Roads/Bridges projects/issues

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by phil235

Unlike the Sens, OSEG already includes transit in their tickets. That's partly how they get such high modal shares.

I agree on transit over bike lanes on Bank if the QED can't be used, though I think it can. But finish the bike lane on O'Connor if that's the case.

On Bank and QED, one should be for bikes, the other transit. Don't care which is which. Cars are not sustainable during events at Lansdowne.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

Get rid of street parking entirely. It's just not worthwhile use of precious space. Suburbanites want to use it as a thoroughfare? Fine. Single lane of traffic in each direction. Bike lanes. Widened sidewalks. And patios. Cut outs for bus stops and turning lanes. If parking is needed, build parking structures or lots and charge appropriately for it.

Cut-outs of what for bus stops?

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

It is a whole lot more complicated than cyclists and transit versus cars. We have to understand that unlike Toronto's King Street or Montreal's Ste Catharine Street, there is not an alternative one block over.

This this this this this.

I am begging all of the people who propose "opening" Bank to everything but (insert preferred use of the ROW here), to the exclusion of (other things) would just look at a damn map.

Can we get rid of on-street parking on Bank to make more space for moving things? Yes.

Can we get rid of any particular class of moving things? NO, quite emphatically so.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by phil235

As for Montreal Rd., it's a bit of a false dichotomy to set up the debate as bike lanes vs. transit. It is car traffic that is slowing on-street transit down, not bikes (or pedestrians, who got wider sidewalks in that re-design). It's about sharing the space more equitably. Clearly using the space for 4 lanes of traffic with narrow sidewalks is not equitable, so it only makes sense to rebalance.

That "rebalancing", however, removed any option on Montreal Road for giving transit priority over non-transit automotive traffic.

Still waiting for the long-promised transit improvements on the Montreal Road corridor. Must be going to be underground, now that every surface option has been eliminated.

Still wondering when, or even whether, the information screens are going to be powered up. That was the one transit "improvement" that came of the Montreal Road rebuild, and as usual, it's half-assed.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

On Bank and QED, one should be for bikes, the other transit. Don't care which is which. Cars are not sustainable during events at Lansdowne.

How do we work things on the 2.5 to three-lane parts of Bank north of Gladstone?

[phil235]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

That "rebalancing", however, removed any option on Montreal Road for giving transit priority over non-transit automotive traffic.

Still waiting for the long-promised transit improvements on the Montreal Road corridor. Must be going to be underground, now that every surface option has been eliminated.

Still waiting for the transit improvements on every urban main street unfortunately. I don't understand why we can't focus on small improvements like signal priority etc.

Underground transit on Montreal Rd. would be great, but we decided to spend our money on massive stations in fields where houses might be built someday.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

How do we work things on the 2.5 to three-lane parts of Bank north of Gladstone?

That's where bus lanes would need to end, I guess. Having bus lanes the rest of the length would still be a major improvement.

[Catenary]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

The other observation is that the south bound lane from Aylmer to Riverdale is already no stopping between 3:30 pm and 5:30 pm. I was sure that this was the case even back in my Carleton days many moons ago when I was there every day. So a shorter bus lane covering the exact same hours will be significantly helpful? I doubt it.

All of Bank, from 417 to Riverside is no stopping in the curb lane at peak hours (northbound in the am, southbound in the pm). Traffic usually flows pretty well at these times, as vehicles can flow around others waiting to turn. Buses tend to move faster at peak than off-peak in this corridor.

The issue is that at peak hours, the other direction absolutely clogs. Northbound buses crawl up the hill in OOS, stuck behind one car waiting to turn at Belmont or Sunnyside. Trip times in the off-peak direction end up being significantly higher than they are in the peak direction. Making the curb lane bus only counter peak actually has a significant impact.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by Catenary

All of Bank, from 417 to Riverside is no stopping in the curb lane at peak hours (northbound in the am, southbound in the pm). Traffic usually flows pretty well at these times, as vehicles can flow around others waiting to turn. Buses tend to move faster at peak than off-peak in this corridor.

The issue is that at peak hours, the other direction absolutely clogs. Northbound buses crawl up the hill in OOS, stuck behind one car waiting to turn at Belmont or Sunnyside. Trip times in the off-peak direction end up being significantly higher than they are in the peak direction. Making the curb lane bus only counter peak actually has a significant impact.

