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)