Frank Weichman thought he might die before he saw it. Thankfully, the city’s new LRT route south from the university was launched late in April. Weichman, who has been part of the McKernan community league since 1974, and Sandy Guilbert from Belgravia were smiling and having fun as they chatted with friends and relatives while waiting for the inaugural train to arrive.
The two volunteers from the neighbouring communities have worked for decades to see their communities’ vision for a new commuter route through their neighbourhoods, come to life.
Guilbert is currently the Transportation Chair for the Belgravia Community League. In the 1980’s, the community was facing huge challenges. At the time, 114th Street was being considered for an eight-lane freeway. Guilbert says the community had to take the step of suing the city to stop plans for the arterial roadway, and won on procedural grounds.
As she rode in the new train, south past her community’s historic homes to the attractive McKernan/Belgravia Station, Guilbert was beaming with pride.
“I never use my car to travel downtown anymore,” she says.
The beautiful state-of-the-art station includes a tunnel under 114th Street to provide safe access for residents and students from McKernan elementary and junior high. The tunnel has security cameras and telephones for safety while walking underground.
Last fall, Guilbert won the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues’s award for Outstanding Project Leader. At the award ceremony, she was described as the ambassador as well as the eyes and ears of Belgravia Community League while working with the city during the planning and construction of the LRT route. Guilbert’s twenty years of diligence means the community got what it agreed to. Her constant vigilance, while the project was constructed, ensured contractors and the city were sensitive about their impact on the community.
Weichman is McKernan league’s longest serving member and also helped to push back plans to make 114th Street an eight-lane freeway.
Sporting a jaunty Tilley hat, Weichman described the quick ride south as “great.” He eagerly pointed out how the route might have run on the east side of 114th Street if the community league hadn’t intervened.
He also helped to plan the route west from the university to West Edmonton Mall.
Weichman, who also received the EFCL Outstanding Project Leader award last fall for representing McKernan community league on numerous transit committees - has been a regular at league meetings for more than 35 years.
At the opening ceremonies, only the mayor and other provincial and federal government dignitaries were allowed on the podium.
We like to imagine Guilbert and Weichman with their beaming smiles up there too.