

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• Four lanes of traffic will bottleneck into 2 lanes
• ver Glenmore Flyover causing traffic greater

traffic congestion.

• Glenmore Flyover has been at capacity for

years.

• Increased risk for car accidents with narrowed

lanes and more traffic.

• Dangerous safety concerns with shoulder lanes

removed - nowhere for cars to safely move to side when car stalls or accidents occur.

No Solution for Glenmore Causeway

L A C K O F T R A N S P A R E N C Y | I N C R E A S E D T R A F F I C | B A D I D E A

Council policies and bylaws breached with this project

• engage! Policy (City of Calgary's public engagement policy).
• Complete Streets Policy (14 Street streetscape).
• Pavement from sound barrier to sound barrier.
• No access for pedestrians/cyclists.
• Lanes on skeletal roads (14 Street) must be 3.7m wide.
• Triple Bottom Line Policy (environmental, social and economic

considerations not completed).

• City Bylaws and policies relating to trees and shrubs (trees and

shrubs will be eliminated).

• Vibration & Noise Attenuation Policies/Guidelines (studies not

completed).

• Plain Language Policy (City's extensive use of acronyms and

unclear/misleading language).

• Project does not align with Calgary Transportation Plan.
• Projects design does not align with Part 1 & 2 of

RouteAhead Plan (Calgary Transit).

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Write your Councillor, the Mayor, City Administration and Community Association President Sign the petition Volunteer Stay informed Share information with your neighbours Donate - Donations are being accepted to pay for costs such as legal and engineering advice, advertising, printing and events such as this evening’s. Please make your cheques payable to “ready to engage!”

What can I do to help?

L A C K O F T R A N S P A R E N C Y | I N C R E A S E D T R A F F I C | B A D I D E A

• City council only approved the “preliminary design”

phase of the Southwest Transitway within the 2015-2018 budget cycle but City Administration is already in the “detailed design”phase.

• The City has not posted 2015 Functional Planning

Study or updated capital budget on the project website despite the fact that it was completed in August 2015

• The City, Councillor Pincott and Councillor

Colley-Urquhart have not responded to repeated requests for project information or provided answers to serious project concerns by residents

Lack of Transparency by The City & Ward Councillor Pincott and Councillor Colley-Urquhart

L A C K O F T R A N S P A R E N C Y | I N C R E A S E D T R A F F I C | B A D I D E A

Source: Action Plan 2015-2018

• More challenges exiting and entering community with

increase traffic congestion.

• Restricted access to Rockyview Hospital for patients

and visitors.

• Several years of construction on Glenmore Trail and

14 Street.

• Narrowing of lanes and removal of shoulder lanes on

Glenmore Trail posing safety concerns for commuters.

• Proposed widening of Glenmore flyover into

community green space.

• Introduction of Transit Oriented Development (TOD)

within 600m of any transit terminal and eventual construction of high-density developments tied to transit hubs.

Impacts on Mayfair & Bel-Aire

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