Confederation Line (Stage 1) | In Service 1.0

[S-Man]

I saw that same sign that night. My main thought was 'the MTO needs an editor.'

[1overcosc]

According to the roadheader page, the eastern roadheader began excavating Rideau Station last week.

[1overcosc]

The Booth-Lebreton closure is happening on December 21. Booth Street will be closed from the parkway to Albert Street, the Preston extension from Albert to the parkway will open, and Lebreton Station will be relocated west to the new Transitway & Preston intersection. These closures will allow construction to begin on the grade separation of the Transitway & Booth intersection in preparation for the Confederation Line.



This closure was not supposed to happen until June 2015 according to the Transitway detours report from last year. More hope that we're ahead of schedule!

[Kitchissippi]

I imagine construction of Pimisi Station will be rolled into this as well since it's partly under that viaduct. It would be so cool if we could even just have the Pimisi to Rideau section open by the summer of 2017 with free rides to facilitate tourist crowd circulation

[Capital Shaun]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

This closure was not supposed to happen until June 2015 according to the Transitway detours report from last year. More hope that we're ahead of schedule!

Six months early! That's good to hear. I've lived in Ottawa my whole life and I've never seen such a large infrastructure project move so fast.

[ACmodels]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

I imagine construction of Pimisi Station will be rolled into this as well since it's partly under that viaduct. It would be so cool if we could even just have the Pimisi to Rideau section open by the summer of 2017 with free rides to facilitate tourist crowd circulation

I totally agree having it open in the summer of 2017 from Pimisi to Rideau even better to Bayview, instead of Hurdman to Blair in 2017 as what I hear from...

[eemy]

Only issue is that the yard is east of Rideau, so it might not be possible for trains to get to that section of the line.

[ACmodels]

Originally Posted by jeremy_haak

Only issue is that the yard is east of Rideau, so it might not be possible for trains to get to that section of the line.

Transport them by Truck to Bayview or Pimisi then use a crane to out it on the track

[Kitchissippi]

Originally Posted by jeremy_haak

Only issue is that the yard is east of Rideau, so it might not be possible for trains to get to that section of the line.

By 2017, most of the track should be laid since they were targeting a few months of testing for the 2018 rollout anyway. It's the stations that will need work, so if they put some extra effort on the 4 downtown stations which have a headstart anyway, getting a the trains there shouldn't be an issue. Rideau to Pimisi would mean the line would be relatively disconnected from the rest of the transit system, which can be a good thing — if it was a free, non-essential service it can pulled out of service at anytime. The nice thing about removing the novelty of the using the LRT and the tunnel earlier is that it will be easier when it finally does open because people will be familiar with the busiest underground stations and it won't be flooded with joy-riders.

[J.OT13]

Good points. This might actually happen.

On a different note, the Confederation Line website states that full demolition of the ScotiaBank building will start in January 2015. I'm looking forward to seeing what will replace it.

Now if they could demolish the Podium Building....

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

The nice thing about removing the novelty of the using the LRT and the tunnel earlier is that it will be easier when it finally does open because people will be familiar with the busiest underground stations and it won't be flooded with joy-riders.

I've thought about this and figured that the city would be wise to do two things in expectation of this:
-Have the first day of service be a Saturday, so initial joy riders can get their fill on the weekend.
-After, for the first week or two, run trains at slightly higher frequencies than needed (as in, every 2m45s at peak instead of 3m, and every 4m30s midday instead of 5m, etc.). A small enough difference that regular riders won't notice a drop in service when the first week or two ends, but a big enough difference to have an increase in capacity.

[c_speed3108]

They could also do a phase-out of the bus routes rather than a hard cut-over.

[rocketphish]

Construction Update
Week of December 7

Asphalt paving occurs on the Preston Street detour


The Preston Street detour will allow transit, commuters, pedestrians and cyclists to use Preston Street during the Booth Street closure and construction of Pimisi Station.

Construction continues along the Preston Street detour, and includes asphalt paving and installation of street light poles. Shelter installation is ongoing this week by OC Transpo.


Rebar and support system installation in the Lyon Station cavern


Jawbreaker

Cavern reinforcement is ongoing with rockbolt, rebar installation, shotcrete and support system.

Mining in drifts is anticipated to continue until end of December.


Ongoing formwork in the Parliament Station cavern


Chewrocka

Construction of a lower level support system is ongoing, including formwork, storm sewer and conduit installation.


Crocodile Rouge

Rideau Station cavern excavation has begun.

Tunnel reinforcement is ongoing with shotcrete and rockbolt installation.


Scotiabank building demolition on Rideau Street


Internal abatement of the existing Scotiabank building continues in advance of building demolition scheduled to being in January 2015.


Belfast Yard administration and maintenance building construction continues


Masonry work, cladding and panel installation for the Belfast Yard building envelop and roofing are ongoing through winter.

Construction of the internal components continue during the winter months.


Verona temporary support system at the Belfast Yard connector


Works on the Belfast Yard connector are ongoing with the removal of the steel bridge under the VIA Rail tracks scheduled for end of week.


Caisson drilling north of the existing Hurdman Station


Elevated guideway work for the future Hurdman Station is ongoing with caisson drilling north of the existing Hurdman Station.


St. Laurent Boulevard off-ramp paving and curb construction


Drilling median foundations, installing electrical and light poles advances from Cyrville Road to Nicholas Street.

