Confederation Line (Stage 1) | In Service 1.0

[MalcolmTucker]

Doesn't look much larger than the Canada Line's station heads, which serve far smaller trains and ppdph, with more even user flow even flow, and in this example, a far less busy stop.

[OTSkyline]

They're right... let's just cheap out and get this instead

[Kitchissippi]

I was thinking the opposite, that there weren't enough entrances and that the concourses, especially at Parliament and Rideau stations were not big enough for the potential volume during large events. I do, however, think that they should tuck these entrances into existing buildings. That rendering with a car driving next to a glass wall right against a curb looks ridiculous, how could that even pass though the safety filters at city hall?


A rendering of the plans for the Ottawa LRT station serving Parliament Hill as they stood in 2012.

[MalcolmTucker]

^ If the building wasn't built for it, it is pretty expensive to retrofit in a major entrance. Even just going down one floor would take 3 floors of volume since you need an elevator. Then you have a second concourse level for a total of three elevators or more for limited mobility people.

[Kitchissippi]

What's so difficult about cutting through floor plates? The WEP already goes far below the subway tunnel, and will only result in the loss of a some underground parking spots. (they're putting an elevator that at the Rideau Centre where the SDM is now) A few metres from the proposed location there's even this archway that looks like it should lead to somewhere instead of just windows and would make a great subway entrance: http://goo.gl/maps/HWhJx
In fact direct access is what the WEP needs, and its atrium is exactly the type of spaces that should be linked to get a good balance of indoor and outdoor spaces accessible to transit given our climate.

More of the problem is probably taking privately owned space for public use. The city could be more creative with this, like maybe offering a tax reduction in lieu of providing the space.

[MaxHeadroom]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

What's so difficult about cutting through floor plates? The WEP already goes far below the subway tunnel, and will only result in the loss of a some underground parking spots.

WEP is more complicated because the entire north parking garage wall over the five underground levels is a car ramp. Not saying it's easy or impossible, but if you look at some of the bizarre tunnel arrangements in the Toronto PATH, it will happen but it will take time.

[1overcosc]

The WEP was built when the city was planning a bus tunnel, and the plan was for a BRT station to be built into the WEP. Its my understanding that the WEP was thus built with a roughed-in BRT station. Perhaps enough elements survive that an LRT entrance could be retrofitted in.

Although, given that a good amount of excavation for the stations has already been completed, it may be too late to change the entrance location.

[McC]

But those tunnels were supposed to be under Albert-Slater, no?

[Kitchissippi]

Originally Posted by MaxHeadroom

WEP is more complicated because the entire north parking garage wall over the five underground levels is a car ramp. Not saying it's easy or impossible, but if you look at some of the bizarre tunnel arrangements in the Toronto PATH, it will happen but it will take time.

I'll check again, but I think there's actually a basement level between P1 and the ground floor, which is why there's a significant ramp to get in from and out on to street level.

At any rate, there are other options, too, like the Re Condo site. I've been crossing my fingers that they would do an entire rethink (pardon the pun) of the development and build in a subway entrance that incorporated both Queen and Sparks street access.

[Capital Shaun]

Originally Posted by McC

But those tunnels were supposed to be under Albert-Slater, no?

I believe you're correct. The alignment under Queen is recent.

[J.OT13]

The WEP subway entrance, if it was ever built, would be on the Albert side of the complex.



Althoiugh it looks like there's a pedestrian tunnel from Albert towards Queen, although it is/would be a few hundred feet form the subway concourse.



http://urbsite.blogspot.ca/2013/12/world-exchange.html

But with a little investment from Bentall Kennedy (also the owners of SunLife Centre, that will have a direct connection to the ORT), it could be done fairly easily.

Even if it doesn't happen, we're only going to end up with one subway entrance blocking the sidewalk, one of the widest sidewalks in town. Lyon entrances will be built into PdV and the new Claridge building as they seem to have dripped the sidewalk entrance near the Delta (which would have been nearly useless). And of course Rideau entrances are inside existing buildings: Rideau Centre and Scotiabank (although it will bump out onto a pedestrian street).

