Edmonton Councillor Scraps LRT, Pushes for BRT

0:00Edmonton City Councilor Aaron Rutherford just called the Metro Line LRT Extension a straight-up pipe dream. She's pushing to scrap the current plan for a line stretching Northwest past Blatchford to castle downs and eventually St. Albert. Costs have exploded, especially crossing the yellowhead highway and that massive sea and rail yard and her motion to explore cheaper options past. Unanimously, this week. The idea has been floating since the 1970s, but is deprioritized now behind Southside expansions and an airport link. City Hall is an eyeing any new LRT builds for the next 10 years, though they've been snapping up land along the route. Rutherford Rep's ward on Erniek, right where it run and wants real transit for folks sooner rather than later. Northwest residents are gutted. LRT was a big draw for moving there and one local says her community keeps getting shafted as the Northside booms. Folks worry buses won't cut it like a train would. Transit advocates are on board with alternatives like bus rapid transit, calling it quicker and way cheaper to roll out.

1:05They get the love for shiny trains but say smart buses with the right setup can match them. Rutherford's eyeing fall budget talks to hash this out, open to redesigns or BRT to serve every city quadrant fairly. It's a push for action now, even if it risks shelving the dream forever. Local news powered by AI, this is Canada News Today. I'm Corey with the story.