Quebec City leaders in Edmonton to learn about LRT expansion
Posted March 17, 2026 4:16 pm.
Last Updated March 17, 2026 6:37 pm.
Believe it or not, Edmonton’s LRT is attracting national attention as leaders from Quebec City made the trip to Edmonton this week to see how our city runs. Tuesday morning, the mayor of Quebec City even rode on the Edmonton Valley Line LRT.
“When we look at what you have done since more than 40 years, you have done a lot. Way much more than other cities in Canada, much more than Quebec City. So we are here to learn, how do we plan more than 20 years,” said Bruno Marchand, Mayor of Quebec City.
Leaders from Quebec City say while they know Edmonton’s Valley Line Southeast LRT has had its issues, they are here to learn from their counterparts at Edmonton City Hall.
The mayor of Quebec City told CityNews he’s inspired by the foresight of Edmonton’s city leaders to build the LRT line extension.
“It’s impossible to build the thing you have built at the same price now, five years later. It’s impossible. The prices have gone up, sometimes double or triple. So you have done things in time when it is cheaper,” said Mayor Marchand.
From cracked concrete pillars causing construction delays to car crashes on the street-level LRT line, those in charge of LRT expansion with the City of Edmonton acknowledge some of the problems with the construction of the LRT line expansion, but say their colleagues from Quebec can still learn a thing or two.
“People like to focus on some the negativity, but we actually had a lot of great things go on and work really well as a part of the project, including the Davies Station,” said Bruce Ferguson, LRT expansion and renewal with the City of Edmonton. “We learn from every project, and I think there’s always something that we would do differently, but at the same time, I think we have a beautiful LRT system at the same time that is functioning really, really well.”
But while Quebec City leaders get a grand tour of Edmonton Valley Line Southeast LRT, what do those who ride the train every day have to say?
“Once it got going, it was really, really good. The background was a little bit dubious because it took so long, but I suppose all good things take time,” said one transit rider.
Another transit rider said, “I guess it depends on what time you’re on the train. I guess it’s not bad, but there are obviously some colourful characters. I think it’s a bit expensive, and there’s too much enforcement, because people who take the train clearly can’t afford vehicles, and are also still working taxpayers.”
The delegation from Quebec City is also getting a tour of Edmonton’s waste management facility, late Tuesday.
