Confederation Line (Stage 1) | In Service 1.0

[TransitZilla]

Originally Posted by acottawa

So to summarize, bus passengers who are not hill staffers are supposed to endure a slower, less convenient route so that we can make some sort of political statement by giving buses a place of honour on Wellington street.

Weird.

I'm not sure why you say this. As mentioned Albert/Slater allows the STO to bring their customers closer to their destinations since it is a more central route and also allows them to serve uOttawa.

And according to the STO's website, 70% of their customers will see a reduction in travel time to downtown Ottawa http://www.sto.ca/index.php?id=696&L=en#c10052).

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by roger1818

Exactly. The idea is to reduce the motorized traffic (not just buses) on Wellington by reducing the number of car lanes. This will make room for a cycle track. Maybe they could also widen the sidewalks to make it more pedestrian friendly.

Goode pointe.

The north sidewalk between the Château Laurier and Parliament Hill in particular can get really crowded at times, with some people even walking in the street (when there are breaks in the traffic) to go around human bottlenecks.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Yeah. I am not getting it either.

I think it comes down to Uhuniau's desire to have all downtown buses (OCTranspo and STO) stop at Rideau station to create a central transit hub where you can transfer from any bus to any bus. That is why he wants buses buses on Laurier to take a longer, more windy route yet he wants the STO buses to take a straighter but less convenient route.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by bradnixon

In addition to the things everyone else has mentioned, reducing bus volumes on Wellington will allow it to be narrowed to allow for a 2-way cycle track on the north side, connecting the Portage Bridge to MacKenzie.

Yes, as usual: move the transit to make way for the cyclists.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by roger1818

There is also the issue of wanting the STO buses to connect to the LRT. Yes that could be done at Rideau, but for those travelling west, it makes sense to have them stop at the station closest to the bridge.

Yes, and?

(It's not the STO buses that have me concerned.)

Regarding "the touristic value of the space," it would be nice if they could greatly reduce the number of motor vehicles that use Wellington.

Not sure why that is particular to Wellington, but OK, I guess.

Not sure how re-routing buses from Wellington to Albert/Slater will help with this. LRT will result in a huge reduction of buses though.

Which buses are being sent to Albert/Slater?

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by acottawa

So to summarize, bus passengers who are not hill staffers are supposed to endure a slower, less convenient route so that we can make some sort of political statement by giving buses a place of honour on Wellington street.

Weird.

What's slower about Wellington compared to any other alternative?

The thing that slows buses down in the core - assuming ambient traffic is moving smoothly, the weather is OK, and the powers that be aren't wussing out and letting protestors block transit routes - is turns, especially of the left variety.

Keeping buses moving in straight lines help keeps buses moving. Regular, Wellington-using routes move through downtown faster than they do when on detour via Albert/Slater.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by roger1818

I think it comes down to Uhuniau's desire to have all downtown buses (OCTranspo and STO) stop at Rideau station to create a central transit hub where you can transfer from any bus to any bus. That is why he wants buses buses on Laurier to take a longer, more windy route yet he wants the STO buses to take a straighter but less convenient route.

1. Buses on Laurier? Longer, more windy routes? I quite expressly want buses to take LESS windy routes, which is why I dislike the city's plans to have downtown routes become less direct and more windy.

2. STO buses? I didn't think I was talking about STO buses; why do you think that?

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

What's slower about Wellington compared to any other alternative?

Even with good weather, no protesters, etc., Wellington is almost always slower than any other E-W downtown street, including because it is plugged up by tourist buses for 6 months of the year.

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

The thing that slows buses down in the core - assuming ambient traffic is moving smoothly, the weather is OK, and the powers that be aren't wussing out and letting protestors block transit routes - is turns, especially of the left variety.

Keeping buses moving in straight lines help keeps buses moving. Regular, Wellington-using routes move through downtown faster than they do when on detour via Albert/Slater.

Since going straight leads to Quebec and going right leads to scrutiny from the RCMP, any Ottawa bus has to make a left turn somewhere.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

Which buses are being sent to Albert/Slater?

As per the following map, STO routes 20, 23, 24, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 55, 59, 67, 200, 300 and 400.

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

2. STO buses? I didn't think I was talking about STO buses; why do you think that?

Because that is what the new bus lane on Lyon that we are talking about is for and those are the buses that are being diverted off of Wellington.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by bradnixon

I'm not sure why you say this. As mentioned Albert/Slater allows the STO to bring their customers closer to their destinations since it is a more central route and also allows them to serve uOttawa.

And according to the STO's website, 70% of their customers will see a reduction in travel time to downtown Ottawa http://www.sto.ca/index.php?id=696&L=en#c10052).

Sorry if there was a misunderstanding, I meant Wellington is the slower and less convenient route.

