Confederation Line (Stage 1) | In Service 1.0
 

OLRT project was just passed by council 24-0 and the money is starting to flow from the province and the feds. Perhaps this thing might actually get built???

I think there's a reference to the Confederation Line project on the Mayan calendar.

A 24-0 vote by council could only be an omen of the end of the world.

If something is going to cause this line not to be built, it's likely to be some major unexpected problem of a technical or engineering nature causing the budget to blow up.



On another note, since this thread is kind of redundant at the moment given that we already have a rapid transit developments thread, I nominate that this be the SSP Ottawa Confederation Line Construction thread. So hopefully lots of construction pics...

:uselesswithoutpics:


For anyone reading this thread in the years to come, especially if you're not from Ottawa, here's the City of Ottawa's light rail website:

http://www.ottawalightrail.ca

I second the motion. Can an admin rename it?

I nominate adding the '| U/C' as we do with other developments. It isn't necessarily redundant either, the other thread would include discussion about the O-Train and BRT, but it does make sense that this would end up being updates about construction etc.

NCC staff report
http://www.canadascapital.gc.ca/site..._-_lrt-all.pdf

For Rideau Station near the end (page 79), we can see parts of the Rideau Expansion plans.

That's the first time I've seen a render for that Downtown East Station entrance. Can it even fit there? it will obscure a garage ramp.

I'm surprised they are going for two separate ticketing concourses instead of one large central hall connected to all exits. I hate these types of stations where if you happen to be on one end of the train and the specific exit is down the other end of the platform. It's fine for outlying stations but not great for a downtown hub like Rideau. It is far less confusing to deal with wayfinding on a concourse level instead of the platform level.

I agree; it would be wise to connect the two sides, give people more options.

most depressing thing I read in that report: we're three weeks from the SEVENTH anniversary of the NCC-Claridge Agreement to develop Phase I of the Flats.

The Alstom rolling stock is apparently going to be a new variant of the Citadis, to be known as the Citadis Spirit:

http://www.alstom.com/press-centre/2...s-for-ottawa-/

"The new Citadis Spirit that Alstom is launching in the North American market will have many features that accommodate Ottawa’s particular needs. Designed in a high capacity version, it will be able to operate in extreme winter conditions. It will also benefit from a top speed of 100 km/hour (65 mph), reducing travel time between suburban areas and the City Center. As all Alstom trams, it will have a full low-floor accessibility and onboard bicycle storage. Alstom will build the vehicles in America and assemble them in Ottawa."

http://www.alstom.com/Global/Transpo...rit_ottawa.jpg

http://www.alstom.com/Global/Transpo...rit_ottawa.jpg

Great find, thanks!

that's a pretty sharp nose.

I always prefer two exits as it cuts down on walking time. You quickly learn which end of the train to board for your destination. It is also nice to see an actual Market entrance, in addition to the Rideau Centre entrance.

For sure; the more entrances, the better. I hope that it also connects to the Bay and the Rideau Centre expansion's Ogilvy corner.

But I still think they should have full length concourses at all three downtown subway stations.

Wouldn't this be substantially more expensive?

Possibly, but it would be worth the money. Practically all the stations in downtown Montreal have full-length or centralized concourses. Track level platforms don't make for good decision points, there are people waiting or madly dashing to catch a train, and sudden rush of an exiting crowd when a train arrives. A poor hesitant clueless soul trying to figure out the right exit in the middle of this is either a nuisance or a hazard. It's best to keep it simple so that every stair/escalator from the platforms goes up to the same concourse where the choices for exits can then be made.

Looking at what's proposed, it doesn't seem like an unreasonable effort to unite the two concourses:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8227/8...af7ba991_b.jpg

What would be awesome (but really disruptive) is if they just completely dug up Rideau Street for one level from William to Sussex, and had an underground mallway that had multiple connections to the basement levels of the Bay, Chapters and the Rideau Centre, etc. (therefore shorter stairs/escalators to and from street level), then a smaller central ticketing concourse at -2 level with 4 longer stairs/escalators to the extremities of the track platforms and elevators in the middle. The extra retail space could earn revenue to pay for this.

Does anyone know when construction on the Confederation Line is supposed to start? The website states that construction was supposed to have started in February (417 widening and maintenance/storage facility) but I have not yet seen any evidence that it has. Is there a website that will post construction updates?

We have to make sure that there is no possibility of the Confederation Line opening for the 150th anniversary of Confederation.

Yeah, I seriously doubt that the LRT line is going to be operational (let alone within the core) in four years.

Politicians love a good old-fashioned ground-breaking so I'd wait til we see the mayor with a shovel :)

Extremely disruptive, but a great idea! At least right-hand turns from Col. By onto Rideau (not allowed, save taxis, but not enforced) would be impossible. Straight thru from Col. By onto Sussex..woohoo!!! speed up my drive home!

Coming Soon to Ottawa - Alstom's Citadis Spirit
 

Found this Alstom promotional video showing the new trains "in action" for Ottawa on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=pAub0eX6u2w

In the opening scene, they seem to pave over the Canal with a highway :D

Actually, more ironic is the only way you could have that silhouette of the Ottawa skyline in the background would be if you were in Gatineau. Maybe there's a secret plan in the works to finally tear down the ugly Kruger plant and run interprovincial LRT through that site :D The sad thing about that is we would lose the apt symbolism of producing toilet paper right across below Parliament Hill.

The cars on the canal made me laugh, too.

