Crystal Beach Lakeview Community Association

Questions on Light Rail Transit Stage 2

The following are questions and requests for information from the Crystal Beach Lakeview Community Association (CBLCA) with regard to the Light Rail Stage 2 (LRT2) project. For clarity, the acronym EWC is used to reference the Confederation Line design-build consortia, East-West Connectors.

Temporary lane onto 417 eastbound from Holly Acres Road

• Where is the temporary lane located?
  
  
  
  

The new on ramp will be located directly across from the existing off-ramp from the Highway 416 NB/417 EB.  It will be built as a permanent work that aligns with MTO’s future highway widening plans; while initially it will only be used temporarily by the Stage 2 project, it will be returned to MTO following revenue service of the LRT.

• Will the lane be for buses only or also for other
  vehicles?  
  
  
  
  

This will be determined upon review of traffic studies EWC will complete in advance of closing the Transitway.  At a minimum, it is predicted this new on-ramp will be restricted to bus-only traffic during AM peak hours (6:30-9:30am).

• Has a traffic study been done assessing impacts
  of this change on vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians?

Traffic studies will be completed by EWC and submitted to the City for review.  The City’s preliminary assessment is that impacts on cyclists and pedestrians would be minor given a fourth leg will be added to the signalized Highway 417/416 off ramp/Holly Acres intersection, including provision of a crosswalk/crossride.  Intersection capacities will remain sufficient to meet vehicular demand.

• With the planned closure of the eastbound on-ramp
  to 417 from southbound Richmond Rd., what does the traffic study show for
  impacts on alternate routes and on our community?

Minimal impacts are expected, as the primary access to Highway 417 eastbound from Crystal Beach-Lakeview will continue to be the existing on-ramp from northbound Richmond Road that will remain open.

Cycling and pedestrian traffic on Moodie Drive overpass

• Is the cycling lane elevated from the roadbed?

No, existing cycling facilities will remain as-is.  There isn’t sufficient space for elevated cycling facilities while also providing required additional buffer space between a raised cycling lane and the adjacent traffic lane.

• Will the cycling lane be painted green as with
  other bike lanes in the city?
  
  
  
  

Applying a green thermoplastic treatment to cycling lanes is not included in this project. Instead this would be a decision for the City’s Traffic Services following construction.

• How does the design of the overpass deal with
  interactions between cyclists, pedestrians, and high-speed vehicular traffic at
  on-ramps and off-ramps?
  
  
  
  The existing ramp terminal intersections
  at Moodie/Highway 417 eastbound/westbound, and Moodie Drive between these
  intersections, will not be modified beyond the provision of a sidewalk on the
  west side of Moodie Drive between these bridges (and the associated reduction
  in the length of the right turn lane from southbound Moodie to the eastbound
  417 on-ramp).
  
  
  
  
• When does construction on the overpass occur? The
  overpass design changes were planned to be concurrent with the widening of 417g,
  but the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) is now deferring widening
  and construction until after the LRT2 opens.
  
  
  
  The construction of the sidewalk is
  scheduled to occur late 2020-2021. A more specific timeframe will be provided
  through the City’s ongoing stakeholder relations outreach for the project.
  
  
  
  
• If construction on the overpass is delayed, how
  do pedestrians from our community and Wesley Clover events safely access eastbound
  bus stops on the south of Hwy 417?
  
  
  
  

Eastbound bus service will continue to serve a temporary transit facility at the existing Corkstown Station during construction.  The Transitway between Moodie and Bayshore is not scheduled to close until construction on the overpass is completed. 

Moodie station and closure of eastbound Corkstown Road

• What are the specific data and traffic studies
  that lead to planned closure of Corkstown Rd. eastbound—traffic, buses,
  cyclists, timing, numbers?
  
  
  
  The proposal to close Corkstown Road to eastbound
  traffic was driven by the amount of land available for use at the time of
  awarding the project contract, specifically avoiding NCC land leased to Abbott
  Laboratories. The City has also heard concerns from Crystal Beach-Lakeview
  residents regarding eastbound cut-through traffic.  Further consultation with Abbott Point of
  Care is ongoing to determine all possible opportunities for property agreements
  that would permit two-way traffic on Corkstown Road. Traffic studies would be
  required prior to advancing a final road design.
  
  
  
  
• How will emergency vehicles and buses (both city
  buses and school buses) access the community eastbound from Moodie Drive?
  
