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 1997 Edmonton Municipal Development Plan 2001 Land Use Intensification Strategy 2003 Smart Choices Catalogue of Ideas March 2004 City Council Approval of (8) Smart Choices Recommendations August 2004 City 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 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) Clareview LRT Station

FORT ROAD OLD TOWN MASTER PLAN

CENTURY PARK Site Area43 acres Residential Population4,000 – 5,000 Commercial160,000 sq. ft. Office200,000 sq. ft. Recreation35,000 sq. ft. Open Space18 acres Density165 units/ha Max. Height24 storeys

EXISTING AND PROPOSED LRT AND BRT SYSTEM - EDMONTON

EXISTING AND PROPOSED LRT SYSTEM - CALGARY

LRT - EDMONTON VS CALGARY EdmontonCalgary Kilometers of Track 1342 No. of Routes 23 No. of Stations 1136 Park “N” Ride Stalls 2,50011,000

“FASTRACKS INITIATIVE” DENVER City of Denver Population = 572,862 (2004) Census Metropolitan Area = 2.4 million FasTracks Approved 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 $ 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, 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 (Centre for Transit-Oriented Development)