Edmonton Notes for October 14, 2018

By Mack D. Male ·

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

  • All 13 communities in the Edmonton Metro Region have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a Regional Transit Services Commission. The goal is for collaboration to “provide more integrated and reliable movement between nearby communities than the current mix of transit services.” The Province has provided $3.7 million “to support behind-the-scenes work to set up the commission.”
  • Edmonton’s proposed new bus routes are ready. No wait, they’re not. In a confusing news release, the City says the new routes have incorporated feedback from Edmontonians but feedback on the “final draft” will be accepted from October 25 to December 9.
  • Council approved rezoning for the Falcon Towers on 104 Street this week. Langham Developments’ latest towers will be 37 storeys and 43 storeys.
  • Council also approved more than $20 million to improve transit safety with more security at LRT stations and retractable shields and cameras on all buses.
  • Councillor Paquette’s proposal to look into free transit was not so warmly received at Council. He’s going to tweak the motion and bring it back to Council in two weeks.
  • The City has released three challenges for startups to solve using technology as part of the Startup in Residence (STiR) program. They’re looking for a vandalism detection & prevention system, a chatbot to reduce 311 call volumes, and a mobile app to deliver information on “the optimal blend of transportation options”.
  • The Edmonton International Airport has banned consumption of recreational cannabis on its property. “The RCMP will monitor and enforce passenger and employee compliance, the airport said in a release Thursday.”
  • The electric autonomous vehicle (ELA) pilot is now underway at Blatchford. Starting Wednesday the vehicle moves to Chappelle Gardens.
  • Edmonton will host the next SingularityU Canada Summit in April 2019. “The annual event draws some of the brightest minds in the country’s tech ecosystem, along with sector workers and innovators from across the globe.”
  • The City is hosting a series of Engage Edmonton drop-in sessions until November 15. “These are convenient one-stop shop locations where people can provide feedback on City projects that matter most to them.”
  • Edmontonian Harman Baweja wants Oilers fans to celebrate each goal with a victory dance. “The Edmonton-based dance instructor, hip-hop dancer and self-professed Oilers superfan has choreographed a routine and is challenging every member of Oilers Nation to groove to the moves.”
  • Episode 10 of Speaking Municipally covers the response to free transit, the regional transit authority MOU, and the approval of the Falcon Towers on 104 Street. Also check out the latest Council Roundup for all the details on what’s coming up at Council in the week ahead.

Ice district Edmonton October 2018
Ice District Edmonton October 2018, photo by Jason Woodhead

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New Royal Alberta Museum
New Royal Alberta Museum, photo by IQRemix

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