Progress on Edmonton’s Valley Line West LRT line hammers on this summer, with some milestones expected to be reached by the end of construction season.
But in 2009, long before ground broke on the east-to-west route, the City of Edmonton shared a 100-year plan for expanding the LRT system.
The plan hoped to have 63 stops on six lines, stretching into four corners of the city, by 2109.
“Edmonton is strategically on track to follow that plan,” said Sandeep Agrawal, a professor at the University of Alberta’s School of Urban and Regional Planning. “It aligns quite well with the city plan that was approved back in 2020, the growth nodes and long-term population targets.”
The number of lines and stops were determined by predicting ridership density throughout Edmonton, alongside estimated population growth.
This map from 2009, showing potential future ridership, looks similar to how the City of Edmonton has continued to expand the LRT system, with planned expansion following similar pathways. (City of Edmonton)
According to the plan, about 750,000 people lived in Edmonton at the time, with the greater metro region sitting at 1 million. The LRT system then had two lines — Metro and Capital — and 13 stops, with two new stations already approved. Those stations became Southgate and Century Park.
Where are we now?
Edmonton’s population has exploded since the plan was released in 2009: provincial data shows the city’s population has risen more than 50 per cent, reaching more than 1.2 million people in 2025. Nearly 1.7 million people lived in the census metropolitan area last year.
ETS’ total ridership, meanwhile, consistently reaches 5 million per month, and is gradually recovering from a dip in riders during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The unprecedented population boom exceeded the growth anticipated in 2009, and is likely contributing to the LRT system’s shortfalls, Agrawal said.
“That is [the] sort of chicken-and-egg situation that we are in,” Agrawal said.
“It’s moving in the right direction, but at this point in time, [the LRT system] won’t be able to keep up with the population,” he said.
Edmonton currently has three LRT lines and 30 stops. The system’s newest addition, the southeast Valley Line, stretching from the city’s core to Mill Woods, started operating in November 2023.
The Valley Line’s western section — which will add 19 stops, expanding from downtown to areas like the Brewery District, Misericordia hospital, West Edmonton Mall and Lewis Farms — is expected to be completed in 2028.
The city also plans to densify housing along the LRT line, which could help meet the demands of a rapidly growing population, Agrawal said.
“These are, again, long-term goals; they will not happen overnight or next year,” he said.
Edmonton’s LRT system continues to expand with future plans seeing the Capital and Metro lines being extended, alongside current construction on the Valley Line West. (City of Edmonton)
Marigold Infrastructure Partners, the company building the Valley Line West, released a lookahead video several months ago, stating Edmontonians will see “visible change” across the line this year.
According to the video, Marigold expects to finish all trackwork from Stony Plain Road to Lewis Farms by year’s end. A maintenance-and-storage facility at the line’s final stop is also expected to be completed.
Current closures and disruptions
As construction progresses, traffic disruptions will continue to affect nodes and corridors across the west end and into the downtown core.
This week, drivers can expect to see closures downtown on 104th avenue, between 116th and 118th streets, as well as 102nd Avenue at 105th Street. Starting July 17, there will also be disruptions across Stony Plain Road, from 149th Street to 156th Street.
On or around July 20, Marigold says the right-hand turning lane of Stony Plain Road, at 149th Street, will be closed, with turning being permitted from the through lane. Some crosswalks at the intersection will close, but wayfinding signage will be posted.
Agrawal said the city is on the right track — but the six-line system envisioned in 2009 is still a long journey away.