Ottawa Rapid Transit Network developments

[Capital Shaun]

Originally Posted by KHOOLE

If that's the case, then why not have eastend LRT end at Rideau and westend LRT end at LeBreton and rely on a circuitous centretown bus service dedicated to the inner core only, that both OC Transpo and STO could use? This way, by saving on the tunnel cost, the lines could be extended to Orléans and to Kanata and there would not be any transfers at Blair and at Tunneys'.

If the weather's nice, most people would walk to work from Rideau or from LeBreton anyway, just like the STO riders walk to work from Rideau or from the far end of Wellington.

In Montreal and Toronto, you can walk for blocks and blocks underground as well as go shopping, go to the bank, your doctor and favourite thirst-quenching oasis. We won't be able to do that in Ottawa.

We'll be crowded on a narrow platform at a one to two hour-long rush hour and then feel vulnerable because there won't be many people around to protect you from getting mugged.

Reset the button please, Jim! Larry did.

I certainly wasn't advocating that we force people to transfer to get around downtown. Your circular route idea would add an extra transfer if someone's destination isn't in downtown Ottawa or downtown Gatineau.

I myself have no qualms with walking 1km to get to/from transit but for some people it can be a deal breaker. I like the system in Montreal with it's two subway lines running in parallel through their downtown just under 1km apart. Their underground city is a 'nice to have' but I wasn't overly impressed by it.

I do have reservations with the current LRT plan. I think it doesn't plan far enough ahead into our city's future but I still think it will be better then what we have now. But the city needs to hurry up and plan and build its extension west to at least Lincoln Fields to really have the inner-city portion "completed".

[Hybrid247]

If Rideau Centre is going to act as a terminal for bus routes why doesn't OC consider building proper station where buses can turn around or park for a few minutes? Space is obviously limited so why don't they consider integrating it with the Rideau Centre expansion? Use the ground floor of the expansion for buses, where the parking lot currently is.

Sort of like this, but with a different layout


It would be right across from the proposed LRT tunnel entrance, where Scotiabank is, so they could build another entrance at the bus terminal and have both entrances link to the same concourse.

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by Hybrid247

If Rideau Centre is going to act as a terminal for bus routes why doesn't OC consider building proper station where buses can turn around or park for a few minutes? Space is obviously limited so why don't they consider integrating it with the Rideau Centre expansion? Use the ground floor of the expansion for buses, where the parking lot currently is.

Sort of like this, but with a different layout


It would be right across from the proposed LRT tunnel entrance, where Scotiabank is, so they could build another entrance at the bus terminal and have both entrances link to the same concourse.

Bus stations use up a lot of expensive land downtown, which could be better used for further intensification. Also for efficiency purposes, it will be a lot more effective to have downtown bus routes flow through downtown instead of turning around there, which will involve waiting time. I have never been a big fan of the split routes that have been implemented.

[Zach6668]

Where is that picture from?

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

Bus stations use up a lot of expensive land downtown, which could be better used for further intensification. Also for efficiency purposes, it will be a lot more effective to have downtown bus routes flow through downtown instead of turning around there, which will involve waiting time. I have never been a big fan of the split routes that have been implemented.

Zackly. The best "cure" for "too many buses" on Rideau, as if that's a problem, is to keep the suckers moving.

[Hybrid247]

Point taken. I would much rather that buses just continue through the downtown core, but that's why i said "If Rideau Centre is going to act as a terminal for bus routes", which seems to be the case unfortunately.

[Hybrid247]

Originally Posted by Zach6668

Where is that picture from?

That's Balmoral station in Winnipeg. I'm pretty sure it's the downtown terminus for most bus routes operating on Winnipeg's new brt.

[KHOOLE]

Originally Posted by Hybrid247

That's Balmoral station in Winnipeg. I'm pretty sure it's the downtown terminus for most bus routes operating on Winnipeg's new brt.

At first glance, I thought it was the bus terminal on Catherine Street.

Which brings the thought: what are the plans, if any, to link a bus terminal to Ottawa's LRT? One would think that Greyhound and OC Transpo should get together on this!

What about the Rideau Centre or the train station for an intercity bus station?

With DND moving out of downtown, there may be a fair amount of poorly utilized space at the George Pearkes building. How about converting the bottom two floors and the grounds to a combined OC Transpo and Greyhound bus terminal connecting to the LRT from both sides, Campus and Rideau Centre? In fact, the building itself could be part of the UO campus complex.

Also, any news about the Catherine Street location planned development?

[toaster]

Originally Posted by KHOOLE

At first glance, I thought it was the bus terminal on Catherine Street.

Which brings the thought: what are the plans, if any, to link a bus terminal to Ottawa's LRT? One would think that Greyhound and OC Transpo should get together on this!

What about the Rideau Centre or the train station for an intercity bus station?

With DND moving out of downtown, there may be a fair amount of poorly utilized space at the George Pearkes building. How about converting the bottom two floors and the grounds to a combined OC Transpo and Greyhound bus terminal connecting to the LRT from both sides, Campus and Rideau Centre? In fact, the building itself could be part of the UO campus complex.

Also, any news about the Catherine Street location planned development?

I assume the 101 will continue to run as the LRT does not replace it. Maybe it wont run past Hurdman, although I'm not sure it even does now?

[J.OT13]

The George Pearkes building, aka DND HQ, will continue to be fully occupied by the DND. All they are doing is consolidating a dozen or so smaller (or mid sized) offices around the region into the Nortel campus, but they will still have several DND office buildings around the region in addition to Nortel and George Pearkes building.

