O-Train Line 1/3 [ Stage 2 | East Extension | Blair to Trim] | U/C

[J.OT13]

Tracks at Blair now connected.

Photo by me yesterday (October 31).

[SL123]

https://twitter.com/RailFansCanada/status/1587475790756827138?s=20&t=jQTBFS3i59oymV2BiQ0ebA

During the ongoing #FEDCO meeting in #Ottawa, further delays were announced regarding #Stage2LRT throughout Ottawa.

South: Fall 2023 (A year late)
East: Early 2025 (36 days)
West: Late 2026 (17 months)

It goes without saying that we are saddened by this news.

[RogueNacho]

Originally Posted by SL123

https://twitter.com/RailFansCanada/status/1587475790756827138?s=20&t=jQTBFS3i59oymV2BiQ0ebA

East: Early 2025 (36 days)

I was always expecting construction delays on the lines to come (#OnTrack2017 anyone?), but I am very content to hear that the East line is more or less still on schedule, since really 36 days in the grand scheme of things isn't all that much. As a daily commuter to and from Orleans, you can certainly see the amount of work being put into the eastern line along the 174, with most of the track work completed up to Jeanne D'Arc and most of the stations reaching what I'll call "structural completion", as in, most of the concrete and steel work is done except for the finishing touches like cladding, utility work, and interior finishes. Some areas are lagging behind, like Convent Glen station which is just now rising of the ground, but for the most part the eastern line is looking more and more complete by the day. If the construction crews can rush to finish and hand over the line by mid-2024, perhaps the testing schedule can be expedited and we can still open it to the public by end of 2024. Another alternative could be to finish and open up the line from Blair to Jeanne D'Arc and at least get that section going while they finish the back end of the line up to Trim.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by RogueNacho

I was always expecting construction delays on the lines to come (#OnTrack2017 anyone?), but I am very content to hear that the East line is more or less still on schedule, since really 36 days in the grand scheme of things isn't all that much. As a daily commuter to and from Orleans, you can certainly see the amount of work being put into the eastern line along the 174, with most of the track work completed up to Jeanne D'Arc and most of the stations reaching what I'll call "structural completion", as in, most of the concrete and steel work is done except for the finishing touches like cladding, utility work, and interior finishes. Some areas are lagging behind, like Convent Glen station which is just now rising of the ground, but for the most part the eastern line is looking more and more complete by the day. If the construction crews can rush to finish and hand over the line by mid-2024, perhaps the testing schedule can be expedited and we can still open it to the public by end of 2024. Another alternative could be to finish and open up the line from Blair to Jeanne D'Arc and at least get that section going while they finish the back end of the line up to Trim.

I hope that's considered. I get why they didn't want to do that with Confederation. Rideau was always meant to be a key part of the network and not opening it would have been problematic, but for the east, opening to Jeanne d'Arc, while keeping most buses routed to Blair for the time being, would be perfectly fine. Even to Place or Trim with Convent Glen delayed, would work out as well.

[SidetrackedSue]

Originally Posted by RogueNacho

I was always expecting construction delays on the lines to come (#OnTrack2017 anyone?), but I am very content to hear that the East line is more or less still on schedule, since really 36 days in the grand scheme of things isn't all that much.

In the grand scheme of things it is **over 36 months late**, not 36 days late.

The original plan was to have it finished by 2022. That means some time in 2021. It will now be ready in early 2026.

https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showpost.php?p=7715030&postcount=648

Don't let them off the hook for the compounding delays.

[Tesladom]

My thoughts exactly, it is only "36 days" late from the previous delay, and from the delay before that

As a casual observer, it seems a little far off considering the progress already made o this extension, looks to me like they should be ready by Summer 2023 from a construction perspective anyway

[Catenary]

Originally Posted by Tesladom

My thoughts exactly, it is only "36 days" late from the previous delay, and from the delay before that

As a casual observer, it seems a little far off considering the progress already made o this extension, looks to me like they should be ready by Summer 2023 from a construction perspective anyway

It's 36 days delayed from the contract date, not from the last update. It is not a compounded delay from the last update.

Considering the strike this summer, most of the delay can be attributed right there.

