O-Train Line 2 [Stage 1 | Bayview to Greenboro] | In Service

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by OTSkyline

Looking forward to the developments starting up around Gladstone.

Which one should see shovels in the ground first? The large one on Gladstone or the one tucked away where they are supposed to build a new road network ?

My bet is on Gladstone Village, the vacant land east of the tracks. The developer of the bread factory has been dragging its feet and resubmitting basically the same project countless times.

[SL123]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

My bet is on Gladstone Village, the vacant land east of the tracks. The developer of the bread factory has been dragging its feet and resubmitting basically the same project countless times.

My bet is also on that one. The Ottawa Community Housing website has Fall 2022 has a construction start. Obviously that didnt happen but that could easily mean a start in 2023 is plausible
https://www.och-lco.ca/gladstonevillagep1/

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Gladstone is a great addition. Still blows my mind that the City sees Dow's Lake, where we're getting the highest levels of TOD in the City and soon the largest hospital and thought, "this is fine, just add on elevator and call it a day".

It's frustrating because this is one station that can be mostly covered whilst still remaining outdoors but it seems like we'll get neither a suitably covered platform or anything interior whatsoever. I think of something like Rosedale in Toronto, which although is outdoors is still covered for its entire length.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7dX5BnelYg

I would assume this is straightforward to do in a station like Dow's Lake where they're using natural walls along the station, but perhaps there's a structural issue hindering this sort of build. Or financial.

Anyway, it'll be another disappointing station. I'm getting tired of walking up and down wet, slick sets of stairs, as was the case yesterday at a number of stations given the weather. I guess Dow's Lake will be similar.

[Harley613]

I think the Dow's Lake Station will need to be overhauled immediately after the hospital opens. They are doing this expansion the Ottawa way: save money now to impress constituents, let the next councils worry about spending five times more to do it properly than it would have cost to do it properly the first time.

[Multi-modal]

Originally Posted by JHikka

It's frustrating because this is one station that can be mostly covered whilst still remaining outdoors but it seems like we'll get neither a suitably covered platform or anything interior whatsoever. I think of something like Rosedale in Toronto, which although is outdoors is still covered for its entire length.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7dX5BnelYg

I would assume this is straightforward to do in a station like Dow's Lake where they're using natural walls along the station, but perhaps there's a structural issue hindering this sort of build. Or financial.

Anyway, it'll be another disappointing station. I'm getting tired of walking up and down wet, slick sets of stairs, as was the case yesterday at a number of stations given the weather. I guess Dow's Lake will be similar.

OC Transpo seems obsessed with using relatively off-the-shelf bus shelters for all their bus loops - and, it seems, Line 2. As you've pointed out, they could achieve much better passenger flow and consistent cover from the elements if they went with custom solutions for some of the stations.

[Multi-modal]

Originally Posted by Harley613

I think the Dow's Lake Station will need to be overhauled immediately after the hospital opens. They are doing this expansion the Ottawa way: save money now to impress constituents, let the next councils worry about spending five times more to do it properly than it would have cost to do it properly the first time.

It's actually almost guaranteed to have a major modification BEFORE the hospital opens. A grade separated connection between Dow's Lake Station and the south side of Carling Avenue is required (as a condition of the NCC's approval of the Hospital) to be constructed prior to the opening of the Hospital (estimated at 2028, but I'm assuming it will be delayed a bit). The City is fast-tracking an Environmental Assessment so they can construct the grade-separated connection in-time. For more information, you can read the EA scope of work document at the below link:
https://pub-ottawa.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=71127

[Kitchissippi]

I hope they just build a completely new Dows Lake station south of Carling (or under) and turn this waste of an effort into an access point

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by JHikka

It's frustrating because this is one station that can be mostly covered whilst still remaining outdoors but it seems like we'll get neither a suitably covered platform or anything interior whatsoever. I think of something like Rosedale in Toronto, which although is outdoors is still covered for its entire length.

I would assume this is straightforward to do in a station like Dow's Lake where they're using natural walls along the station, but perhaps there's a structural issue hindering this sort of build. Or financial.

Anyway, it'll be another disappointing station. I'm getting tired of walking up and down wet, slick sets of stairs, as was the case yesterday at a number of stations given the weather. I guess Dow's Lake will be similar.

Amazing how the TTC's bare bones station of the 50s have better features that ours. Vancouver and Edmonton (at least the original stations) also have fully covered platforms. This should be standard at all outdoor stations.

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

I hope they just build a completely new Dows Lake station south of Carling (or under) and turn this waste of an effort into an access point

Under would be ideal, providing coverage for at least a third of the platforms and entrances on both sides of Carling.