But yes, I think that the George Pearkes has huge potential for something a little more integrated into it's suroundings. The idea of the Canadian fort Knox in the middle of Downtown Ottawa is kind of idiotic.

By having a departement (or condo/hotel, or even a true mix) that requires less security in the building would give us oppurtunities like intercity bus service station in the parking lot and better connection between Mackenzie King and Laurier bridges.

[eternallyme]

Originally Posted by toaster

I assume the 101 will continue to run as the LRT does not replace it. Maybe it wont run past Hurdman, although I'm not sure it even does now?

It runs as far as St. Laurent now. Most of the ridership is on the Hurdman-Bayshore section though. It would likely continue to run either to Hurdman (via 417/Riverside approach) or St. Laurent skipping Hurdman (via 417/Coventry), or alternating between the two.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

The George Pearkes building, aka DND HQ, will continue to be fully occupied by the DND. All they are doing is consolidating a dozen or so smaller (or mid sized) offices around the region into the Nortel campus, but they will still have several DND office buildings around the region in addition to Nortel and George Pearkes building.

But yes, I think that the George Pearkes has huge potential for something a little more integrated into it's suroundings. The idea of the Canadian fort Knox in the middle of Downtown Ottawa is kind of idiotic.

By having a departement (or condo/hotel, or even a true mix) that requires less security in the building would give us oppurtunities like intercity bus service station in the parking lot and better connection between Mackenzie King and Laurier bridges.

Definitely integrate the building into the surroundings, but I wouldn't be a fan of an intercity bus terminal there, unless it was entirely underground, a la RTL in downtown Montreal. The land is too prime, and too close to the canal to waste on intercity buses.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by phil235

Definitely integrate the building into the surroundings, but I wouldn't be a fan of an intercity bus terminal there, unless it was entirely underground, a la RTL in downtown Montreal. The land is too prime, and too close to the canal to waste on intercity buses.

While we are dreaming up plans to boot the DND out of downtown (I'm not a fan of moving jobs out of downtown, but this is a special case), ya, I would definitely put the intercity bus terminal underground. It's slightly more realistic than reopening Union Station to intercity rail.

[KHOOLE]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

While we are dreaming up plans to boot the DND out of downtown (I'm not a fan of moving jobs out of downtown, but this is a special case), ya, I would definitely put the intercity bus terminal underground. It's slightly more realistic than reopening Union Station to intercity rail.

Was'nt there a problem about soil conditions for the LRT in that area?

[Dado]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

While we are dreaming up plans to boot the DND out of downtown (I'm not a fan of moving jobs out of downtown, but this is a special case), ya, I would definitely put the intercity bus terminal underground. It's slightly more realistic than reopening Union Station to intercity rail.

Or the site of DNDHQ could become an intercity rail and bus terminal...

That way you avoid the very real problems of getting to the old Union Station.

Theoretically, the old Union Station building itself could be moved (i.e. dismantled and reassembled). Given that we're moving a building at Lansdowne, Heritage designations don't seem to be too much of an obstacle.

One of Gréber's pre-war plans actually envisaged placing the rail station more-or-less where DNDHQ is, though I don't recall if it envisaged actually relocating the station building itself.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by KHOOLE

Was'nt there a problem about soil conditions for the LRT in that area?

U of O Campus ORT station area. So we could build an underground bus/rail station at the DND, but the tunnel from the Queensway to the DND would be problematic.

As for moving Union Station, we can't compare it to the Horticulture; the Horticulture's location had no historical significance as opposed to Union's stately location on the Rideau Canal (they actually demolished and rebuilt Sapper’s/Plaza Bridge to accommodate the station and Château Laurier). Furthermore, with bigger, deeper foundations, massive masonry, huge size and basement level(s) that are intergraded with the station (lobby to Hotel tunnel), it would make the move exorbitantly expensive and nearly impossible.

[Aylmer]

For the bus depot - how about Daly street under the Rideau Centre? I mean, it's already there: all it would really need is bus stop lanes and interior shelter and perhaps some ventilation, if there isn't already some.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Aylmer

For the bus depot - how about Daly street under the Rideau Centre? I mean, it's already there: all it would really need is bus stop lanes and interior shelter and perhaps some ventilation, if there isn't already some.

It's another possibility. Buses could take over part of the parking garage (and since the idiots are tearing down Ogilvy anyway, those spots could be moved to the new underground garage at that site).

[KHOOLE]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

It's another possibility. Buses could take over part of the parking garage (and since the idiots are tearing down Ogilvy anyway, those spots could be moved to the new underground garage at that site).

This is making a lot of sense.

There is a lot of untapped potential with good intercity bus transit between Ottawa and Montreal, and Dorval airport. The amenities are there: LRT, Rideau Centre, many hotels and restaurants nearby, as well as the NAC, the Market and night clubs.

I used to go to Montreal to visit friends and go shopping and have a night on the town with them. I was taking the midnight bus back to Ottawa and sleep all the way. Getting off at Catherine St and taking a cab home was a pain though.

The reverse could be done with Montrealers coming to Ottawa (revelers or entertainers) if a bus station was centrally located in a lively area of downtown Ottawa. Could really stir up good business on Rideau St.

There is a lot of potential in this idea.

[waterloowarrior]

Richmond/Byron looking likely http://t.co/WLUV1ytErv