City Councillor Keren Tang is advocating for a thorough assessment of signal timing on the Valley Line LRT in response to various safety concerns raised by residents. Tang plans to present a motion at the upcoming council meeting to task city administration with conducting a comprehensive signal timing and optimization evaluation for the Valley Line Southeast.
Expressing the need for a holistic approach, Tang emphasized the importance of addressing issues along the entire corridor rather than individually. Following a recent ride-along with city transportation engineers, Tang stressed the necessity of maximizing intersection efficiency and reducing delays for all users while maintaining safety and prioritizing transit.
The assessment will focus on key areas such as schedule reliability, minimizing delays, peak-hour traffic management, intersection capacity optimization, pedestrian safety, and reducing wait times at busy crossings. Tang highlighted feedback received from residents, drivers, transit users, and pedestrians regarding recurring challenges at intersections since the line’s opening in November 2023.
During the ride-along, Tang observed issues at multiple stops, including the need for additional crossing time at intersections like 28th Avenue and 66th Street to accommodate senior residents with mobility aids. Concerns were also raised by LRT rider Chris O’Neill about the absence of gates along the Valley Line, leading to driver impatience and unsafe behaviors.
Tang emphasized the importance of optimizing signals and traffic flow for the successful operation of the low-floor LRT system in the city. She sees the transition from TransEd to ETS and upcoming budget discussions as opportune moments to address these issues comprehensively. Tang believes that taking a corridor-wide approach to the Valley Line LRT can offer valuable insights for future LRT expansions in Edmonton.
