I was convinced that the best way to connect an STO LRT Line to the Confederation Line was by using the old CPR right of way and tunnel however, there are several major issues with this.
1. For one, a lot of parties would be involved; the NCC that owns the pathway along the canal (old CPR right of way), the Feds who own the CPR tunnel and committee rooms, Larco who owns the Château Lauirer, the plaza above the tunnel and car ramps to the parking garage and the City of Ottawa.
2. Next, we have the visual obstructions along the canal with trains, poles and wires. Not to mention fencing to block off the track from pedestrians and cyclists. What are the chances this would ever be approved?
3. Then the high costs of demolishing everything in the tunnel and the vast underground concourse that would have to be built under the Sussex/Rideau/Mackenzie/Colonel By if we want to plug into Confederation’s Rideau. Otherwise, people would have to go up to street level, cross three streets and go down to the Confederation Rideau. Labour intensive transfer.
4. Limits of future expansion. Once the lines ends under the Plaza Bridge, it ends under the plaza bridge. There is no opportunity to extend it along the canal (obstruction of views) or tunnel (large ramp similar to what is now at uOttawa). An eventual loop around downtown becomes impossible.
Then I saw roger1818’s post showing the Fergus plan (hands down the best option IMHO) and a sketch up of what a possible route might be. roger1818 here recommends Mackenzie Avenue. Well the major problem here is that Mackenzie or Sussex is a mess as it is. Imagine adding a 50-100 meter long streetcar. Imagine these big poles and all that wiring along one of Ottawa’s showcase streets.
Now imagine if the line goes underground after it crosses the Interprovincial Bridge, turns south under Sussex and terminates at the intersection of Sussex and Rideau. How easy would it be to plug the STO’s Rideau Station with OC’s Rideau Station. Just a few short pedestrian tunnels that could connect with the Transportation Building, and Farm Boy entrance. Other entrances could be added at Chapters (Rideau entrance, with added elevator), between 700 Sussex ant the Cannaught Building and the Chapters George entrance.
In addition, a station cavern could be built at the intersection of St-Patrick and MacKenzie for a future National Gallery Station.
I realize that the American Embassy might push back on the idea, but if the subway is deep in underground in bed-rock, safety concerns might be mitigated.
In order to make this as intuitive as possible, I would suggest keeping the O-Train moniker for the STO Line. Call it the Portage Line 4, indicate it on the map as the blue line. STO would still own and operate it, but would be part of a broader O-Train system and be consistent with the same wayfinding, mapping, fonts and colours as Ottawa’s lines.
Here’s a quick mock-up of how it could plug in with Confederation’s Rideau. Sorry for the quality. Quick and dirty Microsoft Paint job.
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