Confederation Line (Stage 1) | In Service 1.0

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

There's been a slow-moving transit crisis for two decades. We're finally dealing with one portion of it (the east-west Transitway, which, despite popular belief, has been failing for most of its existence, not just the past few years before the LRT project was greenlit).

But we're doing absolutely nothing about the even worse performance of the heavily-used trunk routes within the core, and in fact making things worse by devoting the next half-century of transit development almost entirely to suburban extensions of an already suburban-oriented LRT project.

When are we going to address the URBAN transit problem?

We can't wait a whole lot longer.

Well, it has been over 50 years in Toronto and they still don't have shovels in the ground for the DRL.

So, given that, I suspect that it will not even be on anyone's radar for at least a decade. Mind you, if the rework of the bus routes eases those routes, it could be even longer.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by roger1818

For people going downtown, it should be just as fast (maybe even slightly faster for those going to the far end of downtown). It won't be the big time savings that people are hoping for though.

Maybe not a big time savings relative to those off-peak times when Transitway buses can actually move on Albert and Slater, but compared to the daily busjam times on workdays... big time savings, even after adjusting for time eaten up in transfers.

Now, if only the time of those of us who rely on regular, non-transitway routes mattered as much.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

Well, it has been over 50 years in Toronto and they still don't have shovels in the ground for the DRL.

So, given that, I suspect that it will not even be on anyone's radar for at least a decade. Mind you, if the rework of the bus routes eases those routes, it could be even longer.

The reworking of the bus routes is predicated entirely on the notion that has gotten into the transit planners' heads that everyone taking transit in Ottawa, for any reason, at any time of day or week, wants to, or should have to, achieve at least a portion of their trip by LRT.

As long as this is the stupid overarching goal for the endless tinkering and worsening of transit service along central main streets like Bank, Elgin-Main, Montreal-Rideau, and Somerset-Wellington-Richmond, then there won't be any "easing" of anything. The worsening problems with transit along the downtown main streets are not going to be solved by magical LRT-related thinking.

And they are certainly not going to be solved by the bike-first mentality that's governing street rebuilds these days.

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

The reworking of the bus routes is predicated entirely on the notion that has gotten into the transit planners' heads that everyone taking transit in Ottawa, for any reason, at any time of day or week, wants to, or should have to, achieve at least a portion of their trip by LRT.

As long as this is the stupid overarching goal for the endless tinkering and worsening of transit service along central main streets like Bank, Elgin-Main, Montreal-Rideau, and Somerset-Wellington-Richmond, then there won't be any "easing" of anything. The worsening problems with transit along the downtown main streets are not going to be solved by magical LRT-related thinking.

And they are certainly not going to be solved by the bike-first mentality that's governing street rebuilds these days.

But.... but, but, aren't you advocating for even more LRT? So, even you think that your trip should be done by LRT.

I figure after Stage 3 of the complete build ot and replacement of the LRT is done, they may look towards the core for routes.

[OCCheetos]

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

But.... but, but, aren't you advocating for even more LRT? So, even you think that your trip should be done by LRT.

I figure after Stage 3 of the complete build ot and replacement of the LRT is done, they may look towards the core for routes.

The next things on the list are Baseline BRT and Carling LRT. Anything for the core is well beyond 2031 unless there's a big change in council for when the TMP is reviewed next term.

[Reecemartin]

[Deleted]

[OCCheetos]

Originally Posted by Reecemartin

Whats considered to be in scope for Stage 3?

I feel like the sentiment that too much focus is being placed on the LRT is misguided, if lots of weight is put there it will only accelerate expansions and improvements that will likely trickle to all users

Kanata, Barrhaven, and maybe Gatineau.

[kevinbottawa]

Originally Posted by 613Steve

They've recently cleared trees on Byron Ave. in order to prepare for construction.

I'm surprised there wasn't a big uproar.

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by kevinbottawa

I'm surprised there wasn't a big uproar.

They've all done the math on how much their home values go up with a transit line in their hood.

[Catenary]

Originally Posted by monkeybongo

You son will have the same delays as everyone in the West for the transfer at Tunney's. The rest of his trip is exactly the same. Given that O-Train departures are longer and the main bottleneck in the route, he may not even have a significant delay in the best case.

The main thing is that once Phase 2 is in place, the problem is solved ... except he'd be graduated by then.

Edit: Just noted that proposed local bus routes will likely route to Tunney's instead of Westboro so you'll save some time there - 50, 81, 11 should get you there.

The delays due to the double transfer will pale in comparison to the Trillium line shutdown and replacement by the current 107.

