Montreal-Blair Road Transit Priority Corridor Planning and Environmental

Assessment (EA) Study

Public Consultation Group Meeting #113 June 2019

Welcome

• Introduction of Study Teamo City of Ottawao Parsons

• Introduction of Consultation Group Memberso Roles and Responsibilities

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Agenda

• Study Overview and Objectives • Need and Opportunities • Existing Corridor Conditions• Planning and Design Principles• Alternative Solutions• Key Design Considerations• Next Steps

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Project Limits

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Subject to coordination withBrian Coburn Extension / Cumberland Transitway Westerly Alternate Corridor EA Study

Study Objectives

• Investigate options to improve transit service and travel environment for all modes

• Consult with a broad range of stakeholders

• Connect to Blair and future Montreal Road LRT Stations and other destinations to provide mobility options for the community

• Identify interim and ultimate configurations for corridor modifications

• Establish right-of-way requirements and project cost estimates

• Prepare a Recommended Plan and Environmental Project Report

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Consultation Strategy• Three consultation groups:

• Agency – city staff, approval authorities, agencies• Business – major institutions, landowners, businesses• Public – community associations, interest groups, advisory

committees• Individual/focused stakeholder meetings• Two Public Open House events• Project mailing list• Project website:

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www.ottawa.ca/montrealblairroad

Project Schedule

Winter 2018/19 – Spring 2019: Existing Conditions; Transit Priority Best Practices Review;

Develop Alternative Solutions*Consultation Group Meetings 1*

Summer 2019:Evaluate Alternative Solutions;

Develop and Evaluate Alternative Designs

Fall/Winter 2019: Consult on Evaluation of Alternative Solutions and Designs*Consultation Group Meetings 2 and Public Open House 1*

*Present to Urban Design Review Panel*

Spring/Summer 2020: Develop Preliminary Design and Preliminary Recommended Plan

*Consultation Group Meetings 3 and Public Open House 2**Present to Transportation Committee*

Summer 2020: Commence Transit Project Assessment Process

Circulation of draft EPR to Agencies; 30-day public review period; Finalize EPR

Planning Phase

EA Phase

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Need and OpportunitiesOfficial Plan (2013) • Arterial Mainstreet designation (Montreal Road)• Potential to evolve, over time, into more compact, pedestrian-oriented and transit-

friendly communities• Supports a mix of adjacent land-uses

Transportation Master Plan (2013)• Designated Transit Priority Corridor (Continuous Lanes) as part of Ultimate

Network• Transit Priority Corridors complement the rapid transit network, improve

city-wide transit access to major employment, commercial, and institutional uses

• Infrastructure to accommodate future travel demand and meet modal share objectives

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Need and Opportunities

Transportation Master Plan: Transit Priority Projects

Identified Corridors Description Rationale

Montreal Road (Affordable Network

and Network Concept)

Affordable: Road widening to provide exclusive bus lanes and transit signals priority between St. Laurent and Blair Road

Concept: Road widening to provide exclusive bus lanes and transit signal priority between Blair Road and Ogilvie Road

• Reduces travel time• Improves reliability on OC Transpo

route #12• Accommodates development at former

CFB Rockcliffe/ Wateridge Village community

Blair Road (Affordable Network

and Network Concept)

Exclusive bus lanes and transit signalpriority between Blair Station andMontreal Road. Bus lanes to beprovided through a combination of roadwidening (north of Ogilvie Road) andconversion of existing traffic lanes (southof Ogilvie Road)

• Improves transit service between the eastern suburbs and Vanier

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Need and OpportunitiesTransportation Master Plan and Cycling Plan (2013) • Designated Spine Route (Montreal and Blair roads)• Provide access along major road corridors• Connect to other cycling routes• Provide dedicated on-road cycling space (subject to localized constraints), ideally

either a cycle track or a buffered bike lane

Need and OpportunitiesWateridge Village Community• Connections to Montreal Road via

Codd’s Road, Wanaki/Burma, Hemlock Road

• 1.2 km extension of study corridor along Blair Road, north of Montreal Road

• Discuss feasibility of transit service across NRC campus to Wateridge Village

Looking south

CLC LANDS

Former CFB Rockcliffe Community Design Plan

Need and OpportunitiesCurrent transit service operates in mixed traffic, affecting the speed and reliability

Opportunities to improve transit user experience:• Physical measures (bus lanes, queue jumps)• Traffic signal priority, other measures• Bus stop locations and amenities • Bus routing

Opportunities to improve transportation environment for all modes:

• Complete streets design approach• Integrated mobility• Placemaking

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Integration with Light Rail TransitStudy corridor intersects with two planned LRT Stations:• Blair

