Closure could save $200M:
No need for LRT tunnel under Yellowhead- By Florence Loyie, Edmonton Journal
Closing the downtown airport could save the city up to $200 million when it builds the northwest LRT line because it could build a bridge crossing over Yellowhead Trail instead of tunnelling under it, a council report says.
Council has already approved the relocation of the LRT station to the north side of Princess Elizabeth Avenue, closer to NAIT, and the realignment of the Northwest LRT through the airport lands and across Yellowhead Trail.
The report also says more than $10 million worth of upgrades would be needed to put runway 16-34 back into operation if City Centre Airport were to reopen. The runway was closed after the Edmonton Indy race.
The runway surface would need to be repaired and the lighting rewired and replaced, says the quarterly update to city council on the phased closure and redevelopment of airport lands.
Envision Edmonton, which wants to keep the airport open and improve air service, delivered a petition to the city clerk's office Thursday demanding the issue be put to a vote on the Oct. 18 election ballot.
"It is important to understand that the city cannot unilaterally recommission Runway 16-34," said the report going Monday to council.
"Consideration for such a step would need to involve Edmonton Airports. If Edmonton Airports would agree to do so, the proper regulatory approvals from NavCanada and Transport Canada would then need to be obtained by Edmonton Airports."
Edmonton Airports has invested close to $20 million at the International Airport and $3 million at Villeneuve Airport to accommodate displaced tenants from City Centre Airport.
City officials have selected a short list of companies competing to create a master plan for the downtown airport land.
The five finalists include SWECO International of Stockholm; Perkins and Will of Vancouver; BNIM of Kansas City, Mo.; KCAP Architects and Planning of Rotterdam; and Foster and Partners of London.
The firms, all working with local companies, were chosen from 33 applications. Each will be given $50,000 and four months to refine their submissions, which will be available for public comment before council decides on a plan early next year.
