Confederation Line (Stage 1) | In Service 1.0

[silvergate]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

This is why I'm disappointed that the hybrids are being phased out. They are so much smoother of a ride.

If OCTranspo can't use vehicles that are by their nature smooth-running, they need to up their game on driver training, because holy hell, Ottawa bus drivers are aggressive with their feet and hands, often to the point of it becoming dangerous, let alone uncomfortable, for passengers.

I was on the 87 once. Driver nearly missed the turn off the parkway, slammed on the breaks and cranked it left. An older gentleman sitting on the bank of seats across from the door literally flew off and crashed into the door. The bus had to stop and wait for an ambulance.
It's not always that bad, but I've noticed standing on the bus is often difficult, with sudden braking and hard sharp turns becoming the norm.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by silvergate

It's not always that bad, but I've noticed standing on the bus is often difficult, with sudden braking and hard sharp turns becoming the norm.

It's not fun if you're on non-transitway routes. Up and down Bank Street, Montreal Road, Carling, Somerset...start, stop, start, weave, stop.

At least with an automated LRT you can anticipate a sudden stop or bend or turn.

[DarthVader_1961]

Originally Posted by Jamaican-Phoenix

Right, but that's China; an authoritarian regime with few worker rights and protections and less stringent safety standards.

I have travelled enough in China to know that they are far more motivated to build train infrastructure than we are.... the number of people they move by train is crazy...

And the point about cheap labour is spot on

[OtrainUser]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

This is why I'm disappointed that the hybrids are being phased out. They are so much smoother of a ride.

If OCTranspo can't use vehicles that are by their nature smooth-running, they need to up their game on driver training, because holy hell, Ottawa bus drivers are aggressive with their feet and hands, often to the point of it becoming dangerous, let alone uncomfortable, for passengers.

STO drivers can be just as bad as the OC transpo drivers and i happen to use both systems and can agree they neec better driver training.

[J.OT13]

St-Laurent Station.


https://twitter.com/JimWatsonOttawa/status/956616761444569088

[AuxTown]

It's pretty great that there will be a direct modern connection between Ottawa's 3 big shopping centres (Bayshore, Rideau, and St. Laurent). They seem like the only thriving malls in town these days and I think this just solidifies them as the survivors from this recent trend of dying malls. Phase 2 can't come soon enough!

[kevinbottawa]

St. Laurent has undergone a big transformation. It really looks like a subway station. I can't wait to see it when it's done. It'll probably be the station I use the most.

[J.OT13]

Les Promenades and Carlingwood (though the Sears closure might drag them down*) seem to also be doing pretty well.

*According to a news story a few weeks back, they already have an "exciting" replacement lined up. No word on what that is, but an announcement should come soon.

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by O-Town Hockey

It's pretty great that there will be a direct modern connection between Ottawa's 3 big shopping centres (Bayshore, Rideau, and St. Laurent). They seem like the only thriving malls in town these days and I think this just solidifies them as the survivors from this recent trend of dying malls. Phase 2 can't come soon enough!

Gloucester Centre will be connected in Stage 1 at Blair. And Place D'Orléans in Stage 2.

[kmcamp]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

Gloucester Centre will be connected in Stage 1 at Blair. And Place D'Orléans in Stage 2.

Both of which are in the less successful category. I think Orleans is over-retailed, hurting that mall. Gloucester barely has any mall portion left, most of it has been coverted to big box stuff.

[eltodesukane]

Originally Posted by kevinbottawa

St. Laurent has undergone a big transformation. It really looks like a subway station. I can't wait to see it when it's done. It'll probably be the station I use the most.

I wonder about the heating of the station in winter..
Will it be better than the awful cold that was the norm, with a 10-minute limit push button taking 60 minutes to partly warm the freezing waiting area?

[eltodesukane]

Originally Posted by O-Town Hockey

It's pretty great that there will be a direct modern connection between Ottawa's 3 big shopping centres (Bayshore, Rideau, and St. Laurent).

The pedestrian connection to Bayshore is pretty bad. It connects in the most unwelcoming way to the parking garage, not to the mall. A very poor design.

[eltodesukane]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

Gloucester Centre will be connected in Stage 1 at Blair.

Do you mean a direct indoor connection, instead of the previous convoluted street-crossing outdoor connection?

[J.OT13]

What's the building between Blair Station and Gloucester Centre?

[PHrenetic]

Good Day.

Google streetview shows it as Ministry of Children and Youth Services office, Youth Justice services, Suite 175.

The connection to the Blair station BRT transitway was around to the northeast side of the building, outside. The glass overhang canopy along the side of the building shows the former way, and the doorway entrance to the ped overpass has been plywood hoarding covered up, with a yellow out-of-service message.
How the connection to the LRT station will be configured is anybody's guess, but most likely simply restored as was / is - lousy.

EnJoy.

[J.OT13]

Weird.

[Kitchissippi]

The odd thing about Gloucester Centre is that they could have/should have connected the second floor of the mall directly to the Transitway station when they first built it. Don't know if there was an unwillingness on both parties or a refusal to pay for it by either. The food court could have been more successful with an indoor link, like Billings Bridge Plaza.

[J.OT13]

I always wondered why that wasn't done.

[1overcosc]

Probably because of the time period in which it was built; back in the 20th century transit was seen as dirty and gross and malls wanted nothing to do with it. That's the reason why Lincoln Fields mall has no connection to the station there, likely the reason with Blair as well.

[J.OT13]

But wasn't Gloucester Centre built as TOD when the Transitway opened?