[zzptichka]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

Yes, as usual: move the transit to make way for the cyclists.

Except this whole discussion is literally about removing existing bike lane from Lyon to make way for the bus.

[roger1818]

I never got around to posting last weeks update, so here it is. Better late than never.

Construction Update
Week of NOVEMBER 9, 2017

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The new pedestrian plaza at uOttawa Station continues to take shape, while at Lees Station, crews complete the signband rough-ins at the platform level and the electrical rough-ins under the concourse area. At the downtown portion of Confederation Line, the Lyon Station east and west tunnel ventilation shafts progress towards completion. In the west, at Tunney`s Pasture Station, the mechanical, electrical and masonry work is ongoing.

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Landscaping taking place at Bayview Station

West Stations

Tunney’s Pasture Station
Current activities include masonry work at the platform level as well as mechanical and electrical work. Crews are also busy waterproofing the roof deck and completing installation of windscreen posts. Sections of inter-track barrier and plinths for the track within the station are also being installed.

Bayview Station
Landscaping continues to progress on the north and east sides of the station, while inside the crews are working to complete the curbs at the platform and concourse level. Porcelain framing is taking place in the auxillary building. The mechanical and electrical rough-ins continue.

Pimisi Station
The framing and brackets for the porcelain panels is ongoing. Installation of the porcelain panels will proceed starting in the lower concourse. Crews are also working on completing the roof over the east upper concourse. Escalators are being readied and the station is expected to have permanent power later this month.

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Starter walls progressing at the East Portal

Central Stations

Lyon Station cavern
At the west entrance, concrete patching continues and the TVS floor topping is poured. Plumping, electrical and HVAC work is ongoing. Architectural work such as tiling, lighting and glazing post installation progresses as well.

Lyon Station west TVS
Queen and Bay Street north side civil and road work continues this week. Crews complete the TVS this week with final platform removal and grate installation. This area will now be turned over to Tomlinson for streetscaping.

Lyon Station east TVS
Resources are allocated to complete the TVS with waterproofing, pipe reinstatement and backfilling. The TVS grate will be installed next week and this area will be turned over to Tomlinson for streetscaping.

Parliament Station cavern
Construction is ongoing and includes rough-ins, escalator support wall waterproofing and architectural work such as stair hand railing installation. Elsewhere, shotcrete activities take place for the west transition.

Parliament Station west entrance
At the integrated station entrance, intumescent painting, lanterns and miscellaneous steel are installed. Beneath the surface, rebar is installed and concrete pours take place for the south wall.

Parliament Station east entrance
The tunnel adit is cured, stripped and cleaned this week and the remaining waterproofing for the adit connection occurs. Work on the ceiling to prepare for fireproofing takes place at the integrated entrance.

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Work on the platform topping at uOttawa Station

Rideau Station cavern
At the station, the next phase of deck formwork is assembled, footings are installed and columns are poured. In the running tunnel, arch pours progress, duct bank walls are poured and shotcrete continues for the transition.

Rideau Station west entrance
Construction is ongoing at the station with excavation for the west TVS. Below ground, the arch formwork continues to be removed from the tunnel.

Rideau Station east entrance
This week, crews form and pour the TVS adit walls. In addition to this, mechanical installations are ongoing and insulation for the HVAC, mezzanine and elevator room walls is installed.

East Portal
Inside the tunnel, rebar and concrete pours continue for the arch. The starter walls for the cut and cover tunnel are completed this week with rebar installation and concrete pours for both the north and south walls.

uOttawa Station
The platform topping has started, and work on the pedestrian and cyclist pathway continues to progress. Porcelain panels are being installed in the concourse area. There will also be an upcoming three weeks of night closures along Nicholas Street for station works.

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Ongoing construction at Lees Station

East Stations

Lees Station
Crews will be at work landscaping the main entrance over the next few weeks, while framing and installation of the porcelain panels takes place at the platform level. Other work includes electrical rough-ins under the concourse area and completion of the signband rough-ins at the platform level.

Hurdman Station
Crews are working to install the vertical partitions for glass walls in the station. There is sandblasting taking place on the topping slab. Elevator and escalator installation is also ongoing.

Tremblay Station
Platform topping slabs are ongoing, including the colored concrete sections at the designated waiting areas. Other current works include installation of partitions for the exterior glazing wall, framing for the wood ceiling, and installation of panels around the skylight perimeter.

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Crews work on the platform topping at Tremblay Station

St-Laurent Station
Current activities include installation of insulated panels. Delivery and installation of fans as well as silencers for the tunnel ventilation system is scheduled to take place over the coming weeks. Electrical work will also be continuing through November.

Cyrville Station
Final grading is concluding. Other scheduled works include completion of the topping platform. Outside, demobilization and landscaping work will take place soon.

