The 100 Street Funicular

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The 100 Street Funicular opened to the public on December 7, 2017, with the help of the River Valley Alliance, provincial and federal governments. Since opening, the funicular has increased access to the River Valley for Edmontonians and visitors and has created a landmark and connection between downtown and the River Valley. While the funicular is the prominent feature of the site, the Mechanized River Valley Access project also included the development of stairs, viewpoints, pedestrian bridge, artwork and an elevator.

Please note

For the health and safety of the public, when outdoor temperatures reach 30°C or above, the 100 Street Funicular will close for the remainder of the day.

Hours

Funicular and Elevator	7am-9pm daily
Promontory, Stairs, Promenade, Bridge and Frederick G. Todd Lookout	5am-11pm daily
Washroom (Located in Louise McKinney Park)	9am-9pm daily

Location

10007 - 100 Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta

Features

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1. The Promontory (Top Platform)

The promontory allows users to take advantage of the amazing views from the top of the bank near the Hotel Macdonald. It includes a sheltered canopy for loading onto the funicular as well as seating areas to take in the River Valley.

2. The Urban Staircase

Between 4.5 m and 7.5 m wide, the urban staircase welcomes a variety of users, from those running the stairs to those who want to sit and enjoy the view. There is also a bike rail along the stairs to accommodate cyclists.

3. The Funicular

The glass-enclosed, cable-propelled funicular is 3m x 2.2m and fits up to 20 people. It accommodates wheelchairs, walkers, strollers, and bikes, carrying them up and down the incline from the top of the bank to the promenade. It does not have an operator and functions like an elevator during park hours.

4. The Promenade

The stairs and funicular land on a promenade welcoming both through-traffic and those who want to sit and take in the views.

5. Seating Area

The promenade includes a grassy seating area with benches. The benches feature an integrated public art piece, Turbulent, adding a simple sculptural layer while offering a place for people to sit, pause, lounge or converse. Turbulent is inspired by the unique water patterns of the North Saskatchewan River.

6. Pedestrian Bridge

The pedestrian bridge provides safe passage across Grierson Hill Road. It connects the promenade to the lookout and is approximately 6m above the roadway.

7. The Lookout

The bridge gently slopes down to overlook the edge of the river. A glass railing and built-in seating allows a seamless way to take in the river to the south and the downtown skyline to the north.

8. The Elevator & Staircase

The elevator is an essential component of creating accessible, barrier-free access to the river valley. From the bridge, the elevator and staircase connect users to the existing trail system. The elevator holds up to 10 people and is open during regular park hours.

9. Connection to Existing Staircase

The bottom half of the wooden staircase linking Grierson Hill Road to the top of bank near the Hotel Macdonald is connected to the project with a path to the new promenade.

10.

The total walk from the top of the urban stair to the bottom landing by the trails is approximately 260m (850 feet).

Information

It functions like an elevator and doesn’t require an operator
Service animals are welcome
Lights inside the funicular, on the stairs, promontory and promenade
Emergency intercom system available
Interior cab is not heated or cooled
Near Louise McKinney Riverfront Park
Note: Funicular may close in extreme temperatures to ensure the safety of riders.

Improvements

A number of improvements were made to the funicular site in December 2018. They included:

Installation of a heating loop in the door sill to prevent ice formation at the lower doors
Installation of a glass roof over the lower doors to help reduce issues during winter weather
Installation of surface raised markers, handrails, and graphic signage at the staircase for people with visual impairments
Modified bike rails on the urban stair and elevator staircase to improve use

Stories

The funicular has given more people the opportunity to access the River Valley. Read more about this in our Transforming Edmonton blog post and share your funicular story on social media.

For More Information

311 Contact Centre

Online	Contact 311 Online

If you are calling from outside of Edmonton: 780-442-5311

Telephone	311
TTY	780-944-5555