[Stacmon]

Originally Posted by RogueNacho

Another alternative could be to finish and open up the line from Blair to Jeanne D'Arc and at least get that section going while they finish the back end of the line up to Trim.

I hadn't considered this as an option and just assumed they would delay the whole extension rather than launch a section of it. I can imagine the city feeling the optics aren't great accepting and launching a portion of Stage 2 that only includes 2 stations instead of going all the way to Trim and cover all of Orleans, especially if it is just a question of months rather than a delay of nearly a year or more.

Now putting aside whether I think they would decide to do it, I actually think it is a good idea from a practical/personal perspective! The location of the Jeanne D'Arc station would capture a large portion of Northerwestern Orleans. Even in my case, where the Convent Glen Station will be closer (a 12 minute walk at my speed), I could get to Jeanne D'Arc in about 20 minutes, which would make it close enough to serve as my local stop, without relying on any kind of bus connection to get me to and from the train.

Currently my commute to work or trips on transit to downtown involve checking if one of 2-3 local buses are coming to get me to Blair and if not, a walk to Jeanne D'Arc to broaden my options to Blair/the train. To have the confidence/certainty that I could directly catch the train at Jeanne D'Arc after a 20 minute walk that is within my control/power (e.g., not having to rely on local bus trips being on time or not canceled), is much more important to me than having a shorter walk (12 vs 20 minutes) to Convent Glen. The incremental value isn't huge for me and although I am of course much more excited to be almost 10 minutes from high frequency transit, I could have survived and been generally content if Convent Glen Station was skipped completely, with the next one after Jeanne D'Arc being Place D'Orleans (I think is better of course that they didn't skip it). For others though 12 vs 20 minutes could well mean the difference between walking and connecting via local bus, especially people with mobility issues, the elderly or those whose decisions are more affected by bad weather (rain, snow, cold temperatures).

We'll see what happens and for now I will keep counting my blessings that Stage 2 East is so on time relative to West and South!

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by Stacmon

I hadn't considered this as an option and just assumed they would delay the whole extension rather than launch a section of it. I can imagine the city feeling the optics aren't great accepting and launching a portion of Stage 2 that only includes 2 stations instead of going all the way to Trim and cover all of Orleans, especially if it is just a question of months rather than a delay of nearly a year or more.

Now putting aside whether I think they would decide to do it, I actually think it is a good idea from a practical/personal perspective! The location of the Jeanne D'Arc station would capture a large portion of Northerwestern Orleans. Even in my case, where the Convent Glen Station will be closer (a 12 minute walk at my speed), I could get to Jeanne D'Arc in about 20 minutes, which would make it close enough to serve as my local stop, without relying on any kind of bus connection to get me to and from the train.

Currently my commute to work or trips on transit to downtown involve checking if one of 2-3 local buses are coming to get me to Blair and if not, a walk to Jeanne D'Arc to broaden my options to Blair/the train. To have the confidence/certainty that I could directly catch the train at Jeanne D'Arc after a 20 minute walk that is within my control/power (e.g., not having to rely on local bus trips being on time or not canceled), is much more important to me than having a shorter walk (12 vs 20 minutes) to Convent Glen. The incremental value isn't huge for me and although I am of course much more excited to be almost 10 minutes from high frequency transit, I could have survived and been generally content if Convent Glen Station was skipped completely, with the next one after Jeanne D'Arc being Place D'Orleans (I think is better of course that they didn't skip it). For others though 12 vs 20 minutes could well mean the difference between walking and connecting via local bus, especially people with mobility issues, the elderly or those whose decisions are more affected by bad weather (rain, snow, cold temperatures).

We'll see what happens and for now I will keep counting my blessings that Stage 2 East is so on time relative to West and South!

This speaks volumes on how the 'local bus' is now considered unreliable and that a 1 km walk is considered the better alternative. That is fine for some people, but the majority would not consider this acceptable level of service, and would choose a car if one is available.

Yeah, I could do the same here except that it is such an unpleasant walk, along a stroad, through massive parking lots and with missing sections of sidewalk, that I could not imagine doing this on a daily basis.

