LIGHT RAIL NEWS

December 2010

Ottawa’s Light Rail Future Unveiled

On December 10, 2009 the Downtown Ottawa Transit Tunnel (DOTT) Planning and Environmental Assessment Study went live on the City’s website, in advance of its consideration at the Transit Committee meeting on December 16, 2009. The purpose of the study is to develop a plan for a new electrified grade-separated rapid Light Rail Transit (LRT) facility that follows Council’s November 2008 decision to move forward with Phase 1, Increment 1, of the Transportation Master Plan (TMP). In May 2009 City Council approved the preferred corridor alignment and station locations. The preferred alignment was based on an evaluation using a set of criteria developed for a grade-separated LRT system and forms an important part of the planning phase of the study. The substantive recommendation outlined in this report is to approve the On December 10, 2009 the Downtown Ottawa Transit Tunnel (DOTT) Planning and Environmental Assessment Study went live on the City’s website, in advance of its consideration at the Transit Committee meeting on December 16, 2009.

The purpose of the study is to develop a plan for a new electrified grade-separated rapid Light Rail Transit (LRT) recommended plan for the DOTT. The project is approximately 12.5 km of new electrified light rail transit, between Tunney’s Pasture and Blair Stations, primarily on the existing Transitway corridor. Thirteen LRT stations have been identified along this route, which includes four underground stations serving downtown and the University of Ottawa Campus in 3.2 km long twin tunnels. The western portal of the twin tunnels will be located east of LeBreton Station near Brickhill Street and run through the downtown core area until it veers south easterly and reaches grade at a portal south of Campus Station. In addition, the recommended plan includes a maintenance and storage facility to support LRT operations in the vicinity of St. Laurent, south of the Queensway.For more information on this report, please go to http://www.ottawa.ca/cgi-bin/docs.pl?Elist=13773&lang=en

City Council approves LRT technology

On November 25, 2009 Ottawa City Council voted to approve Light Rail Transit as the rail technology for Ottawa’s rapidtransit expansion. “This is one of the key decisions that will move Ottawa’s rapidtransit plan forward”, said Mayor Larry O’Brien. “It demonstrates to our potential funding partners that we strongly believe in the value of this project to our community and are intent on making it a reality.” LRT can accommodate low-floor vehicles (improving accessibility and reducing infrastructure costs at stations) as well as a single vehicle model for the entire fleet (reducing maintenance costs). In addition, the overhead power system does not require the same segregation as a third rail power system and allows for easier future expansion of the network. “The flexibility of the LRT system is a good fit for Ottawa’s transit needs in and outside the core,” said Transit Committee Chair Councillor Alex Cullen. “LRT can achieve the high capacities needed on grade-separated track and provide service outside the core by operating at-grade with vehicular and pedestrian traffic.”

City Treasurer Confirms that Ottawa Can Afford Investment

Deputy City Manager of Infrastructure Services and Community Sustainability, Nancy Schepers, and City Treasurer, Marian Simulik, released detailed costing information for the Downtown Ottawa Transit Tunnel (DOTT) and light rail transit (LRT) system on October 23, 2009. The refined cost estimate for running LRT between Blair and Tunney’s Pasture, including the construction of twin tunnels, is $2.1 billion. City staff also provided Council with a detailed analysis indicating that the City has the financial capacity to fund its one-third share of the cost of the project. Ottawa Mayor Larry O’Brien urged Council and citizens alike to consider this information in the context of the value that the DOTT project will bring to the city. “This is a huge project that is going to transform Ottawa from the word go,” said Mayor O’Brien. “Construction will mean thousands of jobs, and when it’s complete, we’ll have a city that’s cleaner, more efficient and more attractive to new business investment.” To ensure the eliability of the estimate, City staff worked in consultation with some of the most experienced and respected transportation and tunneling project firms in the world — experts familiar with the types of challenges that can be expected in a project of this magnitude. The estimate has also been subjected to a third-party review by a major, international engineering and project management firm. Following recommendations made by the third party review, City staff added a $100 million Project Director’s Contingency that is included in the above estimate. This more refined estimate reflects the projected costs of land acquisition, as well as the expected cost of a number of significant changes to the design requested by Council in May 2009 , including increasing the length of the tunnel by 30 percent, and building an underground, rather than above-ground station at the University of Ottawa. The new estimate also includes modifications to some existing stations, as well as the cost of some additional work to prepare for the next stage of LRT construction in order to reduce capital costs for the next phase of implementation. This evolutionincost estimating is an accepted part of the implementation process in any large capital project. “This investment is about more than a transit system. It’s also about our environment, our quality of life and our communities,” said Councillor Maria McRae, Chair of the Transportation Committee. “Now that we have a more precise idea of the costs and the affordability, we have the information we need to move forward with our discussions with our partners in the federal and provincial governments and in the private sector.”

