Abstract Manager

Arcadis was retained by the City of Edmonton to complete the rehabilitation of 103 Avenue from 100 Street to 101 Street, including the 100A Street alleyway in Edmonton, Alberta. The vision driving design was to create a ‘shared street’ that set the standard and precedent for future streetscape opportunities. The avenue was to be transitioned into a pedestrian environment that supports safe and comfortable pedestrian movement, sidewalk vibrancy, LID initiatives, quality urban design, and more trees/greenery. Working with the City, key stakeholders and sub-consultants, Arcadis completed the public engagement, strategy (visioning) concept design, preliminary design, detailed design, and tender phases including provision of engineering support during construction.

Several GBA+ elements were integrated as part of the design such as: defined universal access routes with edge of path delineation, benches suitable for seniors which include backs and armrests, wheelchair-accessible gathering areas, passenger drop-off / pull-outs with no curbs to allow easy access in and out from vehicles, and strong visual and textural cues to help define boundaries and edges. GBA+ aspects were also incorporated into an inclusive public engagement process.

As with all design and construction projects in established urban areas, grading design of the roadway, sidewalk, and landscape areas to ensure positive drainage from buildings/property lines was complex. The topography of 103 Avenue is very flat with numerous building constraints, such as at grade entrances and very shallow underground parking lots, which add to the challenges of managing stormwater runoff.

Surface stormwater runoff is directed to landscape planters/berms through grading and curb-cut inlets. Modifications to existing storm sewer systems were constructed to accommodate new LID features, specifically soil cells. An iterative design process and detailed site constraint analysis was implemented for 103 Avenue Streetscape. Landscaping included a mix of trees in soil cells with tree grates and trees, shrubs, and grasses in raised planter beds. LID planting species were selected with key stakeholders (EPCOR), who complete the maintenance.

Integrating new utilities and LID features with existing utilities, street lighting ducts, and proposed trees required intensive coordination efforts to negotiate. Separation of the combined sewers was explored with governing bodies (EPCOR) but determined to be unfeasible at the time. LID systems and designs were approved and partially funded through agreements between EPCOR and the City of Edmonton. EPCOR continually updates their LID standards based on previous projects they have funded allowing for lessons learned to be incorporated on new projects.