[Fading Isle]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

This speaks volumes on how the 'local bus' is now considered unreliable and that a 1 km walk is considered the better alternative. That is fine for some people, but the majority would not consider this acceptable level of service, and would choose a car if one is available.

Yeah, I could do the same here except that it is such an unpleasant walk, along a stroad, through massive parking lots and with missing sections of sidewalk, that I could not imagine doing this on a daily basis.

And if they built cycling infrastructure connecting residential/commercial areas with stations to coincide with the opening, that 20 minute walk to the station could be a 5 minute bike ride to the station.

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by Fading Isle

And if they built cycling infrastructure connecting residential/commercial areas with stations to coincide with the opening, that 20 minute walk to the station could be a 5 minute bike ride to the station.

That is part of the solution, but that is not an all weather solution for the vast majority. Also, improving cycling infrastructure is going to be long-term proposition, whereas I would hope we can improve bus reliability fairly quickly.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by Fading Isle

And if they built cycling infrastructure connecting residential/commercial areas with stations to coincide with the opening, that 20 minute walk to the station could be a 5 minute bike ride to the station.

If it's not too hot, or cold or raining or you're carrying too much or wearing something that isn't bikeable. You also need to find parking lock your bike hope it doesn't get stolen or damaged by rain.

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

If it's not too hot, or cold or raining or you're carrying too much or wearing something that isn't bikeable. You also need to find parking lock your bike hope it doesn't get stolen or damaged by rain.

And there are shower facilities at your office.

[zzptichka]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

If it's not too hot, or cold or raining or you're carrying too much or wearing something that isn't bikeable. You also need to find parking lock your bike hope it doesn't get stolen or damaged by rain.

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

And there are shower facilities at your office.

Why do you have such a low opinion of Canadians? In the countries with bike networks, like Netherlands or Denmark, everyone bikes everywhere without any issues in all kinds of clothing and weather, carrying all kinds of shit, and for some reason you think Canadians are too weak or made of sugar or something.

Local trips to the train station, school, park, playground, grocery store are ideal for personal mobility devices. You just pick the one that works for you, be it bike, e-bike, cargo-bike, e-scooter, mono-wheel or whatever. No, you won't get sweaty, and you can carry much more stuff on a bike than in your hands.

[Fading Isle]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

And there are shower facilities at your office.

Surely a shower isn't necessary for a 5-minute bike ride.

But everyone is of course correct that cycling isn't a solution for everyone and the only real solution is a functioning transit system where all routes are frequent and reliable. I was just pointing out that in this particular instance a 5-minute bike ride might be a tempting alternative for someone mobile enough to consider a 20-minute walk to be their preference. Without proper infrastructure, however, most people are going to say that it's too dangerous to even be an option.

[zzptichka]

Noticed that when some people talk about bikes they think of this:



But this is like thinking about Formula 1 or NASCAR when talking about your everyday car.

Real bicycles look like this:

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

Why do you have such a low opinion of Canadians? In the countries with bike networks, like Netherlands or Denmark, everyone bikes everywhere without any issues in all kinds of clothing and weather, carrying all kinds of shit, and for some reason you think Canadians are too weak or made of sugar or something.

Local trips to the train station, school, park, playground, grocery store are ideal for personal mobility devices. You just pick the one that works for you, be it bike, e-bike, cargo-bike, e-scooter, mono-wheel or whatever. No, you won't get sweaty, and you can carry much more stuff on a bike than in your hands.

Our weather is vastly different both on the cold and hot side but especially cold.

I make the 5 minute bike instead of 20 minute walk to work sometimes but very often regret it. It's simply easier to walk all factors considered. Further distances are a different story.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Fading Isle

Surely a shower isn't necessary for a 5-minute bike ride.

On a July day when the temp is 31 and the humidity is 78, I need a shower after LOOKING at a bike.

[zzptichka]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

Our weather is vastly different both on the cold and hot side but especially cold.

It is. Much rainier and windier in Europe. Our weather is better for short cycling trips if pathways are cleared.

[lrt's friend]

Now I know what I've been doing wrong. Maybe if I pushed for a cycle track in my neighbourhood, it would be plowed in winter. I can't get them to clear a pedestrian route