Edmonton’s Valley Line Southeast LRT to advance accessibility and sustainability

Credit: City of Edmonton

Following years of planning and development, the City of Edmonton has announced the grand opening of the much-awaited Valley Line Southeast Light Rail Transit (LRT) on 4 November 2023, set to provide an environmentally friendly and accessible transportation option to residents and visitors.

The Valley Line Southeast LRT has undergone rigorous scrutiny, with independent certification by professional engineers, safety auditors and professionally qualified certifiers. Recently, TransEd, the consortium responsible for the project, received a formal certificate, affirming that the infrastructure is complete and aligns with the project agreement.

Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said: “I know many Edmontonians have been looking forward to opening day for the better part of two decades. Valley Line Southeast will offer an affordable and climate-friendly choice to move around our city for decades to come. I’m looking forward to riding the new line and seeing this project cross the finish line.”

The Valley Line Southeast LRT is an integral part of the City Plan, which envisions a future where 50% of trips are made through transit and active transportation. This LRT line is a significant step towards making Edmonton more accessible, convenient and sustainable.

City Manager Andre Corbould said: “Valley Line is the first completely new transit line to open in western Canada in a generation and will transform the way we move and experience our city. While the project delays have been challenging for everyone, all parties have kept their focus on one thing – providing a safe, reliable service for Edmontonians.”

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In the lead-up to the opening, final operational exercises will be conducted to ensure that staff are prepared for the challenges of standard operations. In addition, they will complete final work on curbs, landscaping and maintenance, which will not affect the system’s safe operation.

As the Valley Line Southeast LRT prepares to begin operations, the City of Edmonton advises residents to be mindful of their surroundings, obey traffic signs and be patient during the early days of service. All transit systems experience occasional operational challenges as riders adapt to new infrastructure and travel patterns.

Operating hours for the Valley Line Southeast LRT will be consistent with those of the Capital Line and Metro Line. Service from the 102 Street stop will begin at 05:15, seven days a week, while service from the Mill Woods stop will commence at 05:00 on weekdays and 05:15 on weekends. The final trains will depart at 01:00 from the 102 Street stop and Mill Woods stop, with specific schedules available through trip planning tools closer to opening day.

Fares and tickets for the Valley Line Southeast LRT will be consistent with the existing transit network. Monthly and yearly passes, as well as re-loadable Arc cards and single-use Arc tickets, will be available at all stops and stations through Arc fare vending machines, with various payment options, including cash, debit and credit card.

Public input has played a crucial role in shaping the Valley Line Southeast LRT, from the project’s alignment identification in 2009 to the completion of the preliminary design in 2013. Thousands of Edmontonians have participated in workshops, meetings, online consultations and open houses, making it a true community-driven initiative. Citizen Working Groups had also been established to keep impacted communities informed throughout the project’s development.