Ottawa Transit Developments

[Kyle Campbell]

Post-election, has anything been publicly released/said by MTO, Metrolinx, or City of Ottawa about the planned upload of the O-Train to Metrolinx?

Nothing so far yet. It mostly sounded like Metrolinx would take over future projects and planning, while letting OC Transpo continue to be the operator. It means Stage 3 doesn't seem to be dead now, but I don't think it was going to have much impact on what's in flight

 

[Kyle Campbell]

Line 1 East seems to be progressing well

Confederation Line East Extension Construction 
In the east, final construction activities and train testing are well underway and nearing
completion. Remaining major fleet activities include software upgrades and operator
training.
Communication rooms and device configurations continue at all stations in the east, and
communication systems testing is expected to be completed in Q1 2025.
Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) certifications for elevators and
escalators are also progressing well and eight of 22 certifications have been obtained.
All Traction Power Sub Stations (TPSS) and station permanent power in the east have
been energized.
The communication-based train control system (CBTC) commissioning is well advanced
with multiple trains continuing to run in loops. Boundary testing between Stage 1 and
Stage 2 territories has been completed.

https://pub-ottawa.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=226012

 

[Kyle Campbell]

New mini buses for Para Transpo, and now matching that current livery for trains and buses

First seven-metre minibus for Para Transpo arrives | OC Transpo

www.octranspo.com

 

[Kyle Campbell]

I haven't looked up historical schedule for the east-west transitway, but here's the chart including the transitway that still exists (the Southeast Transitway, South Keys to Hurdman). It's faster than any of the comparable subway lines despite having closer than average stop spacing. (Those who've ridden the transitway know how short the dwell times are, so that's not surprising). Ottawa recently reduced the speed limits on the transitway so buses may have been even faster before.

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As a side note, as operators have gotten more experienced on Line 2, they seem to have shaven some time off.

My train I take all the time leaves South Keys at 8:40, and is scheduled to arrive at Bayview at 9:01, but for the past few weeks it consistently pulls into Bayview right as the clock turns to 8:59. Still not breaking any speed records, but slightly faster than discussed

 

[Kyle Campbell]

Railfans posted a look at the now mostly complete Eastern Stage 2 expansion

 

[Allandale25]

Ottawa's long term transit vision from the Transportation Master Plan update. Proposed transit infrastructure projects in Ottawa include new O-Train lines and extensions, Transitway and Transitway extensions, more continuous bus lanes, and the Gatineau Tramway. Source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/otta...plan-transit-road-priority-projects-1.7504081

More maps here: https://engage.ottawa.ca/transportation-master-plan

 

[Kyle Campbell]

One thing In really dislike on the plan is to not extend Line 2, but instead use a busway to go further. I feel like they should extend Line 2 all the way to Nepean Woods, maybe even to Barrhaven center and a second interchange with Line 1

The baseline BRT is way overdue and needed

 

[chrisw]

Clearly you need BRT, that you can later upgrade to LRT again (single track), and then upgrade to LRT double track after that. Efficiency!

 

[Sauga89]

I've mentioned this before, but I'm a bit surprised there isn't a long term vision for Bank or Vanier. I don't know if it would be best to extend the Gatineau LRT on two branches underground, or to just take away car and bike lanes to create a bus lane, but I feel there should be a plan for both.

Also, I would add dedicated bus lanes along Smyth, and then along Main Street, which would send buses down Elgin or Colonel By.

 

[reaperexpress]

My pet peeve is that they took the St Laurent bus lanes out of the plan even though they had already planned them, and the NCC is planning to expand Aviation Parkway right next to it. There's no reason to have so much car traffic on St-Laurent, it would be fine to convert two lanes to bus lanes.

 

[reaperexpress]

One thing In really dislike on the plan is to not extend Line 2, but instead use a busway to go further. I feel like they should extend Line 2 all the way to Nepean Woods, maybe even to Barrhaven center and a second interchange with Line 1

The baseline BRT is way overdue and needed

I think ending Line 2 at Limebank makes sense. The train to bus transition should happen at the lowest ridership point on the route, to minimize transfers. My guess is that's at Limebank or possibly Riverview P&R.

The other consideration is that the area next to the ROW is being developed right now. They should put down a busway immediately so residents get used to there being transit there before they're settled in. If they don't, those residents will be vocal NIMBYS whining about a rapid transit line cutting through their neighbourhood

 

[Kyle Campbell]

I've mentioned this before, but I'm a bit surprised there isn't a long term vision for Bank or Vanier. I don't know if it would be best to extend the Gatineau LRT on two branches underground, or to just take away car and bike lanes to create a bus lane, but I feel there should be a plan for both.

Also, I would add dedicated bus lanes along Smyth, and then along Main Street, which would send buses down Elgin or Colonel By.

They're too afraid to touch the sacrosanct parallel parking on Bank to do much there, and the complete street in Vanier removed the space for bidirectional bus lanes.

Really they should consider in the future perhaps rail under Montreal, but I doubt it. A Bank Street subway also seems very unlikely, with the Transitway on the East and Line 2 on the west that ship has long sailed, it's not viable just on its own given the huge expense.

 

[drum118]

Most OC Transpo routes will change under 'New Ways to Bus'​

 

[lrt's friend]

One thing In really dislike on the plan is to not extend Line 2, but instead use a busway to go further. I feel like they should extend Line 2 all the way to Nepean Woods, maybe even to Barrhaven center and a second interchange with Line 1

The baseline BRT is way overdue and needed

An extension of part 2 is pretty well impossible when they chose Flirt trains. They are too large for the corridor. The original plan called for light rail, which was cancelled in 2006.

 

[lrt's friend]

Most OC Transpo routes will change under 'New Ways to Bus'​

This is the biggest bus change in Ottawa history. Unfortunately, it is also the biggest service cut since 2011.