Edmonton's Valley Line LRT in Another Collision: Renewed Calls for Safety Amid Growing Incident List

Well, here we go again. Edmonton’s Valley Line Southeast LRT, a project that’s certainly seen its share of challenges, was involved in yet another collision this past Sunday afternoon. It happened around the busy intersection of 83 Street and 86 Avenue, right there in the Strathearn neighbourhood – a scene that’s becoming, regrettably, a bit too familiar for residents and commuters alike.

Imagine the shock: a routine Sunday afternoon, then suddenly, an LRT train and a vehicle meet in an unfortunate encounter. From what we gather, the collision took place sometime around 3:30 or 4:00 p.m. on May 12th. Emergency crews were quick to respond, as you'd expect, arriving at a scene where a white car was visibly crumpled, pushed up against a light pole, showing significant damage to its passenger side. The train, thankfully, seemed to fare a bit better, with less apparent damage, but a collision like this is never a minor affair for anyone involved.

Naturally, the immediate aftermath brought about some pretty significant disruptions. Police had to close down sections of 83 Street southbound at 86 Avenue, and 86 Avenue westbound at 83 Street, to allow investigators to piece together exactly what happened. For those relying on the LRT, service was, understandably, thrown off course. Commuters travelling between Davies and Bonnie Doon stations found themselves boarding shuttle buses instead of trains – a temporary inconvenience, yes, but a necessary one to ensure safety and manage the incident.

Thankfully, by early Monday morning, around 5:00 a.m., the good news arrived: regular service on the Valley Line Southeast was back up and running. But even as the trains started moving smoothly again, the incident leaves a lingering question in the minds of many Edmontonians: what’s going on with this LRT line?

You see, this isn't an isolated event. Not by a long shot. The Valley Line Southeast, which only just began carrying passengers after years of delays and setbacks, has had a concerning number of incidents. Just think back to April 26th, when a train struck a pedestrian near Davies station. Or March 18th, another car collision at 75 Street and 81 Avenue. And before that? More incidents in October 2023 and February 2024, both involving cars and trains. It feels like a pattern is emerging, and it's one that raises serious questions about design, driver awareness, and overall public safety along the line.

Each time one of these collisions occurs, it’s not just about the immediate traffic snarls or transit delays; it’s about the peace of mind of every driver, pedestrian, and passenger navigating Edmonton's streets. As our city continues to grow and rely on public transit, ensuring the safety and reliability of our infrastructure, especially new additions like the Valley Line, really needs to be at the forefront. Let's hope that with each incident, valuable lessons are learned, and measures are put in place to make sure these "here we go again" moments become a thing of the past.