I'm curious about the three different looks for the nose of the train ("Tulip" "Maple Leaf" and the edgy one); are they proposing Ottawa choose one of the three, or suggesting that we order slightly different looking trainsets, making for some "trainspotting" fun for the users who pay attention? The different (very brightly) coloured Citadis trams in they rolled out in Reims were a big hit: "have you seen the pink one?"

All the renderings I have seen so far have been the "Maple Leaf" design, which I can't say I'm particularly fond of (the "beak" it has is ugly). Many of the units in France seem cleaner and less polarizing design wise.

I can't see having multiple designs at once, since it complicates spare parts and maintenance with no monetary benefit. Paint is easier to change up.

The model they had at the public displays showed the maple leaf design with 5 cars, but the video showed two different lengths, 4 and 5 cars. Which are we getting, or is this a plan for eventual upgrade?

Finally a development!

http://www.rtands.com/index.php/pass...ml?channel=281

Looks like the first section of Transitway is about to be permanently closed.

http://www.octranspo1.com/routes/con...e_cosntruction

Ottawa Sun article;

http://www.ottawasun.com/2013/05/15/...ns-this-summer

Hierarchy according to J.OT13

System name: metro

Line name: Confederation

Stations;


Downtown West; Lyon or Place de Ville

Downtown East; Metcalfe, Parliement, World Exchange or Confederation (requires O-Train station name change, maybe to Heron)

Campus; University or University of Ottawa

Train; Stadium, Tremblay or rename the VIA and the ORT stations after someone deserving

No other changes.

But, while we are at it, lets play the name game for the western extension;

Westboro; Metropole (I don't like the surrounding street names)

Dominion; Westboro

Baseline; Algonquin or Algonquin College

My try:

DT East: Lyon
DT West: Parliament/Parlement
Campus: University/Université

I hate bilingual names. It should be a single name that works in both languages. University doesn't really work because Ottawa has more than one university. If they want to rename Campus Station they might want to call it UOttawa Station. Works in both languages.

As for Downtown East, I know a lot of people want a link to Parliament but it's tough to find this kind of name that works in both languages. How about Canada Station since it's arguably the most Canadian place in the entire country?

Lyon is not a bad name but it would be nice to have the other downtown station have a more nationally significant name befitting the heart of the capital. You'd need to find one that is both nationally significant and that is intuitive to metro riders to give them an idea what is around there.

Downtown West: it provides access to Queen St. Any appetite from Ottawans to call it Queen Elizabeth Station? She's our head of state after all. And yes I know that Queen Street is named for Victoria rather than Elizabeth.

I like these names.

Dear god no. Lyon and Metcalfe are good names for the downtown stations, and much more "pure Ottawa". Besides, we already have a QE Driveway.

Yeah, maybe to avoid different names in different languages, Campus could be kept Campus, but I rather like Parliament/Parlement: It's only one or two short blocks away and it's informative for tourists (for what it's worth). One bilingual name isn't too bad.

Tunney's Pasture should just be named Tunny to make it better in French too (Pré Tunny is pretty hideous IMO)

It seems taken for granted that the names should be bilingual, but considering none of the Transitway ones are (Billings Bridge, Tunney's Pasture, Place d'Orleans etc.), I'm not sure that that is necessarily high on the list of criteria.

That said, I'm personally in favour of using Lyon and Metcalfe - they are simple and straightforward.

Campus could be renamed Colonel By. It's the station with the most direct access to the Canal and honours the founder of the city.

Downtown East could be called Confederation Station — as the centrepiece of the Confederation Line (I doubt people are going to regularly refer to it as that after the project is built anyway). They'll have to rename the O-Train station out in Confederation Heights, the name "Confederation" is wasted out there.

Bilingual names? For heaven's sake ...

Bilingual names in Ottawa? Whoda thunk it? :)

How about some bilingualism on the other side? Oops ...

Just because there's a precedent for idiocy on this topic in this town doesn't mean it should persist.

Parliament
Parlement

80% of the English word is exactly the same in French. If a Francophone can't figure it out, then, too damn bad.

Please keep the idiocy contained within certain borders.

:)

I am not even gonna touch that one...

I would run them as follows - how would I make them bilingual? I would append the French equivalent in smaller font below the English text on the signs, when a translation exists. If no translation exists, it should be a single name.

Tunney's Pasture (Pré Tunney)

Bayview

LeBreton

Library - Centretown (Bibliotheque - Centre-Ville)

Parliament (Parlément)

Rideau Centre - Lower Town (Centre Rideau - Basse-Ville)

uOttawa

Lees

Hurdman

Tremblay - VIA

St. Laurent

Cyrville

Blair

On the western extension, I would just append Algonquin to Baseline, calling it Baseline - Algonquin.

I am all in favour of bilingualism, but I don't think we need to change history to make it happen. A number of transitway stations are French names, although the majority are English sounding.

When the system gets expanded along Montreal Road or up into Gatineau, I think we will naturally see more French named stations added.

I don't think we are talking about names with proper nouns. It's not about making Peter Smith Station into Station Pierre Lefebvre in French. It's more about stations that identify landmarks without proper nouns as their names (like Parliament) with language-neutral names.

I don't really have that strong feelings about it, but being Ottawa you gotta know this will be a consideration.

Personally I hate Reception/Réception, Souvenirs/Souvenirs Toilet/Toilette type bilingual signage anyway... I am not that fond of Tunney's Pasture/Pré Tunney either.

As far as I'm concerned just pick one language for the station and go with it.

Forget the Parliament/Parlement thing.. just name it Parliament

Forget the University/Université thing.. just name it Université

or vice versa

This is Ottawa we can get by with some things named in French and others English, especially when they are that close to each other.