Paving occurs at St. Laurent and Lemieux streets, and Vanier Parkway.

Sewer crews continue to work in the median lane throughout winter.


Ongoing reconstruction of median span at Hurdman Bridge


Reconstruction of the median span at the Hurdman Bridge is ongoing, with panels on the abutments and girder installation.

The east and west multiuse pathway closures continue.


Demolition of removed Vanier Parkway overpass


Vanier Parkway Overpass

Demolition of the old Vanier Parkway Overpass continues at the staging area while final works occur on the overpass.


Ongoing ceiling system works on the Coventry Pedestrian Footbridge


Construction of the Coventry Pedestrian Footbridge ramps


Electrical and plumbing works are ongoing at the Coventry Pedestrian Footbridge and concrete pours continue for the next weeks on the stairs and landings on the north and south sides.


Albert at Preston looking west


Complete sidewalk reinstatements on Albert Street between City Centre Avenue and Preston.

[lrt's friend]

It will be very expensive to offer more frequent service than anticipated. We can't be buying extra trains to be put into service for a very short time. I am still very skeptical about the possibility of a 2017 launch simply because this will put additional pressure on a brand new system. To possibly do a 2017 launch, we need service to begin in spring 2017, the earlier the better, in order to get any kinks out of the system, before the 2017 summer celebrations centred around July 1st.

Also, I can't see anything but a hard cutover to new bus routes. Otherwise, what will be a confusing situation will be made even more confusing for riders. It will also affect the city's ability to address problems if there is a phase-in. In other words, it won't be clear what problems exist if there is some sort of phase-in and this will just extend out the problem period.

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

It will be very expensive to offer more frequent service than anticipated. We can't be buying extra trains to be put into service for a very short time. I am still very skeptical about the possibility of a 2017 launch simply because this will put additional pressure on a brand new system. To possibly do a 2017 launch, we need service to begin in spring 2017, the earlier the better, in order to get any kinks out of the system, before the 2017 summer celebrations centred around July 1st.

My idea would be increases in frequency that are very, very, very small. Like I said, something like reducing peak headways from 3m to 2m45s for the first two weeks. A very subtle change like that will temporarily increase capacity by about 10%, and only require one additional peak train. I believe the city has already bought enough trains to allow for frequencies to fall to 2m without additional purchases, so it shouldn't be an issue.

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

Also, I can't see anything but a hard cutover to new bus routes. Otherwise, what will be a confusing situation will be made even more confusing for riders. It will also affect the city's ability to address problems if there is a phase-in. In other words, it won't be clear what problems exist if there is some sort of phase-in and this will just extend out the problem period.

Agreed for the most part. I certainly don't want a slow transition from the old to the new that starts two weeks before and ends two weeks after, for the same reasons you said.

I do think some local route changes could and should be done in the years leading up to 2018, though. An example is the 6-101-102 change earlier this year. The way the 6 and 101 are now set up will work very well with the Confederation Line. In 2015 and 2016 we should be pursing opportunities to do similar reforms of the local route network to enhance future compatability with LRT.

[cr872190]

So as of fairly recently I have a family member who works with the City in close collaboration with the rail office and with RTG. He could say very little, and I can say even less on here. But as for 2017 there are CURRENTLY no plans to have anybody on trains. They are planning something pretty cool with one station for that summer though.

As far as other 2017 plans go, planning is well under way and their 'wish list' is pretty long and pretty amazing. Things are being planned for all year with an extensive downtown winter event, and a summer event planned for the Ottawa River. I really don't want to get anyone in trouble but think of a certain corporate sponsor that has done events on the Quebec side in the last few years and you would have a pretty good idea of what they are least vying for.

Fun tidbit, the City is currently running a charity auction (within the City) and one of the prizes is a trip into the tunnel in the spring to check out the dig. As of yesterday the bids were just under $200 with only a few days left. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me, if only anyone was able to bid.

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by cr872190

Fun tidbit, the City is currently running a charity auction (within the City) and one of the prizes is a trip into the tunnel in the spring to check out the dig. As of yesterday the bids were just under $200 with only a few days left. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me, if only anyone was able to bid.

If they opened that to the public, and ran this contest every month, it would raise quite the chunk of change. Perhaps there's too much liability issues for opening it to the public, though.

[JM1]

I suspect the hassle factor/work slowdown/escorting required to have visitors in the tunnel far outweights the $200 bids.

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

If they opened that to the public, and ran this contest every month, it would raise quite the chunk of change. Perhaps there's too much liability issues for opening it to the public, though.

[Arcologist]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

To be fair, the Trainyards development is a disgrace in every sense of the word for using such a central location for the worst possible style of suburban retail. I hate the place and I avoid it whenever possible.

I COMPLETELY agree! Everyone should boycott the place for that very reason.

With such a central location, this should have been a high-density, vibrant, mixed-use community, not another suburban big box retail development.

[Catenary]

In the past few days Rideau Centre has put up lots of new hanging ceiling signage inside, leading to the food court, parking, The Westin and other prominent destinations, including the LRT. The logo is the linked "OC" next to the circular Confederation Line stylized train, and is outside the food court. I was surprised to see that logo representing trains, since I thought it was more of a marketing gimmick for the construction, and the existing OTrain logo would be used, but maybe it will stick around. I also wonder if the logos won't be covered up until they're actually in use.