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Southeast Transitway (SETWAY)
Overview
Calgary Transit has initiated the predesign study for the Southeast Transitway, or SETWAY.
Between 1999 and 2006, Calgary Transit completed functional studies for the future Southeast Light Rail Transit (LRT) - one of two new LRT lines planned for Calgary. For more information, see
Southeast LRT Compendium of Functional Planning Studies
These functional planning studies assessed existing transit service, identified the need for LRT based on future demand, and established the future LRT horizontal and vertical alignment, station locations, high-level land requirements and costs.
To construct the Southeast LRT between downtown and the South Health Campus in Seton would cost over $2 billion. In the absence of sufficient funding for even a short segment of LRT, The City of Calgary is studying options for staging improvements in the form of bus rapid transit (BRT) on exclusive transitways.
A Transitway is an exclusive roadway for public transit buses that includes stations and transit terminals. The term originated in the Ottawa region in Ontario, where the bus-based Transitway currently serves as the core of their rapid transit network.
Options for the SETWAY will be developed to improve travel time, reliability and convenience for Route 302 and other routes in Southeast Calgary. SETWAY options will also be evaluated under The City�s Sustainability Approach according to the four perspectives of environment, community well-being, economy, and smart growth & mobility.
It is anticipated that the SETWAY will be developed incrementally to best use available funding. Pending the outcome of this study and funding availability, The City anticipates initiating construction of segments of the SETWAY in 2014.
What is a predesign?
A predesign study is typically conducted after functional plans have been completed and before detailed design is initiated. The high-level plans and property requirements are refined to a greater level of detail in the predesign. In the case of the SETWAY, The City is examining what infrastructure can improve transit service in the short term that still has lasting value in the long term as part of the LRT line.
The predesign process will focus on the technology, infrastructure, right of way, and land requirements to get the SETWAY ready for detailed design and construction.
The later phases of the predesign will include comprehensive transit-oriented development (TOD) planning in priority station areas.
How can Calgarians get involved?
Public information sessions were held January 24 - 26, 2012.
The City will present findings on the early phases of the predesign to the public for input before making a recommendation on infrastructure staging to City Council. Additional public engagement, including comprehensive transit-oriented development planning, will be held in the future as the predesign advances.
See SETWAY Information Session Boards, January 2012.
Will the Province of Alberta�s GreenTRIP funding be used?
At the direction of City Council, The City has made an application to The Province for GreenTRIP funding for the SETWAY study. Prior to applying for funding for SETWAY construction, The City must identify what segments of the SETWAY it proposes to construct, along with the one-third local matching funds required as part of all GreenTRIP projects.
For more information or to share comments:
See SETWAY Newsletter for further details.
Email: CTCustomerFeedback@calgary.ca
Phone: 403-262-1000
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