City Councillor Keren Tang is advocating for a comprehensive review of signal timing along the Valley Line LRT following numerous safety concerns raised by residents. Tang plans to present a motion at the upcoming council meeting to request city administration to conduct an assessment of signal timing and optimization for the Valley Line Southeast.
During a recent ride-along with city transportation engineers along the full Valley Line LRT corridor, Tang highlighted the need for a holistic review to address issues along the entire line rather than tackling them individually. The goal of the review is to enhance intersection efficiency, reduce delays, and prioritize safety and transit operations.
Key elements of the assessment will focus on maintaining schedule reliability, minimizing delays in the corridor, managing peak-hour traffic congestion, optimizing intersection capacity, ensuring pedestrian safety, and reducing wait times at busy crossings. Tang emphasized that since the line opened in November 2023, feedback from residents, drivers, transit users, and pedestrians has highlighted recurring challenges at various intersections.
Notably, Tang mentioned a specific intersection at 28th Avenue and 66th Street where adjustments were made to accommodate senior residents requiring additional crossing time. Observations during the ride-along also revealed concerns at every stop along the line, prompting the need for further improvements.
LRT rider Chris O’Neill expressed apprehension about the absence of gates along the Valley Line, citing increased impatience among drivers leading to unsafe behaviors such as running lights and stop signs. Tang stressed that optimizing signals and traffic flow is crucial for the successful operation of a low-floor LRT system in the city.
As the operational transition from TransEd to ETS takes place and budget discussions for the fall approach, Tang believes it is an opportune moment to address these issues. She highlighted that taking a corridor-wide approach to the Valley Line LRT could offer valuable insights for future LRT expansions in Edmonton.