Quote:
Originally Posted by Aylmer
You're still assuming that the trains would be heading for the train sheds which, as you've pointed out, are no longer there. It's three tracks all the way to the Plaza Bridge, where the tram turnaround was/is.
I calculate the distance between the Canal and the far side of Sussex as 120m. Of course, 120m is not ideal, granted. But it remains 120m. If you've ever walked from O'Connor to Bank, you've covered more distance. It's far from the end of the world.
Presumably, anyone transferring to a bus would catch it at either Rideau/Sussex (120m) or the bus stop at Confederation Sq (40m).
As for the administrative hurdles, they're definitely there. I disagree with you as to how hard the NCC would fight to maintain the ROW as the linear Tavern-on-the-Hill parking lot, but I completely agree that it'd be difficult. But this is a major project; there will be huge hurdles no matter where it goes. Ottawa didn't abandon LRT just because it wasn't easy and painless, because doing nothing has a far more bitter and lasting taste.
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The NCC owns the old photography museum and uses it as committee rooms for the Senate across the street. The structure was built just recently (20+ years ago) and would need to be altered, yes. But the NCC owns the rest, and it's unused at the moment.
Train terminus would be beneath the Plaza Bridge, with a set of stairs going up on the Chateau Side and the Senate Side. A pedestrian tunnel would take you downhill to the Rideau Centre, connecting to the vestibule just beneath the new Farm Boy (one escalator up to get to Rideau Centre, and a loooong ride down to Transfer to Line 1). Look at Union Station in Toronto, Berri-UQAM in Montreal, or any other transfer station in the world. Some of them are a block or more of walking. I'd say the Gatineau/Confederation line transfer walk would be medium-to-short relative to these other stations.
I'd say it's a
miracle that land exists downtown that used to be a train bed, and is unused by bikes, pedestrians, or traffic, and is physically separated by large cliffs from everything. To not utilize this to it's full potential and with such a cheap and elegant solution is a colossal waste.