Confederation Line (Stage 1) | In Service
 

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