City councillor Keren Tang is pushing for a thorough examination of signal timing issues along the Valley Line LRT in response to various safety concerns raised by residents. Tang plans to propose a motion at the upcoming council meeting, urging city administration to conduct a comprehensive assessment aimed at optimizing signal timing on the Valley Line Southeast.
Tang emphasized the importance of taking a holistic approach to address the challenges faced along the entire corridor, rather than addressing them individually. Following a recent ride-along with city transportation engineers, Tang stressed the need for maximizing intersection efficiency and reducing delays without compromising safety or transit priorities.
The assessment will focus on key areas such as maintaining schedule reliability, reducing corridor delays, managing peak-hour traffic congestion, enhancing intersection capacity, ensuring pedestrian safety, and minimizing wait times at busy crossings. Tang highlighted that since the Valley Line opened in November 2023, her office has received feedback from residents, drivers, transit users, and pedestrians about recurring issues at various intersections.
During the ride-along, Tang personally observed the challenges at different stops, including the need for additional crossing time at intersections like 28th Avenue and 66th Street, particularly for senior residents with mobility aids. Tang acknowledged the adjustments made at certain intersections but emphasized the need for further improvements.
Concerns were also raised by LRT rider Chris O’Neill regarding the absence of gates along the Valley Line, leading to unsafe driving behaviors by motorists. Tang stressed the importance of optimizing signal systems and traffic flow for the successful operation of the low-floor LRT system in the city.
As the operational responsibility shifts from TransEd to ETS and with upcoming budget discussions in the fall, Tang sees this as a prime opportunity to address these issues. She believes that taking a comprehensive approach to the Valley Line LRT could offer valuable insights for future LRT expansions in Edmonton.