This is generally my experience as well, though SB could get very clogged up at rush hour even before the changes to the bridge. It seems you could solve a big part of the problem with left turn restrictions where you have a single lane, but the City seems to really not like those.

[J.OT13]

Spectaculaire collision entre deux poids lourds à Ottawa

Par Julien Paquette, Le Droit
28 août 2023


Le conducteur d'un des poids lourds a eu besoin de l'aide des pompiers pour sortir de son véhicule. (Courtoisie Courtoisie/Courtoisie, Service des incendies d'Ottawa)

Une violente collision entre deux poids lourds a forcé une intervention des pompiers lundi matin à Ottawa.

Le conducteur de l’un des véhicules s’est retrouvé coincé après l’impact qui s’est produit sur la promenade Vanier – à la hauteur de l’autoroute 417 – autour de 8h lundi.

«Les pompiers ont utilisé des outils spécialisés pour retirer la porte, soulever le tableau de bord et libérer la jambe du conducteur. Il a été extirpé du véhicule de façon sécuritaire à 8h16», explique le Service des incendies d’Ottawa dans un communiqué de presse.

Vers 10h, les pompiers sont également venus en aide à un conducteur à l’intersection des chemins Terry Fox et Hope, dans l’ouest d’Ottawa.

Deux véhicules sont entrés en collision, dont l’un qui s’est renversé sur la chaussée. Comme sur la promenade Vanier, le conducteur a été extirpé du véhicule de façon sécuritaire quelques minutes après l’arrivée sur scène du service des incendies.


Les pompiers d'Ottawa sont intervenus après une collision à l’intersection des chemins Terry Fox et Hope, lundi matin. (Courtoisie Courtoisie/Courtoisie, Service des incendies d'Ottawa)

https://www.ledroit.com/actualites/j...GIZRB3PSZCOVU/

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by phil235

Still waiting for the transit improvements on every urban main street unfortunately. I don't understand why we can't focus on small improvements like signal priority etc.

Underground transit on Montreal Rd. would be great, but we decided to spend our money on massive stations in fields where houses might be built someday.

Indeed, that was not the case with the original N/S plan. The trend towards super stations came with absolute grade separation, and the need for more underground or above grade stations that came with it. As voters, we got what we wanted. This also makes it highly unlikely that we will ever see semi-segregated tramways in this city. It is now either very expensive fully segregated rail, or buses in mixed traffic, with a slight possibility of bus lanes in a few places. Everything in between seems off the table.

[rocketphish]

Reopening of Chaudière Crossing delayed, again
Full reopening of bridge now scheduled for Sept. 29

CBC News
Posted: Aug 28, 2023 4:11 PM EDT | Last Updated: 5 hours ago



The reopening of the Union Bridge at the Chaudière Crossing between Ottawa and Gatineau, Que., has been delayed — again.

The bridge will reopen in two stages, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) said in a Monday news release.

At 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 13, a single lane will open for southbound traffic only. At 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 29, the crossing will fully reopen.

The delay is due to ongoing work at the Booth Street and Vimy Place intersection, according to PSPC. During construction, the bridge will remain open to pedestrians and cyclists.

The current round of work on the bridge is to widen its sidewalk, improve the cycling experience and repair or replace parts of the oldest component of the bridge.

Work started in March 2022 with individual lane closures before the full closure vehicles.

Days before its original reopening date of May 5, spring flooding damaged equipment and closed the bridge to all users. On May 29, the bridge reopened to pedestrians and cyclists but has remained closed to vehicles since.

Commuters have complained that the bridge closure, paired with a lane closure on the Champlain Bridge further west, has caused severe backups at peak times.

In a mid-July news release, PSPC extended the closure until Sept. 1. That target is now Sept. 29.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottaw...elay-1.6949918

[Hybrid247]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

How do we work things on the 2.5 to three-lane parts of Bank north of Gladstone?

Originally Posted by J.OT13

That's where bus lanes would need to end, I guess. Having bus lanes the rest of the length would still be a major improvement.

Why couldn't this portion be a transit mall? This isn't like the Glebe segment where there are no suitable parallel streets to divert traffic. With Kent and O'Connor, I see no reason why Bank can't be car-free.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Hybrid247

Why couldn't this portion be a transit mall? This isn't like the Glebe segment where there are no suitable parallel streets to divert traffic. With Kent and O'Connor, I see no reason why Bank can't be car-free.

