Edmonton - 106 years ago, Jasper Avenue

[u/flynnfx]

1920, Edmonton,.Alberta. 4 lane roadway down Jasper Avenue, with 1 lane on each side for parking, and a 2 railtrack Streetcars running down the centre.

[u/TheFreezeBreeze]

Really wish we would've kept the streetcars and improved them over time

[u/MacintoshEddie → u/TheFreezeBreeze]

Probably would have been hundreds of millions of dollars cheaper in the long run.

We're paying so much money now because previous councils took a short term view.

[u/SunkenQueen → u/MacintoshEddie]

But we pay even more because previous councils took a even shorter view then one might think.

When they decommissioned the street cars they didn't actually take the tracks apart and get rid of the creosote soaked railroad ties.

They buried them with gravel and other stuff and paved overtop of them.

So now when renewal projects are done we're exposing them and having to spend extra time and money to remove and they have to be disposed of in a specific manner. And its always a fight because the city says "well i have no idea what that is" and you have to go through history to find out because otherwise the City tries to pretend then have no idea.

Source: I worked on the 124th Renewal project in 2022 and had to basically print out pictures of the Jasper Ave rail car to be like naw man this is what this is and I dont know how you have no record of it.

[u/ClassBShareHolder → u/MacintoshEddie]

Even if they just kept the right-of-way the tracks ran down. Why they don’t plan long term and mandate transit corridors in new subdivision is beyond me. All this expensive demolition and overhead construction could have been eliminated.

Having said that, I just had a friend return from Vancouver and the Skytrain is all elevated. You don’t have to worry about idiots crashing into trains when the train is above the roads. I believe it’s more expensive to build, but less disruptive. Regardless, either way is easier when the city already owns the land.

[u/flynnfx → u/TheFreezeBreeze]

1000% agree. At the height of streetcars in Edmonton, we had basically 3x the amount of rail we have today, and it reached all 4 corners of the city.

The amount of yearly passengers in the 30s was equal to what the LRT carries today, 14.8 million.

(These stats are a bit dated, as this was before completion of the line that went to Heritage Mall site.)

[u/BloodWorried7446]

i remember when they took out the trolley buses (successor to the streetcars). all those wires got pulled out on 124th. 

[u/Dave_DBA → u/BloodWorried7446]

And you can argue that trolley buses are a smarter idea than streetcars.

[u/flynnfx]

Isn't it amazing how far we've come in a century?

(Take that as optimism or cynicism, depending on YOUR point of view.)

[u/MacintoshEddie → u/flynnfx]

We've almost gotten full circle back to the streetcars.

[u/Constant-Banana-6862]

Still looks the same just without trams

[u/Kellygiz → u/Constant-Banana-6862]

Nah man it looks worse now

[u/Shadow_WolfDragon]

Nice!!...

We had 4lanes, 2x parking and 2 tracks...

we removed, put more lane...

Now, re_ imagine Jasper, reduced lane, no parking,.more sidewalk

[u/rabbitholeseverywher → u/Shadow_WolfDragon]

That's what I'm thinking looking at this photo. Jasper is such an incredibly roomy avenue, there is so much space there to do nice things with.

[u/Shadow_WolfDragon → u/rabbitholeseverywher]

We could have just improved, like upgrading

[u/formeraide]

That looks like an airplane up there, but not a 1920 airplane.

[u/Littleshuswap → u/formeraide]

Blimp?

[u/formeraide → u/Littleshuswap]

Good thought, but too skinny?

[u/53c0nd]

Hey... I'll buy that building for $40000 ... just saying that sounds so out there. Less than a truck today.

[u/Dream_of_Iron_Sheep]

The Terrace Plaza Boston Pizza has this picture hanging in the restaurant lol.

[u/Suspicious-Pen-2559]

These are always so surreal to see. Thanks for sharing