Blair Station
Landscaping is taking place north of the station. Progresss on the north side of the bus loop and the bus operator building progresses. Other upcoming work includes installation of the wood ceiling panels.

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Guideway inside St. Laurent Station

Guideway and Trackwork

Current trackwork focuses on the diamond crossover between Lyon to Parliament Station; the plinths at Tunney’s Pasture; tamping at Pimisi Station; and the track installation tie-in to the West Portal. In the eastern portion of the alignment, testing continues to progress.

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Crews continue LRV testing to Hurdman Station

Upcoming Construction Activities

In the coming weeks, the following construction activities are scheduled to occur:

• West Portal sewer connection work.
• Backfilling of the East Portal.
• Systems installation along the guideway, including OCS poles and wires.
• Station elevators and escalators being readied for service at multiple stations.
• Construction of the Rideau Station west TVS.
• Installation of lighting inside jersey barrier by uOttawa Station.
• uOttawa guideway sewer repairs Rebar installation and forming the stair walls at Parliament Station east entrance
• Finishing the paving work at the Hurdman bus loop.
• Complete the bus loop at Blair Station.

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http://www.ligneconfederationline.ca/construction/construction-update-149/

[phil235]

Originally Posted by bradnixon

I'm assuming there will still be a bike lane on Lyon south of Laurier, so if you're coming down Bay, you would have the option of jogging left on Laurier to Lyon or right to Percy.

Fair enough, but then you are retracing your steps (if you are coming from downtown). It's just disappointing that they can't find a route that connects to something in the business district and doesn't require a left turn.

[acottawa]

Is all that extra space in the St Laurent tunnel going to be used for something? (path, etc).

[phil235]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

Yes, as usual: move the transit to make way for the cyclists.

Isn't that the opposite of what just happened on Lyon?

[Lakeofthewood]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

What's slower about Wellington compared to any other alternative?

The thing that slows buses down in the core - assuming ambient traffic is moving smoothly, the weather is OK, and the powers that be aren't wussing out and letting protestors block transit routes - is turns, especially of the left variety.

Keeping buses moving in straight lines help keeps buses moving. Regular, Wellington-using routes move through downtown faster than they do when on detour via Albert/Slater.

You're obviously not wrong about left turns slowing buses down, but to just hate this idea based on left turns isn't a fair way to go about it.

You have to trade off the left turns against the fact that:

- Buses will now directly serve Parliament LRT Station
- There is likely more employment within a 5 min radius of Queen Street than there is of Wellington Street, not to mention more restaurants / bars / etc.
- The noted above arguments about making the area around our Parliament Buildings more tourist / pedestrian friendly.

There's probably a few I'm missing, but the point being, left turns are definitely bad, but as someone who frequently rides the 6 and 7 through downtown, I am more than happy to add a few left turns (and the travel time that comes with it) in order to have more convenient routes through downtown. And I'm positive I'm not the only one

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by roger1818

Because that is what the new bus lane on Lyon that we are talking about is for and those are the buses that are being diverted off of Wellington.

True. But what I was talking about is the anti-buses-on-Wellington fetish that the NCC birthed, and which the city has succumbed to, which will result (in my opinion) in poorer OCTranspo transit service and the replacement of the public sphere with more private sphere on Wellington.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Lakeofthewood

You're obviously not wrong about left turns slowing buses down, but to just hate this idea based on left turns isn't a fair way to go about it.

You have to trade off the left turns against the fact that:

- Buses will now directly serve Parliament LRT Station
- There is likely more employment within a 5 min radius of Queen Street than there is of Wellington Street, not to mention more restaurants / bars / etc.
- The noted above arguments about making the area around our Parliament Buildings more tourist / pedestrian friendly.

There's probably a few I'm missing, but the point being, left turns are definitely bad, but as someone who frequently rides the 6 and 7 through downtown, I am more than happy to add a few left turns (and the travel time that comes with it) in order to have more convenient routes through downtown. And I'm positive I'm not the only one

I am a very regular 6/7 rider as well. I don't see much added convenience by the swervy route to Queen vs. the linear one that exists on Wellington.

Boy, if only the planners had listened to those of us who called for access to the subterranean LRT station right underneath Bank Street instead of being offset from it by almost a block, but hey, what do transit users know?

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by acottawa

Is all that extra space in the St Laurent tunnel going to be used for something? (path, etc).

There is going to be a pedestrian pathway in that tunnel for access from Tremblay Road.

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

I am a very regular 6/7 rider as well. I don't see much added convenience by the swervy route to Queen vs. the linear one that exists on Wellington.

Boy, if only the planners had listened to those of us who called for access to the subterranean LRT station right underneath Bank Street instead of being offset from it by almost a block, but hey, what do transit users know?

Moving the 6/7 to Queen is good. It moves the routes closer to downtown destinations and it's a faster route due to less traffic.