Downtown LRT route called dangerous to market patrons

Running LRT trains down 102nd Avenue could be hazardous to customers at the downtown farmer's market, according to the lawyer representing the Chinese community in their fight against the proposed route.

"People are buying food, they're buying crafts, they're having a coffee, they're talking to their neighbour, they're walking down the street," Sol Rolingher told reportersat city hall onWednesday.

"Who's paying attention to an LRT that's going to run them over?"

The downtown connector route proposed by the city would take low-floor trains along 102nd Avenue, through the heart of the downtown market, which runs from May to October on 104th Street between Jasper Avenue and 103rd Avenue.

"At some point, God forbid, some accident will happen, it's just a matter of time,"Rolingher said.

Rolingher said collisions like those that are seen with Calgary's C-train system could happen in Edmonton. According to Calgary police, there were six deaths in 2011, and five the year before that. Some of those deaths were suicides.

Worries over impact to Chinatown

Adam Laughlin from the City of Edmonton says there's no reason to be alarmed about the route going through the market. The low-floor trains proposed for the route will travel at 30 kilometres an hour and can slow down even more.

"The operators are more like bus drivers. They need to be aware of their surroundings," he said. "It's a totally different operation from what we see on 111th Street."

Rolingher argues the route will have a negative impact on the atmosphere of the outdoor market. But Dan Young, a vendor and member of the market's board of directors, is optimistic about possible benefits of the route.

"We could have LRT customers dropped right off at the intersection," he said. "That obviously could be good for business as well."

Rolingher is helping the Chinese community get the route moved one block north to 102A Avenue, where it would bypass the market by continuing down 103rd Avenue

Members of the Chinese community have earlier expressed concerns about the eastern part of the proposed downtown route.

They argue the line would create safety concerns by splitting Chinatown in half, separating residents of a Chinese seniors' home from cultural centres.

Edmonton city council was supposed todiscuss the route on Wednesday but the issue was moved to Jan. 31st.