Ottawa already tried the transit mall thing.

[TransitZilla]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

Still wondering when, or even whether, the information screens are going to be powered up. That was the one transit "improvement" that came of the Montreal Road rebuild, and as usual, it's half-assed.

Unfortunately delayed by the Hydro Ottawa strike.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Hybrid247

Why couldn't this portion be a transit mall? This isn't like the Glebe segment where there are no suitable parallel streets to divert traffic. With Kent and O'Connor, I see no reason why Bank can't be car-free.

Here's one argument. Take it or leave it. You want to minimize turns made by cars in dense areas like Centretown. The more turns a car makes, the more chances of conflict (and incidents) with bikes and pedestrians.

If we had Quebec City style light cycles, where everyone gets their turn, that wouldn't be an issue.

[wingman]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

Reopening of Chaudière Crossing delayed, again
Full reopening of bridge now scheduled for Sept. 29

CBC News
Posted: Aug 28, 2023 4:11 PM EDT | Last Updated: 5 hours ago



The reopening of the Union Bridge at the Chaudière Crossing between Ottawa and Gatineau, Que., has been delayed — again.

The bridge will reopen in two stages, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) said in a Monday news release.

At 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 13, a single lane will open for southbound traffic only. At 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 29, the crossing will fully reopen.

The delay is due to ongoing work at the Booth Street and Vimy Place intersection, according to PSPC. During construction, the bridge will remain open to pedestrians and cyclists.

The current round of work on the bridge is to widen its sidewalk, improve the cycling experience and repair or replace parts of the oldest component of the bridge.

Work started in March 2022 with individual lane closures before the full closure vehicles.

Days before its original reopening date of May 5, spring flooding damaged equipment and closed the bridge to all users. On May 29, the bridge reopened to pedestrians and cyclists but has remained closed to vehicles since.

Commuters have complained that the bridge closure, paired with a lane closure on the Champlain Bridge further west, has caused severe backups at peak times.

In a mid-July news release, PSPC extended the closure until Sept. 1. That target is now Sept. 29.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottaw...elay-1.6949918

Bollocks Vested interest in this one... another month, but at least the southbound lane opening will help a little... in two weeks time.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Hybrid247

Why couldn't this portion be a transit mall? This isn't like the Glebe segment where there are no suitable parallel streets to divert traffic. With Kent and O'Connor, I see no reason why Bank can't be car-free.

Complete with pissy-smelling shelters or no?

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by TransitZilla

Unfortunately delayed by the Hydro Ottawa strike.

That might be the latest delay, but what accounted for the other months of delay?

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by Hybrid247

Why couldn't this portion be a transit mall? This isn't like the Glebe segment where there are no suitable parallel streets to divert traffic. With Kent and O'Connor, I see no reason why Bank can't be car-free.

Disconnected east-west street grid at Bank Street and narrow one way streets, south of Somerset. A number of streets end at Bank Street. There has to be a way out for narrow side streets. The Kent and O'Connor alternative is only part of the story. It is also the cross streets that would dead end at Bank.

I look at what is happening, and some of the best intensification is happening along the Bank and Rideau/Montreal corridors. Eventually, this intensification is not sustainable with limited street space available. We have already narrowed parts of Bank Street, and Rideau Street and Montreal Road in Vanier. All are key arteries, with side streets which will be awkward to get out of if we close the streets to all regular traffic. This is especially a problem in Vanier with the very awkward street layout.

Based on the amount of intensification going on, and proposed, these are clearly desirable locations in walkable neighbourhoods. Much better than the majority of the Confed Line corridor following the Queensway, with typical suburban car oriented services and lack of public amenities.

What happens when we reach the breaking point?

We keep building and building saying that intensification is free. It is not. We are backing ourselves into corner. Eventually there is no alternative but to go underground to increase capacity. But we bury our heads in the sand as if the breaking point is not coming. We cannot even incorporate in our TMP what will eventually be needed, certainly within 50 years and make sure we plan in that direction and not waste a whole lot of money on half measures. It is some of these half measures that actually reduce capacity and make the movement of people worse especially the majority who cannot take advantage of active transportation.