  
  
  

City buses will access Crystal Beach-Lakeview from Moodie Drive via the bus loop. There will be an exit to Corkstown Road eastbound at the east end of the bus loop (buses only).  Other vehicles including school buses will need to head north on Moodie, to Carling, and into the community.

• What is the estimated increased greenhouse gas effect of the eastbound Corkstown Rd.
  closure?

Environmental impact data related to one-way traffic on Corkstown Road is not available at this time.

• How do community vehicles drop off people at the
  Passenger Pick-up and Drop-off and return home?
  
  
  
  

Should Corkstown Road be closed to eastbound traffic, vehicles from Crystal Beach-Lakeview would travel westbound to Moodie Drive, northbound to Carling Avenue, and then eastbound on Carling, back into the community.

• Please, explain the revised plan for storm water
  management.

The NCC has requested a wetland restoration project in conjunction with floodplain compensation for the loss of flood plain within their lands, due to construction of LRT. This is being undertaken in coordination with the RVCA to ensure it meets with requirements within the watershed. Floodplain compensation originally contemplated for the Abbott lease lands will now be undertaken on the west side of Moodie.

• Please, give an update on storm water management
  east of Moodie Station and erosion remediation along Stillwater Creek.

This work is part of the West Transitway Extension project, managed by Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development Department (PIED). The project continues with a 5 year commitment to monitor Stillwater Creek. The limits of the post-construction study is 400m upstream and 1km downstream and includes a review of natural habitats and erosion. The 2018 field review was completed last fall and subsequent reviews are scheduled for 2020 and 2022.

• Is there potential for a wildlife corridor under
  Moodie Drive and Corkstown Rd. for small mammals connecting the NCC Core
  Natural Area with the Natural Link Area?

The footprint of both Moodie station and the Light Maintenance and Storage Facility (LMSF) have been minimized in order to maintain the corridor function of Stillwater Creek as a linkage within the Greenbelt, and encourage its continued use by wildlife. The location of the bus layby has been shifted as far west as possible to reduce the impact to the natural landscape of Stillwater Creek.  The Stillwater Creek Corridor (Moodie/Corkstown) is not anticipated to be impacted beyond what has been implemented with BRT. There is no wildlife corridor under Moodie Drive within the Stage 2 LRT project.

• Has
  there been any measurement of lighting at the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Moodie station
  and its impact on wildlife? Please, provide.

A Lighting Treatment Plan will be prepared during the pre-construction phase which will include lighting fixtures and illumination along the various sections of the corridor. City of Ottawa policy regarding lighting of connections to LRT stations will be followed, with consideration to impacts on wildlife.

• What is the timeline and proposed mitigation for
  the closure of the westbound onramps to 417 from Moodie Drive?
  
  
  
  

The closure of Moodie Drive northbound to Highway 417 westbound on-ramp is scheduled to occur between July 2020 and February 2021 (subject to change).  The Moodie Drive southbound to Highway 417 westbound on-ramp will remain open at all times.  Traffic seeking to access Highway 417 westbound from Bells Corners will be able to use Robertson Road, Timm Road, Carling Avenue, or Corkstown Road to travel west towards Eagleson/March Road, to Highway 417 westbound. 

• What are the detour routes for traffic,
  including large trucks, from our community and Bells Corners during
  construction closures of these Moodie Drive on-ramps.

The only ramp that is closing is the Moodie Drive northbound to Highway 417 westbound ramp.  Available detour routes are as described above.

• With closure of the BRT, what are the planned
  changes to bus routes from Bayshore to Moodie? What detailed planning has been
  done, including traffic impacts on our community?

Impacts to the neighbourhood are not anticipated as part of this BRT closure.  Buses will use Highway 417 from Bayshore to Moodie.  There will be fewer routes from the west (eastbound) accessing the north side of the highway (Corkstown/Bayshore stations) during this closure.  OC Transpo will lead service planning during this period, and will advise customers well in advance of any changes to scheduled service.

• How does the community access bus routes that
  currently pass through Moodie station? Where will the bus stops be located?

A temporary bus facility will be provided by EWC as part of their contractual obligations.  The community will be informed as the design progresses through the City’s ongoing stakeholder relations outreach for the project.

Other questions

• Where is the pedestrian link planned from
  Richmond Rd. to Bayshore Shopping Centre?

Pedestrian access to Bayshore Shopping Center from Richmond Road will be provided for from both the north and south sides of Richmond Road.

• What are the guidelines given to contractors for
  road closures during construction?
  
