Does the Edmonton's Valley Line Southeast LRT need crossing arms?
The design of the Valley Line Southeast LRT is being questioned by riders and city councillors.
A collision on Tuesday involving a train and a semi truck marks 18 crashes on the line since it opened last November.
The low-floor transit line has no crossing arms or gates.
It was designed to better fit into neighbourhoods by being quieter and noninvasive, but it's also seen many more collisions between trains and vehicles than the Metro or Capital lines, which have crossing arms.
The Metro and Capital lines have only had eight crashes since 2018.
Some community leaders say it’s time to have a public conversation around whether improvements are needed on the Valley Line.
Ward pihêsiwin Coun. Tim Cartmell says changes would be expensive, but worth a conversation.
"I think we have to actively decide that, 'Nope we're going to stay the course, we are going to keep this the same as it is now and we expect drivers to follow the lights'. That is not unreasonable at all. But on the same hand, we do things to keep people safe from themselves."
Cartmell says what side he lands on would depend on the cost and operational impact.
"If we get into rails and bells and safety arms, like we do on the capital line, well that means the cars stop all the time."
The union that represents Edmonton Transit Service workers doesn't represent the driver who was injured in Tuesday's crash because they are a TransEd employee, but says public safety for all transit workers should be paramount.
"Employers have a mandate to make a safe workplace," Steve Bradshaw of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 569 told CTV News on Wednesday.
The issue isn't currently on council's agenda, and Cartmell says he's not sure when it could be discussed in the future.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Nicole Weisberg
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
WATCH LIVE MPs debating second Conservative motion of non-confidence in PM Trudeau
Members of Parliament are debating the second Conservative motion of non-confidence in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government of the week.
Mounties in B.C. warn 'highly convincing' scammers extorting victims with photos of their homes
Scammers are increasingly using emails to extort money from victims by threatening to reveal compromising photos, videos and personal information to their friends and family members, according to a new warning from Mounties in Metro Vancouver.
Air Canada flight to Toronto diverts due to emergency
An Air Canada flight headed to Toronto from Frankfurt diverted to Edinburgh due to an emergency Thursday, the airline says.
'Unstable crane' stops traffic, closes Vancouver SkyTrain station
Vancouver police have blocked traffic and the SkyTrain's Millennium Line has suspended service to VCC-Clark Station due to an 'unstable crane' in the area.
BREAKING Canadian rapper K'naan charged with sexual assault following arrest in Quebec City
Canadian singer K’naan has been charged with sexual assault after being arrested by police in Quebec City.
WATCH LIVE Helene's winds batter Florida as Category 3 storm races toward the coast
Tropical storm force winds began battering Florida on Thursday as Hurricane Helene prepared to make landfall, with forecasters warning that the enormous storm could create a "nightmare" surge along the coast and churn up damaging winds hundreds of miles inland across much of the southeastern U.S.
NDP MP introduces bill to criminalize residential school denialism
An NDP MP has introduced a bill that would criminalize residential school denialism, saying it would help stop harm caused toward survivors, their families and communities.
Risk of eye infections prompts recall of eye drops in Canada
A Canadian pharmaceutical company is warning consumers not to use some of its eye drops because of potential microbial growth that may result in eye infections.
Sask. teen charged in arson attack says 'voices told her to do things'
A lawyer defending a 14-year-old accused of setting a classmate on fire says 'voices told her to do things' prior to a fiery attack which severely injured a classmate and a teacher at Evan Hardy Collegiate earlier this month.