The DOTT Project will deliver many benefits to residents of Ottawa.

A better downtown The total number of buses travelling through the downtown core will be cut in half and those running on Rideau/Wellington from 2,600 per day to 600 per day, enhancing downtown Ottawa’s urban character and national stature. It is estimated that the more efficient and convenient LRT system will lead to a 13 percent increase in ridership during peak hours, further reducing the number of vehicles in the core and making the area safer and more pedestrian- and cycle-friendly. A better environment The LRT system operates with virtually no emissions of greenhouse gases or air pollutants. With fewer buses and vehicles on the road, it is estimated that the LRT system will reduce the city’s fuel consumption by 10 million litres annually and result in a net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 27 million kilograms a year. Reduced costs The LRT system, together with a redesigned bus system, will reduce transit-related operating costs by up to $100 million per year starting in 2019. More efficient travel Depending on where your trip begins, it is expected that the LRT system will cut 15 to 30 minutes from the time it takes to travel to or from downtown Ottawa. Transit service will also be more reliable, as LRT trains will not have to compete with other vehicles for space on our streets. Economic stimulus Based on the formula used by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to determine the economic benefits of major infrastructure projects, construction of the LRT system and downtown tunnel is expected to employ, directly and indirectly, more than 25,000 people. Advancing city priorities/ creating new opportunities The transit tunnel will encourage new development in the downtown and elsewhere, allowing future commercial, residential and institutional development to be more closely integrated with the transit system, as called for in the City’s Official Plan. This will encourage greater use of public transit, increasing the benefits to our environment.

Tunneys’ Pasture

The new station will form an important part of the Tunney’s Pasture Master Plan, which encourages intensification on government lands around the station. The Tunney’s LRT station will also mean easier access to public transit for the Holland Cross commercial and residential complex and surrounding communities.

Bayview

As a major transfer point from the O-Train and future northsouth LRT, the new Bayview station will encourage development of City-owned lands in the area as approved by City Council. The Bayview station will also make vacant land in the area owned by the National Capital Commission (NCC) and the private sector more attractive to development.

LeBreton Flats

An improved station with LRT service at LeBreton Flats will improve transit connections to and from Gatineau, and create a new transit node along Booth Street. LRT service also advances the mplementation of both the City’s and the NCC’s development plans for the area. Downtown West Located under Albert Street, east of Bay, the Downtown West station will be integrated with the proposed central Ottawa Public Library. The station will also allow for easy integration with existing and proposed surrounding office/commercial buildings and residential highrise development.

Downtown East

The Downtown East station, to be situated north of Albert between Bank and O’Connor, will provide a convenient link to local bus service along Bank, and serve existing commercial and office development in thecentral and eastern parts of downtown.

Rideau Station

This station is destined to be a focal point for transit users coming into the core area, with connections to the west and east sides of Rideau Canal. It offers the potential for integration with the Rideau Centre, the Government of Canada Conference Centre, the new Ottawa convention centre, major retail development, Confederation Square, the National Arts Centre, and the NCC’s commemorative design initiative for the Rideau/Sussex intersection.

Campus Station

In addition to providing more open space at street level, a new underground station will provide direct access to the University of Ottawa via a tunnel system, serve the Sandy Hill area, and give Centretown residents a convenient link to the LRT system via the Corktown Bridge.

Lees

The Lees station will undergo substantial upgrades as part of the LRT system, while maintaining the important, existing pedestrian link between Lees Avenue and the University of Ottawa. The station offers the potential for integration with redevelopment of University lands just south of station.

Hurdman

As another major transfer station between the LRT and southeast Transitway, Hurdman will undergo major reconstruction to ensure the switch from one mode of transportation to the other is as seamless as possible. Existing pedestrian and cycling links around the station will be maintained, and there is the potential for integration with development lands at Hurdman owned by the NCC.

Train Station

An LRT connection to the VIA Rail station will encourage greater use of public transit for trips to and from the train station. LRT service to the station will also serve office and commercial development to the east. The proposed Queensway pedestrian and cycling overpass will also allow access to the baseball stadium and Overbrook area from the station.

St.Laurent

The St. Laurent Station will improve access to this major shopping destination and ensure the transit system can accommodate plans to expand the shopping centre. The St. Laurent station will also provide connections to local bus routes and serve the new Public Works and Government Services Canada site on Tremblay Road.

Cyrville

The station will be upgraded as part of the conversion to LRT, and will provide a new incentive for the development of residential lands in the vicinity, such as Place des Gouverneurs.

Blair

The Blair LRT station will provide more efficient access to major retail and office development in the area and be designed to accommodate the large volume of transfers from the East Transitway, the future Cumberland Transitway extension, and local bus services. As part of the redevelopment of the Blair station, there is also the opportunity to integrate the station more closely with the shopping centre.

Have something to say about this project? Send us an e-mail at dott@ottawa.ca or call 311.