Taxi turning right colliding with Valley Line LRT 6th such crash since November: TransEd

Another vehicle collided with a Valley Line LRT train this week and line operator TransEd said not only is it the sixth such collision in the past five months — all of the crashes are the result of drivers not paying attention to signage and making illegal right turns.

Edmonton Fire Rescue Services said three fire crews, or 12 firefighters, responded at 5:34 p.m. Tuesday to the intersection of 83 Street and 90 Avenue. That’s where the Valley Line crosses Connors Road, north of Bonnie Doon mall.

The city said a taxi reportedly bumped into the train. A Yellow Cab SUV with front-end damage could be seen being loaded up and taken away from a tow truck on scene.

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A spokesperson for TransEd said a northbound taxi on 83 Street made an illegal right turn to go east on 90 Avenue.

They added right turns there have been banned ever since the intersection replaced the Connors Road traffic circle as part of the LRT track construction.

“This location has had no right turn ever since we removed the traffic circle a few years ago,” TransEd spokesperson Dallas Lindskoog said in an email.

“At this location we even have a large electronic message board (VMS) that says no right turn.”

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North and southbound traffic along 83 Street, which turns into 85 Street on the other side of the intersection, was blocked for a few hours.

No injuries were reported, but TransEd said their driver was shaken by the collision.

The train was removed from the intersection after about an hour and the damage appeared to be cosmetic, Lindskoog added.

It’s the latest collision between a vehicle and the yet-to-open Valley Line LRT, of which TransEd has ramped up testing in recent weeks.

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On March 17, a collision was spotted at the Whitemud Drive crossing and in January, a train and car collided at the Whyte Avenue crossing.

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In total, TransEd says there have been six collisions and all involved drivers making illegal right turns.

1. Nov. 8, 2022: 75 Street and Whitemud Drive
2. Jan. 21: 82 Avenue/Whyte Avenue and 83 Street (Bonnie Doon)
3. March 14: 51 Avenue and 75 Street
4. March 17: 75 Street and Whitemud Drive
5. March 20: 51 Avenue and 75 Street
6. March 28: 83 Street and 90 Avenue

The 13-kilometre Valley Line southeast from Mill Woods to downtown is different from the current high-floor LRT system that the Edmonton Transit Service operates.

The line features low-floor, urban-styled trains that provide more pedestrian-friendly access with street-level stops.

1:51 Valley Line LRT crash concerns

In residential and commercial areas, embedded tracks are integrated to the established design and traffic flow of the area.

David Cooper, a public transportation and design expert at Leading Mobility, said the crashes are growing pains during the testing phase, adding the low-floor style is a standard design around the world and those having trouble now will eventually figure it out.

“If you follow the signs — the turning restrictions as a motorist and a pedestrian — you will have zero conflict with the LRT,” he said.

The city and TransEd have also said several times drivers will have to get used to not having crossing gates and audible bells in order to stay safe.

“The choice to construct the Valley Line Southeast LRT without crossing arms was made by the city before the project was even tendered to the construction market,” Lindskoog said in a statement to Global News on Wednesday.

“TransEd has designed the system to safely integrate with its surroundings without the need of crossing arms gates. As long as road users follow the rules of the road, traffic signals, and road signage, they will remain safe.

“Any wholesale change to intersection traffic signals, such as adding crossing arms, would be a decision by the city who would then direct and pay for TransEd to make the change.”

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City councillor Tim Cartmell said there’s two options: drivers adapt to the changes or go back to a railway style train, which would cost money and time to an already delayed line.

“I don’t want to be forced into the second choice.

“We’ve spent enough on this, honestly.”

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The line was built by public-private partnership contractor TransEd, a consortium made up of four companies: engineering firm Bechtel, construction company EllisDon, train builder Alstom (which acquired former builder Bombardier in 2021) and Fengate Asset Management.

TransEd is responsible for designing, constructing, operating and maintaining the line for the next 30 years.

The opening of the Valley Line has been delayed several times and is more than two years behind schedule as testing and repairs take place.

Cartmell said the crashes may cost the city in repairs, but they also hurt drivers.

“Those that have hit the LRT cars and ignored the signage, they’re at fault. They pay.”

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TransEd said with the exception of Tuesday’s collision, all repairs or parts ordering is under way to fix trains damaged in previous crashes, including one hit by a semi last week at the 51 Avenue crossing.

“As of (Wednesday) we expect all but one, the one damaged by the semi-truck, to be repaired prior to the opening date.

“Please note that the opening day schedule does not require the use of all trains; however, some special events such as sporting events may have to operate with a few less trains until the repairs are complete.”

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As has been the case since last year, there is still no confirmed timeline for when the line will be open to passengers.

TransEd said on Wednesday it’s currently performing demonstration testing and it will complete when the company says it has demonstrated the system is operating to expected performance levels.

“Basically this means being able to consistently achieve proper performance of the entire LRT according to a schedule that mimics the opening day schedule,” Lindskoog said.

“It is difficult to predict how long exactly demonstrating proper performance may take, however this is the penultimate phase prior to being ready to open.”

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After that, the operator said third-party certification, including safety certifications, will begin.

“Those certifiers are witnesses to the demonstration testing occurring each day. Ultimately, they have the final authority to grant the city and TransEd certification to open the line,” Lindskoog said.

TransEd said when these steps are completed and certification is awarded, it will then be the City of Edmonton’s decision when to formally open the line to the public.

— With files from Meaghan Archer, Global News