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Innovative
and Alternative
 Transportation
High speed rail, regional transit,
multi-use highway corridors, regional trails and other innovative rapid and active transportation systems
The Forth Junction Heritage Society
supports the acquisition of land for
future interurban
corridors for the development of modern high speed rail or other
rapid transportation technologies that are efficient, sustainable
and environmentally-friendly as well as the development of other
innovative inter-city and regional transit systems.
 In
addition, the Forth Junction Heritage Society supports the
development of regional trail systems for an active and healthy quality of life
as well as to provide a safe conduit for human-powered
transportation.
Private motor vehicle transportation is, and will
be for some time to come, the main mode of transportation in Alberta.
However, for a variety of reasons, we need to reduce our dependence on private motor vehicles
and provide alternative means of moving people that are
environmentally-friendly, innovative, healthy and sustainable.
As the population of the region grows with migration of people from
areas where a high level of public transit is normal, as the resident
population ages, and as the cost of fuel increases, there will be an
increasing desire to use alternative transportation if it is available,
efficient and environmentally-friendly.
 Regional
Trails
The construction of rural bicycle
and walking trails, aside from being an alternate and economical form of
getting around, link local communities, heritage sites and
recreational facilities as well as provide for a healthy lifestyle,
recreation and an appreciation of natural areas and our agricultural
roots. In addition, they also provide safety for our children
and youth by providing an alternative to walking or bicycling on busy
and dangerous highways.
 One
of the more strategic and safety-specific trails on the horizon is
the Trans Canada Trail linking Central Alberta communities between
Ponoka and Innisfail through Lacombe, Blackfalds, Red Deer and
Penhold. These urban municipalities and the counties of Red Deer,
Lacombe and Ponoka have developed extensive plans for regional
trails that branch off from the Trans Canada Trail. These future
trails will not only provide excellent active recreational
opportunities but also will become transportation corridors in
themselves and will create significant
tourism opportunities.
One potential trail corridor that has created some buzz is from Red
Deer to
Sylvan Lake using the former Alberta Central Railway (CPR) right of way
that includes the historic Mintlaw trestle. Another potential
rail-to-trail opportunity is between Rocky Mountain House and
Nordegg on the former Canadian Northern Western Railway (CNR) line.
Other future
trail corridors may one day be established along the
Medicine River between Benalto and Glennifer Lake, the Boomtown Trail along Highway 21
and west from Sylvan Lake to Rocky Mountain House. Additional links could develop with
trails to Pine Lake,
Buffalo Lake and Gull Lake.
Forth/Tuttle-Mintlaw-Sylvan
Lake Linear Park Proposal
News article -
City council adopts river valley plan
(Red Deer Express July 2010)
News article -
Building trails to paradise
(Red Deer Advocate March 2009)
News article -
Clearwater County calls on province for advice
about trail
(Red Deer Advocate April 2008)
 Regional
Transit
On the other end of the spectrum is the need for public
transportation in rural areas linking the urban and country
residential communities of Central Alberta, especially around Red Deer. Dedicated right of ways
could be established that could some
day evolve into mass transit systems like light commuter rail, modern
tramways or street
cars.
Transit service linking Red Deer, Gasoline
Alley (in Red Deer County) and Springbrook/Airport began in 2009.
High
Speed Rail Corridor
In the 1980s, the concept of a high-speed rail line between
Alberta's two largest cities with a stop in Red Deer was proposed.
The idea keeps getting resurrected and shelved but there is
currently growing momentum to secure the right-of-way for such a
service. One proposal suggests the high speed train would take 84
minutes from Calgary city centre to Edmonton city centre, run hourly
during the day and cost around $65 one way. The Red Deer terminal
has not been determined.
The
Van Horne Institute released a study in 2004 suggesting that high speed
rail was viable in the Calgary-Edmonton corridor. The
Alberta government commissioned a study on high speed rail in 2006
which was completed in February 2008 and released to the public in July 2009.
The
Province also purchased property for possible future high speed terminals
in Calgary and Edmonton in 2007. Recently the Province undertook
another study on future transportation needs that could include
high-speed passenger rail.
A Vision for
High Speed Rail Corridors in Alberta
Benefits
of Securing a High Speed Rail Corridor in Alberta Now
News article -
Chamber pressing high-speed rail
plan
(Red Deer Advocate Jan.2011)
News article -
Project creates issues for rural
residents
(Red Deer Advocate Nov.2010)
News article -
Rail plan returns
(Red Deer Advocate July 2010)
News article -
Get moving on high-speed rail
link: expert
(Red Deer Advocate June 2010)
News article -
Rural groups want high-speed
rail study
(Red Deer Advocate March 2010)
News article -
Political will lags behind train debate
(Red Deer Advocate Oct.2009)
News article -
Province offers update on high speed rail
(Red Deer Express July 2009)
News article -
Company pushes for high speed rail
(Red Deer Express April 2008)
Multi-Use Transportation
Corridors
Another option being explored by the Alberta government is multi-use
transportation and utility corridors that could include high speed
rail or other rapid transportation technologies, commuter or light
rail, new highways, dedicated bus lanes and even integrated regional
trail systems. The corridors could also include power transmission
lines, natural gas and telecommunications.
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