Confederation Line (Stage 1) | In Service 1.0

[Lugnut]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

• Video Link

Amazing video, thanks for posting that.

One of the things I wish Waterloo Region had done with their LRT project is cover/enclose the stations the way you guys did.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by Lugnut

Amazing video, thanks for posting that.

One of the things I wish Waterloo Region had done with their LRT project is cover/enclose the stations the way you guys did.

I also think Waterloo Region's LRT would be better with trains.

[CityTech]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I assume they went with Tunney's because it is a significant employment destination, minimizing the number of transfers to rail.

I'm biased because I live next to Westboro station, but I think objectively speaking, it would have been better to end Phase 1 at Westboro station, but with buses from the west continuing to run from Westboro to Tunney's Pasture until Phase 2 opens, with buses pulling into both stations. My logic is that this would have made bus transfer arrangements more manageable. Bus passengers from the west bound for downtown would get off the bus at Westboro to transfer to the LRT, while those bound for Tunney's would stay on. This would make the western terminus of the line a less hectic transfer point.

Ending at Dominion would have been problematic because at the time they were planning Phase 1 they weren't sure about how the extension to Lincoln Fields was going to proceed and the exact placement of Dominion would have potentially compromised some of the options, but Westboro would not have interfered with any of these plans. Furthermore, it wouldn't have cost much more.

[Uhuniau]

Westboro probably doesn't, and Dominion certainly doesn't, have enough room for the bus portion of a bus:LRT interface.

[corynv]

Originally Posted by CityTech

I'm biased because I live next to Westboro station, but I think objectively speaking, it would have been better to end Phase 1 at Westboro station, but with buses from the west continuing to run from Westboro to Tunney's Pasture until Phase 2 opens, with buses pulling into both stations. My logic is that this would have made bus transfer arrangements more manageable. Bus passengers from the west bound for downtown would get off the bus at Westboro to transfer to the LRT, while those bound for Tunney's would stay on. This would make the western terminus of the line a less hectic transfer point.

Ending at Dominion would have been problematic because at the time they were planning Phase 1 they weren't sure about how the extension to Lincoln Fields was going to proceed and the exact placement of Dominion would have potentially compromised some of the options, but Westboro would not have interfered with any of these plans. Furthermore, it wouldn't have cost much more.

Why would people get off one stop early, than at the last stop if they're going to the same place? While yes there would be some people who'd do that I'd argue that most people would just carry on to tunney's to get onto the LRT.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

Westboro probably doesn't, and Dominion certainly doesn't, have enough room for the bus portion of a bus:LRT interface.

I was wondering about this, so I checked Google Earth. I think Westboro probably would have had room. Unless I am missing something.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Lugnut

Amazing video, thanks for posting that.

One of the things I wish Waterloo Region had done with their LRT project is cover/enclose the stations the way you guys did.

So what did they do for ION? Glorified bus shelters or something? Did they at least install heating elements for cold weather?

OC Transpo's Transitway BRT had/has *mostly* enclosed stations all along its network. Though not sure about heating elements.

[Kitchissippi]

Originally Posted by CityTech

I'm biased because I live next to Westboro station, but I think objectively speaking, it would have been better to end Phase 1 at Westboro station, but with buses from the west continuing to run from Westboro to Tunney's Pasture until Phase 2 opens, with buses pulling into both stations. My logic is that this would have made bus transfer arrangements more manageable. Bus passengers from the west bound for downtown would get off the bus at Westboro to transfer to the LRT, while those bound for Tunney's would stay on. This would make the western terminus of the line a less hectic transfer point.

In my opinion, the ideal Stage 1 would have been Hurdman to Lincoln Fields. This would have lumped all the painful parts of the transition in one blow. Both terminals being Transitway nodes would have had long term use for the bus transfer points. I think a fully automated metro standard running this length would have sufficed for decades

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

In my opinion, the ideal Stage 1 would have been Hurdman to Lincoln Fields. This would have lumped all the painful parts of the transition in one blow. Both terminals being Transitway nodes would have had long term use for the bus transfer points. I think a fully automated metro standard running this length would have sufficed for decades

I like the idea of stopping at Westboro for logistical reasons given that the "ditch" and right of way is already there and there is probably sufficient space around the station for local bus pads and such.

On an east-west axis, it's also just about where the traditional inner city built form ends while going west.

While going to Lincoln Fields would be great, there isn't even an existing Transitway corridor to that station, and hammering something out with the NCC or whatever would have been a huge pain. It may have been as complicated and costly as the section through downtown - OK, maybe I'm exaggerating. But not that much, really.

[Acajack]

Also, stopping at Hurdman made little sense as it's solely a transfer point and not a "destination" for anything.

Plus you had low-hanging-fruit going east to actual destinations like St-Laurent and Blair, with the rights of way and grade separations already in place for the entire route.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by Acajack

So what did they do for ION? Glorified bus shelters or something? Did they at least install heating elements for cold weather?

OC Transpo's Transitway BRT had/has *mostly* enclosed stations all along its network. Though not sure about heating elements.

Yep, the ION has stations that resemble the Toronto streetcar shelters on Spadina and St. Clair (although most are centre platforms). I don't think there are any mostly-enclosed stations.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by phil235

Yep, the ION has stations that resemble the Toronto streetcar shelters on Spadina and St. UI Clair (although most are centre platforms). I don't think there are any mostly-enclosed stations.

I just noticed that on ION's website, they refer to ''stops'' and not ''stations''.

[lrt's friend]

ION is closer to a streetcar line while Confederation Line is closer to a metro. The difference in expected ridership and frequency is in line with that difference. Station sizes and amenities are consistent.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by Acajack

While going to Lincoln Fields would be great, there isn't even an existing Transitway corridor to that station, and hammering something out with the NCC or whatever would have been a huge pain. It may have been as complicated and costly as the section through downtown - OK, maybe I'm exaggerating. But not that much, really.

You are bang on. It took several years of negotiations with the NCC to agree on a route between Dominion and Lincoln Fields for Stage 2. That would have delayed the opening of the line until at least 2020 if not 2021. The cost increase would also have been substantial. Better to get it built part way sooner and figure out the extension later.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by phil235

I also think Waterloo Region's LRT would be better with trains.

And the Confederation Line would be better with stations.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by roger1818

You are bang on. It took several years of negotiations with the NCC to agree on a route between Dominion and Lincoln Fields for Stage 2. That would have delayed the opening of the line until at least 2020 if not 2021. The cost increase would also have been substantial. Better to get it built part way sooner and figure out the extension later.

In fairness, I suppose that having the buses runs on the (relatively) uncongested western parkway with the NCC's blessing seemed like a really good idea at the time.

But it has had the effect of compromising the logical evolution of rapid transit in the west end of Ottawa. With the most obvious result the eastwardly lopsided (when you look at it on a map) first phase of the Confederation Line.

[Truenorth00]

I attended some of the early public consultations, nearly a decade ago. They also cited Orleans having some of the highest transit ridership as part of the reason for picking the Eastern alignment first. It was both easier to do. And the return on bus operations savings was substantial. In short, it offered the best ROI.

[J.OT13]

Why are Rideau's stairs and escalators aligned while Parliament's are way offset?

[kmcamp]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Why are Rideau's stairs and escalators aligned while Parliament's are way offset?

For the panache? I can't think of any technical reason.

[Aylmer]

Perhaps to encourage people to take the shorter flight of stairs at Parliament by putting them first. You can't reasonably do the same at Rideau since it's so deep.