[lrt's friend]

As soon as Line 2 re-opens, we will start planning its next substantial closure.

[Harley613]

'The Bridge to Nowhere' is coming along

[J.OT13]

• Video Link

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by Harley613

'The Bridge to Nowhere' is coming along

The city complains about escalating losses at OC Transpo, and then we build infrastructure like this. It is no different than spending millions on Park n Ride lots that are not located on current rapid transit lines, and any proposals for rapid transit at those locations may never be built.

[OCCheetos]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

The city complains about escalating losses at OC Transpo, and then we build infrastructure like this. It is no different than spending millions on Park n Ride lots that are not located on current rapid transit lines, and any proposals for rapid transit at those locations may never be built.

This bridge was privately funded. Even if it were not built, those funds could not be used anywhere else.

Please, I'm begging you: stop this.

[lrt's friend]

I took a little drive to see the progress at the south three stations yesterday. The stations look mostly complete, but a lot work is still ongoing for public access to the stations.

The Leitrim P&R is a big construction zone, with the number of spaces currently restricted to about 20 cars. There were a dozen cars in the P&R yesterday mid day. Many other cars were at a different spot, presumably construction workers for the rail line.

A lot work is going on at Bowesville. Earl Armstrong Road is finally being upgraded after months of little progress particularly around the Bowesville intersection and the entrance to the P&R. Earl Armstrong is becoming a boulevard in this area. As I have predicted, I expect a lot of Barrhaven residents will use this P&R. Road access from the south will still be limited by the old rural road designs. We will see how that works out. A MUP also now leads to the P&R from the east but I don't know where it is coming from. It presently ends at the Trillium Line overpass. Presumably, it will head north along the rail line.

At Limebank, work is currently ongoing to build the bus loop. Still a fair amount of work to complete the loop.

There are still no trains doing regular testing. As others have pointed out, it appears that any testing is done in the evening and daylight hours are being used to do finishing touches to the rail infrastructure and the right of way. That being said, most of the work appears to be going on at the P&Rs and the public accesses to the stations which still require a considerable amount of work.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

I took a little drive to see the progress at the south three stations yesterday. The stations look mostly complete, but a lot work is still ongoing for public access to the stations.

The Leitrim P&R is a big construction zone, with the number of spaces currently restricted to about 20 cars. There were a dozen cars in the P&R yesterday mid day. Many other cars were at a different spot, presumably construction workers for the rail line.

A lot work is going on at Bowesville. Earl Armstrong Road is finally being upgraded after months of little progress particularly around the Bowesville intersection and the entrance to the P&R. Earl Armstrong is becoming a boulevard in this area. As I have predicted, I expect a lot of Barrhaven residents will use this P&R. Road access from the south will still be limited by the old rural road designs. We will see how that works out. A MUP also now leads to the P&R from the east but I don't know where it is coming from. It presently ends at the Trillium Line overpass. Presumably, it will head north along the rail line.

At Limebank, work is currently ongoing to build the bus loop. Still a fair amount of work to complete the loop.

There are still no trains doing regular testing. As others have pointed out, it appears that any testing is done in the evening and daylight hours are being used to do finishing touches to the rail infrastructure and the right of way. That being said, most of the work appears to be going on at the P&Rs and the public accesses to the stations which still require a considerable amount of work.

If the opening is delayed because of those three stations, I'll be ticked.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Multi-modal

OC Transpo seems obsessed with using relatively off-the-shelf bus shelters for all their bus loops - and, it seems, Line 2. As you've pointed out, they could achieve much better passenger flow and consistent cover from the elements if they went with custom solutions for some of the stations.

I wish they used more off-the-shelf bus shelters instead of things with frigging transparent rooves.

[Hybrid247]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

If the opening is delayed because of those three stations, I'll be ticked.

If you have hopes of the line opening in 2023, you're setting yourself up for disappointment.

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

If the opening is delayed because of those three stations, I'll be ticked.

Until we see trains on the tracks regularly, the opening is not close. I didn't dare ask that question to Steve Desroches yesterday when I spoke to him.

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by Hybrid247

If you have hopes of the line opening in 2023, you're setting yourself up for disappointment.

If the station accesses and P&Rs are not complete by the end of construction season, the answer is obvious.

[OTSkyline]

Original transfer of ownership was supposed to be in Summer 2023, with opening in Fall.

Now I've heard that transfer of ownership to the city should happen in Dec 2023 (with up to 2 month's of testing before opening). So maybe Feb/March 2024?