(Confederation Line Stage 1 – 2019)• Montreal Road

(Confederation Line Stage 2 – 2024)

Opportunities to improve transit connections between LRT and other destinations

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Proposed Planning and Design Principles

Transportation Master Plan: Transportation Vision for Ottawa

• Support a reduction in automobile dependence• Support a multi-modal system that is accessible for all

ages and abilities• Support adjacent land uses and future intensification• Sensitive to the natural environment• Enhance the economy• Deliver cost-effective services• A system that can adapt to climate change 15

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• Criteria:

• Accessibility for all

• Transportation System Sustainability

• Land-Use and Community Supportive

• Physical and Ecological Sustainability

• Economic Sustainability

Proposed Evaluation Criteria

* Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation will be considered in all of the categories.

Alternative SolutionsAlternative Solution Description

1 Do Nothing For comparison, includes no modifications orenhancements.

2 Expand Road Capacity Widen roadway, with buses continuing to operate in mixed traffic.

3 Expand Active Transportation Network Expand and enhance pedestrian and cycling routes.

4 Isolated Transit Measures May include bus queue jumps, special bus stop arrangements, transit signal priority.

5 Provide Transit-Only Lanes Exclusive bus transit lanes in each direction byreallocating existing traffic lanes or widening theROW.

6 High-Occupancy Vehicle Lanes

Provide high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes on one or both directions.

7 Rapid Transit Separated Facility

Providing a dedicated, continuous rapid transit facility for rapid transit service.

17* Transportation Demand Management measures will be part of every alternative solution.

Existing Corridor Conditions

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Existing conditions that will be investigated:

• Natural Environment • Landscape and Urban Design character• Traffic and Transit Volumes/Operations • Geotechnical• Noise, Air Quality and Vibration levels • Areas of Potential Contamination

• Archaeological Resources • Cultural Heritage Resources

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Existing Corridor ConditionsLand Use Character

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Existing Corridor Conditions: Transit Service

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Existing Corridor Conditions: Traffic Conditions

• 25 of 26 intersections (as a "whole") operate at a good level of service LoS 'D' or better, the one exception being Shefford/Montreal Road.

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Existing Corridor ConditionsTruck Routes

Existing Corridor Conditions

Intersection of St Laurent and Montreal Road

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Existing Corridor Conditions

Intersection of Montreal Road and Blair Road

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Existing Corridor Conditions

Montreal Road between Ogilvie and Shefford

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Existing Corridor Conditions

Intersection of Blair Road and Ogilvie Road

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Key Design Considerations

• Accessibility for all• Transit Priority• Pedestrian Facilities• Cycling Facilities • Landscaping/Streetscaping• Storm Water Management• Roadway modifications• Multi-Modal approach to accessibility and

access for all people of all ages (Level of Service analysis)

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Coventry Road

Accessibility

• Options will be designed to meet the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act

(AODA) and the City of Ottawa’s Accessibility Design Standards

• Design elements can include: • Passenger loading areas• Tactile Walking Surface Indicators (TWSI)• Unobstructed sidewalks• Ground and floor surfaces• Resting areas

Transit Priority Measures

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• Undertaking review of current best practices across North America and the world

• Looking at physical measures:• Exclusive lanes• Queue jumps• Signal priority

Transit Priority Measures

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• Supporting Elements:• Stop location/spacing• Amenities• Multi-modal integration

Complete Streets Design • In October 2015, City Council approved the

Complete Streets Framework

• Complete Streets offer safety, comfort and mobility for all users of the street regardless of their age, ability, or mode of transportation

• Trade-offs are required

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Churchill Avenue

Complete Streets Design Scott Street (Holland – Bayview)

• Reallocation of general traffic lanes for dedicated transit and cycling facility

• Example of interim roadway modifications in advance of reconstruction

• Low cost• “Quick Win”

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Complete Streets Design Main Street

• Constrained right-of-way• Reduction in roadway capacity

• Introduction of raised cycle tracks• Buses operate in mixed-traffic• Design solution for

pedestrian/cyclist conflicts at bus stops

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Key Challenges• Constrained right-of-way• Active development applications • Utility corridors• Need for affordability in recommended design• Trade-offs in multi-modal accommodation• Others?

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Next Steps

• Incorporate initial feedback, complete existing conditions analysis, transit ridership assessment

– Additional ACG feedback requested by June 21

• Evaluation of Alternative Solutions• Identify Alternative Designs and Prepare Demonstration

Plans • Second round of consultation meetings – Fall 2019• Public Open House #1 – Fall 2019

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Contact:

Katarina Cvetkovic, P.Eng.Tel: (613) 580-2424, extension 22842

Katarina.Cvetkovic@ottawa.ca

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