Funicular considered for Edmonton river valley access

The city is looking for bidders to design, build and operate a new system that would give pedestrians easier access to the river valley from downtown Edmonton.

While a funicular, a tram which runs up a steep slope, is one commonly-cited option, city planners say they are open to all ideas.

"We've gone to the industry to say 'Generate some exciting ideas for us that we could consider and take to the public to talk about this as a concept,'" said Rob Marchak, director of Strategic Projects and Sustainable Development with the City of Edmonton.

"It's really those very preliminary stages where we're talking to the industry to see what can workwhat's possible and then going back to the community and saying, 'What do you think about this idea?'"

The city is currently looking at running the line down 104th Street from Jasper Avenue to the Rossdale power plant redevelopment site.

Lynn Parish from the Rossdale Community League wants to hear more details but likes that the city wants to improve access to the river valley.

"Anything you can do to make it more attractive to people to come down would be a good idea," she said.

The request for proposals was issued last week. Marchak plans to have something for the public to look at by the end of February.