[1overcosc]

Isn't the Scotiabank building being repurposed entirely as a station? That bank is closing in a few months, and I assumed it was because of expropriation.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

Isn't the Scotiabank building being repurposed entirely as a station? That bank is closing in a few months, and I assumed it was because of expropriation.

It was expropriated and they have vacated the premises (and moved to 700 Sussex) but it's apparently temporary.

Newer renderings show a new bump out (top pic) as opposed to a new build as revealed in December 2012 (bottom pic).


http://www.confederationline.ca/the-build/rideau/gallery/attachment/rideau-exterior-main-entrance/


http://metronews.ca/news/ottawa/466891/c...ize-traffic-transit-disruptions-for-lrt/

Of course on the Confederation Line PDF released a few weeks ago, there was mention of demolishing a building for the east entrance of Rideau Station so... Hoping to see it gone.

[1overcosc]

Just saw this on the mayor's twitter:

"I look forward to bringing @Kathleen_Wynne and @GalipeauOrleans into the LRT tunnel tomorrow as we release some good news! #progress"

Big news coming tomorrow?

[Kibb]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

Just saw this on the mayor's twitter:

"I look forward to bringing @Kathleen_Wynne and @GalipeauOrleans into the LRT tunnel tomorrow as we release some good news! #progress"

Big news coming tomorrow?

Phase 2 funding me hopes.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by Kibb

Phase 2 funding me hopes.

If it was funding there would probably be a cabinet minister from the feds. Probably a construction milestone (tunnel 25% done or something like that). Also, if it was funding it would not be done in the dead of August.

[1overcosc]

Wouldn't bringing the Premier & a federal MP in be a bit of an overkill for a progress milestone? I mean, it could be that she's in Ottawa anyway for a meeting with Harper or something, and decided to pop by.... but then why is Galipeau of all people here? A bit of an odd choice...

I agree that Phase 2 funding is unlikely... it's early given the city hasn't filed a request and the EAs are not yet complete, plus these kinds of things usually come in around budget time / election time. The provincial government has already committed to Phase 2 funding in principle, perhaps the federal government is about to do the same?

An announcement of early opening perhaps? We all know they're ahead of schedule, perhaps they're formally announcing a new January 2018 target instead of May 2018 or something.

[gjhall]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

Wouldn't bringing the Premier & a federal MP in be a bit of an overkill for a progress milestone? I mean, it could be that she's in Ottawa anyway for a meeting with Harper or something, and decided to pop by.... but then why is Galipeau of all people here? A bit of an odd choice...

I agree that Phase 2 funding is unlikely... it's early given the city hasn't filed a request and the EAs are not yet complete, plus these kinds of things usually come in around budget time / election time. The provincial government has already committed to Phase 2 funding in principle, perhaps the federal government is about to do the same?

An announcement of early opening perhaps? We all know they're ahead of schedule, perhaps they're formally announcing a new January 2018 target instead of May 2018 or something.

Galipeau has been the point person consistently from the feds on this project. He was there for the signing of the agreement and for the breaking ground of the western portal.

I would bet it's a construction milestone. It's not overkill, it's 'summer tour'.
BBQs and kissing babies, etc. Good news to fill the newsless summer void.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by gjhall

Galipeau has been the point person consistently from the feds on this project. He was there for the signing of the agreement and for the breaking ground of the western portal.

I would bet it's a construction milestone. It's not overkill, it's 'summer tour'.
BBQs and kissing babies, etc. Good news to fill the newsless summer void.

Good move keeping Galipeau out front. He is probably the most vulnerable Con MP in the region and as Orleans is very pro-transit.

[Kitchissippi]

I'm crossing my fingers for an early opening, even if it is limited operation. If you look at the schedule, why would they even make the 2017 celebrations as a highlighted milestone. All construction is supposed to be finished on October 2017 with "an extended period of testing", which if all is going well could be moved months ahead. I wouldn't be surprised if they finish the Queensway widening by spring of next year instead of the fall, two seasons ahead of schedule.