Council hears concerns about LRT routes

Safety concerns, parking and access for emergency vehicles were raised Wednesday at a public hearing on the new LRT expansion route at Edmonton city hall.

About 60 people are expected to give councillors input on the concept plans for the route that will take low-floor trains from west Edmonton to Mill Woods, by way of downtown.

The plans give details about where the stations will be built and where the lines willbe locatedalong the new routes.

People representing Edmonton's Chinese community are not pleased about the section of the route that travels along 102 Ave.

The low-floor trains would pass by twoapartment complexesfor Chinese seniors in the middle of the city's historic Chinatown area, which has prompted concerns about safety and access for emergency vehicles.

"Imagine seniors about 80 years of age crossing the street for their programs," Mary Fung from the Chinese Seniors Elders Mansion told CBC News."That is a very, very big concern for the safety and security of our seniors."

Fung and others in the area are pushing for the line to run underground in the area, even though it would cost more money.

"Quality of life, especially for seniors, I think we cannot put a value on that," she said.

Others say the line would destroy the fabric of the community.

"102nd Avenue isa cultural corridor," said Allan Kwan from the Chinese Benevolent Association of Edmonton. "Because 102nd Avenue again has been a place for Chinese New Year celebration, Canada Day celebration, Captial Ex parade."

Others spoke in favour of the proposals. The president of Grant MacEwan University, Paul Byrne, told council the route will be great for students.

"We have an increasing number of students who are coming from the capital region, outlying areas, and the ability for them to commute by vehicle to a west end parking zone and then complete the journey on the LRT is important," he said.

The west line will have a stop right in front of the main entrance of the university's city centre campus on 104th Avenue.