Edmonton Minute: Community Hub, LRT Repaired, and Happy New Year

Edmonton Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Edmonton politics

This Week In Edmonton:

• There are no Council or Committee meetings this week due to the holiday break. The Agenda Review Committee will meet again in the first week of January.
  
  
• The annual Churchill Square Fireworks return this year with two shows. For those who prefer an early bedtime, the first show begins at 8:30 pm followed by another at midnight for those who want to ring in the new year. Free family-friendly entertainment begins at 6:30 pm. Hopefully the weather is a little warmer!
  
  
• Can you believe that 2023 is already just around the corner? We hope you had a very Merry Christmas and enjoyed time with family and friends. From the team at Common Sense Edmonton, we would like to wish you a Happy New Year. There are a few events happening in town if you’re looking to celebrate.

Last Week In Edmonton:

• After voting to spend $100 million on bike lanes last week, the City said an existing bike lane will be removed. The pilot project lane along Victoria promenade will be removed after pushback from community members. Residents were unhappy that the bike lane removed street parking and feared it may hamper emergency vehicles. The City said the pilot project helped to lower traffic speeds, but that feedback was taken into account and the lane will be removed. If only Council would listen to the feedback from the more than 4,000 Edmontonians who signed our petition against blowing $100 million on more bike lanes…
  
  
• It was announced that the Valley Line LRT is apparently "back on track". The CEO of TransEd - the company building the line - said that 94% of repairs to the cracked piers have been completed. Still, no time frame was provided for opening. The line was supposed to open in December 2020, but here we are two years later, still waiting for the beleaguered project to finally wrap up. What a strange definition of "back on track".
  
  
• Mill Woods Town Centre in Southeast Edmonton has been purchased by a developer. The Edmonton-based buyer plans to turn it into a “community hub” by revitalizing the shopping centre and adding infill housing. One of the area’s anchor retailers, the Mill Woods Town Centre Co-op Food Store, had already announced it would close in January due to declining sales. Residents have told Councillors they want to see a future for the area.

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