I could see the 107 terminating at Tunney's though - when the train shutdown for the summer of 2013 it ran to LeBreton, as there were layup facilities there. They can't do the same for short term closures due to passenger confusion, but Preston-Albert-Scott to Tunney's Pasture is a possible 107 routing for the Phase 2 shutdown.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

I figure after Stage 3 of the complete build ot and replacement of the LRT is done, they may look towards the core for routes.

Doubt it. If we continue electing suburban-centric politicians, and that's pretty much exclusively what's available, here is what I expect after Stage 3:

• Extensions deeper into Stittsville (because suburbs);
• Extensions deeper into Barrhaven (because suburbs);
• Converting the S/E Transitway (because fairly cheap to do, yet not necessary);
• Converting Cumberland Transitway and/or building it LRT in the first place (because suburbs);
• Kanata North;
• Extension into Manotick (because suburbs);
• Converting the Trillium Line (because capacity/reliability issues, who would have guessed!! );
• Maybe the Carling Streetcar (because fairly cheap to do).

After then maybe, just maybe streetcars on Bank-Rideau-Montreal, which will cost billions and be a complete disaster.

[roger1818]

^^^ You are unfortunately, probably right. Just look at how Vancouver keeps expanding further into the suburbs. The Canada Line wouldn’t have happened if the province hadn’t held its ground because of the Olympics due to objections of the suburban mayors.

A couple months ago I wrote an email to Jan Harder and CCed Shad as he’s my councillor voicing my support for the Barrhaven LRT EA and stating that it should be a higher priority than extending beyond Terry Fox. Shad had a total melt down and sent me an angry response at 5:15am from his Blackberry. This gives you an idea of the city’s feeling on this.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

But.... but, but, aren't you advocating for even more LRT? So, even you think that your trip should be done by LRT.

I think you are missing the point.

I figure after Stage 3 of the complete build ot and replacement of the LRT is done, they may look towards the core for routes.

I pretty much guarantee you that this will not be the case.

The city will be tapped out in terms of its borrowing capacity for any LRT - especially anything that involves going below or above grade - for the rest of the lifetimes of anyone typing here.

It's buses for the rest of us for the rest of the century. And slow buses, because god and Jim Watson forbid that any street redesign in the core ever give any kind of preference to transit users over drivers and cyclists.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

They've all done the math on how much their home values go up with a transit line in their hood.

And yet they haven't done the math on how that might incentivize someone to take advantage of LRT-vicinity redevelopment prospects, and are shocked, SHOCKED, when someone proposes replacing a detached single-family house with anything other than another detached single-family house.

[lrt's friend]

Any idea associated with the 2006 Chiarelli plan will not get built until all the councillors associated with the debacle are gone.

No Carling LRT
No Montreal Road LRT
No re-use of cross-town tracks.
No double tracking of Trillium Line.

[OCCheetos]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

Any idea associated with the 2006 Chiarelli plan will not get built until all the councillors associated with the debacle are gone.

No Carling LRT
No Montreal Road LRT
No re-use of cross-town tracks.
No double tracking of Trillium Line.

From the last time it was brought up in council (I believe it was the week before the Barrhaven EA was approved), it sounds like an EA for the Carling LRT may still happen in the (nearish) future.
My bad, it was about the transit priority corridor plan, not LRT.

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

I think you are missing the point..

I know, I know, you want to step outside and onto an LRT.

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

Any idea associated with the 2006 Chiarelli plan will not get built until all the councillors associated with the debacle are gone.

No Carling LRT
No Montreal Road LRT
No re-use of cross-town tracks.
No double tracking of Trillium Line.

Originally Posted by OCCheetos

From the last time it was brought up in council (I believe it was the week before the Barrhaven EA was approved), it sounds like an EA for the Carling LRT may still happen in the (nearish) future.
My bad, it was about the transit priority corridor plan, not LRT.

Prioritizing a corridor may be the new first step to LRT.

[OCCheetos]

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

Prioritizing a corridor may be the new first step to LRT.

Weirdly enough, they were referring to the Affordable Network Plan. In Jim Watson's original motion he claimed that the Barrhaven LRT extension was the only major part of the plan that didn't have a complete EA despite the fact that neither the Kanata, Stittsville, or Barrhaven extensions are featured on either the affordable, or concept plans. The Carling LRT is even featured on the concept plan while the other two are not.

Is Carling considered a "core" issue?

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

Prioritizing a corridor may be the new first step to LRT.

Maybe, but I think the city has given up on at grade LRT (for the time being at least) as level crossings are too scary.