The SMART CHOICES PROGRAM and TRANSIT-ORIENTED

DEVELOPMENT

Presentation to ETS Annual Community Conference

March 11, 2006

THE SMART CHOICES PROGRAM

A Program to Change The Way the City Grows and Redevelops

• More Fiscally and Environmentally Sustainable Future

• Improved Quality of Life / Development

CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS

1997Edmonton Municipal Development Plan

2001Land Use Intensification Strategy

2003Smart Choices Catalogue of Ideas

March 2004 City Council Approval of (8) Smart Choices Recommendations

August 2004City Council Approval of Urban Sustainability Action Plan (4 Priority Areas)

April 2005 Smart Choices Program Manager

SMART CHOICES PROGRAM INITIATIVES

1. Neighbourhood Reinvestment

2. Residential Infill

3. Transit-Oriented Development

4. Walkability

SMART CHOICES PROGRAM INITIATIVES

5. Redevelopment of Older Commercial and Industrial Lands

6. Public Consultation and Education

7. Municipal Development Plan Review – Comprehensive Growth Scenario

8. Urban Design

SMART CHOICES PROGRAM PROGRESS

Information Brochure and Checklists for Smart Choices Development and for TOD

Terms of Reference: Neighbourhood Reinvestment Program and Residential Infill Strategy

Public Education: Presentations and Planning Academy

Walkability Charrettes: Highlands / 118 Avenue

SMART CHOICES PROGRAM FOUR FUNDAMENTALS

According to the citizens of Edmonton, the essential features of a great city and a good neighbourhood are:

1.Options

2.Access

3.Vitality

4.Viability

THE SMART CHOICES CITY

Older neighbourhoods with small-scale infill and some rowhousing / low-rise apartments.

LRT stations with mixed-use medium-high density residential.

Older community shopping centres redeveloped as “urban villages”.

A city and neighbourhoods that are more walkable / cycle-able / connected.

Improved quality of design

KEY FEATURES OF TOD

Centred around and integrated with a Transit Station

Compact (5-10 minute walk, or 400-800 metres )

Mixed-use

Medium to high density

Decreasing height to edges

Buildings “address” the street

High quality design / public spaces

Parking: underground, garages, on-street

Pedestrian friendly; safe, direct routes to transit

TYPICAL TOD PLAN

TRANSIT ADJACENT DEVELOPMENT (TAD)

ClareviewLRT Station

FORT ROAD OLD TOWN MASTER PLAN

CENTURY PARK

Site Area 43 acres

Residential Population 4,000 – 5,000

Commercial 160,000 sq. ft.

Office 200,000 sq. ft.

Recreation 35,000 sq. ft.

Open Space 18 acres

Density 165 units/ha

Max. Height 24 storeys

EXISTING AND PROPOSED LRT AND BRT SYSTEM - EDMONTON

EXISTING AND PROPOSED LRT SYSTEM - CALGARY

LRT - EDMONTON VS CALGARY

Edmonton Calgary

Kilometers of Track 13 42

No. of Routes 2 3

No. of Stations 11 36

Park “N” Ride Stalls 2,500 11,000

“FASTRACKS INITIATIVE” DENVER

City of Denver Population = 572,862 (2004)

Census Metropolitan Area = 2.4 million

FasTracks Approved 2005

5 new LRT Routes

119 miles of Light And Commuter Rail Track

57 new Stations

Estimated Cost = $4.7 Billion (12 years)

AMOUNT OF 2006 ALBERTA REBATE

$400.00 Per Person

X 3,236,906 (Alberta Population 2005)

= approx. $1.3 billion

VALUE OF CALGARY’S LRT SYSTEM (2005)

“C” Train Cars $464,000,000

Track and Right-of-Way $25,550,000

Traction Power System $95,600,000

Signal / Communications System $90,890,000

Park and Ride Lots / Land $67,200,000

Garage / Maintenance Facilities $77,040,000

Stations $166,000,000

Miscellaneous Equipment and Facilities $10,350,000

TOTAL $996,630,000

CRITICAL FACTORS FOR SUCCESS OF TOD

1. Political Will

2. Leadership

3. Master Plan

4. Large Parcel of Land

5. Interested Property-Owners

CRITICAL FACTORS FOR SUCCESS OF TOD

6. Development Industry Expertise

7. Capital (Private and Public)

8. Market Demand

9. High Level of Amenity

10. Extensive Transit Network

11. Community Information / Education

BENEFITS OF TOD

Convenient and Fast Access to Destinations

Transportation Cost – Savings for Households

Improved Economic Viability of Transit System

Environmental and Health

Vital Community - “Urban Villages”

City Remains Competitive in New Energy Future (Peak-Oil)

DRIVING CO$T VS INCOME

Annual cost of owning / operating one mini-van (CAA, Dec.2004) = $9,351.30

Median Family Income (Edmonton, 2001) = $76,238.00

TOD – NEXT STEPS

Planning and Development Department / Transportation Department Report to City Council on TOD (Late 2006)

Request For Proposals: Plans for 2 TOD Locations (Stadium Station and Southgate?)

FOR MORE INFORMATION

www.edmonton.ca/smartchoices

www.reconnectingamerica.org(Centre for Transit-Oriented Development)