Ideas/Visions for Ottawa, Canada's Capital

[Horus]

I'm sure the Parliament sightline enforcers would LOVE having suspension bridge towers on the site of the Alexandra bridge

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Horus

I'm sure the Parliament sightline enforcers would LOVE having suspension bridge towers on the site of the Alexandra bridge

Aren't the Parliamentary Sightline Enforcers the exact same people who own the Alexandra Bridge?

[J.OT13]

The Alexandra Bridge is no landmark, but it is by far the best looking bridge we have in the NCR. I hope that when the time comes, they restore the stone pillars and rebuild the steel structure as is.

A re-built bridge should of course maintain the cycling and pedestrian boardwalk but convert the car lanes to STO LRT thus creating a rapid-transit station in the old CPR tunnel (and a transfer station with Rideau).

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

The Alexandra Bridge is no landmark, but it is by far the best looking bridge we have in the NCR. I hope that when the time comes, they restore the stone pillars and rebuild the steel structure as is.

A re-built bridge should of course maintain the cycling and pedestrian boardwalk but convert the car lanes to STO LRT thus creating a rapid-transit station in the old CPR tunnel (and a transfer station with Rideau).

This.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

The Alexandra Bridge is no landmark, but it is by far the best looking bridge we have in the NCR. I hope that when the time comes, they restore the stone pillars and rebuild the steel structure as is.

A re-built bridge should of course maintain the cycling and pedestrian boardwalk but convert the car lanes to STO LRT thus creating a rapid-transit station in the old CPR tunnel (and a transfer station with Rideau).

The Alexandra Bridge is totally a landmark.

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

The Alexandra Bridge is totally a landmark.

Very much so. It is Ottawa's version of the Quebec City rail bridge, which is famous. Tearing it down for something modern is something I would be very active in opposing. It is part of the city's heritage. If we want a beautiful modern bridge, build it Kettle Island. Residents who are against that bridge don't understand that bridges can be fabulous monuments that would actually enhance their neighbourhoods.

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

The Alexandra Bridge is no landmark, but it is by far the best looking bridge we have in the NCR. I hope that when the time comes, they restore the stone pillars and rebuild the steel structure as is.

A re-built bridge should of course maintain the cycling and pedestrian boardwalk but convert the car lanes to STO LRT thus creating a rapid-transit station in the old CPR tunnel (and a transfer station with Rideau).

I would love to see this happen. I believe the rock ledge where the Hull Electric Streetcars ran is still there, below Major's Hill Park.

[TransitZilla]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

If any bridge needs to be replaced with something more attractive, it is the Queensway bridge over the Rideau Canal.

The study for that bridge is underway, but it seems like they've already ruled out the more "landmark"-type options (arch or cable stayed).

http://queenswaydowntownbridges.com/

[lrt's friend]

I am not a big fan of streetcars for the most part, but I still think that a streetcar in a slightly raised reserved lane with traffic signal priority along Rideau Street and Montreal Road would greatly enhance the corridor and encourage redevelopment of the east part of Rideau Street and Vanier. I would love to see it reach the new WaterRidge development to encourage it to be a transit friendly neighbourhood. I know the argument is there that buses could be just as effective and cheaper but there just seems to be no incentive to do it right with buses in order to generate the desired TOD. I could see the right of way being shared by buses that feed in from side streets in order to preserve quality of service in neighbouring areas such as Overbrook. The east end of Montreal Road would be served by two way frequent bus loop to Blair and Beacon Hill and Cité Collégiale with a nicely designed transfer station to the streetcar line.

I just don't see a subway ever being viable or affordable, at least, not in my lifetime.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

The Alexandra Bridge is totally a landmark.

My apologies. It will never be considered an landmark by international standards, but yes it's certainly a local landmark.

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

I would love to see this happen. I believe the rock ledge where the Hull Electric Streetcars ran is still there, below Major's Hill Park.

Yup, walking/biking trail along the canal locks that connects to the old Hull Electric Railway station, now a bike rental shop.

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

My apologies. It will never be considered an landmark by international standards, but yes it's certainly a local landmark.



Yup, walking/biking trail along the canal locks that connects to the old Hull Electric Railway station, now a bike rental shop.

Would modern light rail be able to use this? We are using longer trains nowadays.

I wish they would open this up to the public, at least for Doors Open. The Hull Electric railway is quickly falling out of living memory.

[Aylmer]

Longer trains might not be able to use the tight turnaround, but they wouldn't need to since there are generally cabs at both ends. It would just pull in along the canal from the north, alight/board, and then head out the same way it came.

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by Aylmer

Longer trains might not be able to use the tight turnaround, but they wouldn't need to since there are generally cabs at both ends. It would just pull in along the canal from the north, alight/board, and then head out the same way it came.

Good Point

[J.OT13]

It would have to start negotiations between the the City, the NCC, Feds and Larco. As a condition to the Château Laurier's approval, the Larco and the feds would have to remove the photography museum and parking ramps in the old tunnel. Cleared for an eventual subway station.

Next, (in like 10 years), we build a STO LRT station in the tunnel/under plaza bridge with entrance/exist stairs at the same spot they were back in the Hull Electric Railway (HER) days (see canopies on the left side of the photo, on Rideau Street). Elevators can go up to the Château Plaza.


https://www.pinterest.com/pin/126100858286597254/

A new pedestrian tunnel can start from the old HER turning loop connecting an expanded tunnel between Union Station and the hotel, creating a subway concourse.


https://www.facebook.com/LostOttawa/phot...8732492/1157670807665475/?type=3&theater

Fro this new concourse, stairs, escalators and en elevator (or funicular) to Rideau Station's west concourse.



The STO station in the old tunnel could probably be done for a fairly decent price (relatively), but the connection to Rideau would be expensive. That part of the project could be done in phases within a decade after the STO line opens.

If VIA ever returned to Union, the project would be even more justifiable.

[kevinbottawa]

Future Lebreton Flats skyline from the Invest Ottawa promo video. https://youtu.be/4v6erjHnRbM

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

It would have to start negotiations between the the City, the NCC, Feds and Larco. As a condition to the Château Laurier's approval, the Larco and the feds would have to remove the photography museum and parking ramps in the old tunnel. Cleared for an eventual subway station.

The photography museum has long since been replaced by parliamentary committee rooms.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by kevinbottawa

Future Lebreton Flats skyline from the Invest Ottawa video below.

For their next trick, I hope they intend to show how those buildings would work at street level, because holy crow, that looks like some low-rent Dubai-on-the-Ottawa garbitechture.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by kevinbottawa

Future Lebreton Flats skyline from the Invest Ottawa promo video. https://youtu.be/4v6erjHnRbM

Thanks! Here's the video;

• Video Link

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

The photography museum has long since been replaced by parliamentary committee rooms.

I'm aware. Just figured Photography Museum was shorter and clearer than "Parliamentary Committee Rooms". Maybe I should have wrote "Former Photography Museum" or something. Same way I use Union or Union Station instead of the long and boring "Government Conference Centre".

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

For their next trick, I hope they intend to show how those buildings would work at street level, because holy crow, that looks like some low-rent Dubai-on-the-Ottawa garbitechture.

Based on renderings of Zibi, RVL, Trinity Centre and Claridge, we have a pretty good idea for most of the site.

[danishh]

looks like they added in a city centre and an oak street redevelopment there.

[J.OT13]

Watched the video. As I suspected, it's the same one used to try and lure Amazon. They just replaced the word "Amazon" with "Companies".

Still a good video.