  
  
  

EWC is required to maintain access to all properties during construction.  Road closures are not permitted without the provision of an appropriate detour route, which will be reviewed and approved by the City.

• What is the consultation process with the
  community between now and the beginning of construction of the LRT extension to
  Moodie Drive?

Throughout 2019 the City’s Stakeholder Relations team will reach out to communities along the Stage 2 alignment with details on sequence of work, timelines, and design decisions, and to establish working relationships with local stakeholders. City representatives will be available throughout the project period to provide construction updates, attend community meetings, and coordinate other outreach activities. We will post relevant materials online on our Stage 2 website and produce area-specific e-newsletters.

April 16 2019 – Presentation to the CBLCA about LRT2 Bayshore to Moodie

The following questions are from Bay Ward residents asking about LRT Stage 2.

Questions about LRT phase 2 and related projects of  Byron Complete Street and the proposed Kichi Zībī Mīkan park.

1) Trenching schedule ( 2019-2025)

Q1: When will  the trench  and cover between Dominion  and New Orchard start and end?

The Tunnel work between Dominion Station and New Orchard Station will start in March 2020 and will primarily be complete Oct 2022. It is a moving site so will progress through different areas as the work progresses – not all at one time.

Q2: When  will  we know about the planned measures the contractor will take to ensure the Woodroffe  will be kept open to traffic? 

The intersection of Woodroffe and Richmond must be maintained throughout construction. This will involve shifting the intersection to one side while the tunnel is excavated and then through the use of decking after the tunnel’s structure is in place. While traffic will be maintained in both directions there may be some load restrictions which could impact truck routes at times during the build.  

Q3: Will  the SJAM park be implemented at the  same  time ( eg underpass at Cleary, Lights  at Woodroofe and the Parkway) ?

Much of the work will be concurrent with surface works following the construction of the tunnel. The underpass at Cleary will be built in coordination with the realignment of the Kichi Zībī Mīkan. In addition, two signalized pedestrian crossings of the Kichi Zībī Mīkan will be implemented: one north of Rochester Field, and another, northeast of Dominion Station. A new pedestrian underpass will also be constructed north of where Churchill Ave deadends.  

2) Byron  Complete Street

Q4: When will the  Byron  Complete Street   between Cleary and New Orchard be started?

The work for the complete Street (presuming Richmond Road) will begin in Oct 2019 with some utility relocates and is expected to continue through the project until August 2023 but the activity will vary throughout.  The work for Byron Park is concurrent with the tunnel work above in Q1.

3) Project Length 2019-2025

The  6 year time frame to the Western LRT Phase 2 seems excessive   in comparison  to the time it took to build the original Montreal subway which took only 4 years ( 1962 – 1966) and was all done  all with cut and cover. 

There are a number of factors here that make it difficult to compare the Confederation Line Extension Project to a project that took place half a century ago. Building practices and standards have changed; environmental practices and standards have changed; the technology is different; permitting and approval processes are different; the Montreal Subway was a provincial project, this is a municipal project. etc. etc. 

Q5: Why  does the  LRT Stage 2 take so long  to build? 

Given the complexity and scope (28km of LRT) of the Confederation Line Extension Project, six years is not unreasonable; bedsides, the City wants contractors to bid realistic schedules they can hold and this was the schedule the winning bid team set for themselves. Construction started for the first phase of Confederation Line six years ago in 2013, and that project is 12.5 km with less tunnelling than Stage 2 (although tunnel was bored, not cut and cover).  

Q6: Are there any incentives  for the contractor  to complete  the  work earlier?

There are financial benefits within the structure of the contract for early completion as early completion would allow private sector investors to get their money back sooner, which increases potential profit for the contractor. 

Q7: Are there possibilities  to break up the West part  into 2 sections; ie complete  the Moodie section 1st; to   advance  a partial  completion of the Western phase  earlier?

No. The entire western extension (Tunney’s to both Moodie and Baseline) will open at the same time. We looked at segmenting to see if we could open from Lincoln Fields east earlier as part of the preliminary engineering, but this only resulted in potentially lengthening the time required to complete the entire project as well as making detouring and transfers more cumbersome during the build.   

Q8: What will the intersection of Woodroffe and Richmond look like?

Below is an image showing the design of the intersection with many safety improvements, particularly from the cycling/pedestrian perspective.  The city is also closing off the Byron Avenue access to/from Woodroffe on either side of Woodroffe (this also has the benefit of increasing the amount of green space available in the linear park).  This is not depicted in the image, so comments have been added to clarify.