Improving Transit in the Central Business District

[the capital urbanite]

^ arghh...a spelilng mistake in the title and no way to edit it!

It now seems a forgone conclusion that the city will build a transit tunnel through downtown Ottawa.

Is it the best option for the city?

Which corridors do you favour?

Where should the stations be located?

Which transit technology should be used?

[d_jeffrey]

Originally Posted by the capital urbanite

^ arghh...a spelilng mistake in the title and no way to edit it!

It now seems a forgone conclusion that the city will build a transit tunnel through downtown Ottawa.

Is it the best option for the city?

Which corridors do you favour?

Where should the stations be located?

Which transit technology should be used?

Yes it is, for operational costs and efficiency.

Queen and Albert.

There is available land between Queen and Albert on Lyon (Lyon station), between Kent and Bank (Bank station), between Metcalfe and Elgin (Elgin station), between Union and parking on Rideau St. (Union station).

LRT Subway.

[O-Town Hockey]

So then is your chosen corridor Albert Street? I agree if that is the case. Another few months until the tunnel study is done and then the city can start promoting those prime development sites as future LRT stations! Who wouldn't want to build there.

[d_jeffrey]

Originally Posted by O-Town Hockey

So then is your chosen corridor Albert Street? I agree if that is the case. Another few months until the tunnel study is done and then the city can start promoting those prime development sites as future LRT stations! Who wouldn't want to build there.

In my super happy dream world, I would dig up Sparks street two storeys, put a ceiling, have a Toronto Eaton Centre style shopping centre on top of the tunnel. Millions would be saved, only one corridor would be needed, and the alignment with Rideau St. would be perfect.


Since the tunnels are bored, you need two corridors, so Albert and Queen are the most dense, plus the land is available where I mentionned earlier.

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

In my super happy dream world, I would dig up Sparks street two storeys, put a ceiling, have a Toronto Eaton Centre style shopping centre on top of the tunnel. Millions would be saved, only one corridor would be needed, and the alignment with Rideau St. would be perfect.

While that would be cool, what would happen to the street dynamic of Sparks St.?

[jeremy_haak]

Originally Posted by d_jeffrey

In my super happy dream world, I would dig up Sparks street two storeys, put a ceiling, have a Toronto Eaton Centre style shopping centre on top of the tunnel. Millions would be saved, only one corridor would be needed, and the alignment with Rideau St. would be perfect.


Since the tunnels are bored, you need two corridors, so Albert and Queen are the most dense, plus the land is available where I mentionned earlier.

I suppose they could bore a single tunnel for both sets of tracks. An 10m TBM would be easily be able to accommodate two sets of tracks.

[d_jeffrey]

Originally Posted by jeremy_haak

I suppose they could bore a single tunnel for both sets of tracks. An 10m TBM would be easily be able to accommodate two sets of tracks.

If it's bored, it's cheaper to use two smaller ones. Also, it makes cheaper stations since you don't need a mezzanine level, you can connect directly the two tunnels with a platform and a set of stairs, and one elevator cage.

[the capital urbanite]

...today being Remembrance Day government workers have the day off.

On an ordinary work day From my bedroom window I can ee a clogged Wellington Street backed up from the Chaudiere and Portage bridges from about 8:00-9:00am......complete gridlock that includes STO buses.

Today I can count the number of cars in that area on one hand. I never really realized that this traffic was almost ENTIRELY due to Federal government employees crossing the river from Gatineau.

I think the Feds should build a transit infrastructure linking Gatineau directly with the Federal buildings downtown (LRT, ULR, people movers, whatever) and either make it mandatory for employees who reside in Gatineau or allow them to use it for free.

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

I noticed that too, and I think that what you're suggesting could work, but we've seen how Harper feels about cities, let alone Ottawa.