[pgagnon]

Where are the stats around Line 2 Ridership vs Forecasts/expectations?

 

[sm4012]

I had thought projected was around 20k a day.. but I can't find that value anywhere. The monthly ridership was around 24k a day in 2025, probably similar if not higher so far this year and will probably continue to rise pretty rapidly as the line 2 corridor continues to grow. Speaking anecdotally as someone who takes line 2 fairly often, it is always well used and double tracking it would be a smart future proofing move, assuming they do it properly... I wonder if there would be any way to keep it open while work could happen.

 

[Katimavid]

Not specific numbers, but here is something about Park N Ride usage from a report for next week's transit committee which seems to indicate growth of the line in 2026:

Leitrim Park and Ride utilization was 47 per cent on average in 2025 and is currently at 59 per cent. Bowesville Park and Ride utilization was 52 per cent on average in 2025 with peak usage of 87 per cent in September 2025 and is currently at 76 per cent. Given the high utilization at Bowesville, a functional design study for potential expansion is underway.

 

[ponyboycurtis]

Keep in mind they just refurbished the bridge at Walkley. And that brand new single track bridge over the transitway and VIA tracks.

Just brilliant long term planning. oh.. and Walkley station could have been an island.. but now it has to be twin platform ballooning the costs.

 

[sm4012]

Keep in mind they just refurbished the bridge at Walkley. And that brand new single track bridge over the transitway and VIA tracks.

Just brilliant long term planning. oh.. and Walkley station could have been an island.. but now it has to be twin platform ballooning the costs.

I cannot believe they shut down the line for almost 6 YEARS and they didnt take that opportunity to double track. I get it was delayed but once it was delayed they could have used the extra time to future proof. We need Chinese planning

 

[ponyboycurtis]

I cannot believe they shut down the line for almost 6 YEARS and they didnt take that opportunity to double track. I get it was delayed but once it was delayed they could have used the extra time to future proof. We need Chinese planning

I'm not saying they had to double track the whole thing.... but between building a new flyover and the refurbishment of Walkley, it would have been an opportunity to make incremental upgrades so you aren't duplicating your work and throwing away the finite amount of funds available.

I find Dows Lake station somehow less damning that the 2 previous examples.

All they had to do was widen the underpass at Walkley during the rest of the work. That would have been sufficient to placate me if they weren't going to twin the entire thing in this phase.

I think you can make an argument that Line 2 should have been twinned to South Keys and then let the Transitway take over the rest of the current alignment. At least then you could get from Findlay Creek to SK in a single ride as one example. The line 4 stub could have just co existed next to it as is.

Keep in mind the tracks going south of SK beyond the line 4 stub is only single tracked to Leitrim including the bridge over Lester. I'm not sure how that will effect timing. I know I've had the train stop and wait where line 1 and 2 converge.

So even with brand new construction it seems clear that frequent service on the N/S axis won't be a thing for a very long time. The vehicles being used on line 2 do not strike me as a 5 minute service vehicle. Even converted to electric power packs. As much as I love them.

 

[sm4012]

All they had to do was widen the underpass at Walkley during the rest of the work

I think that Walkley is the most egregious decision. They could have shaved a few minutes off and gotten to a 10 minute benchmark which mentally feels better than 12 minutes lol. Dow's lake to me isn't so bad because twinning that entire tunnel would be expensive depending on what method they chose to do (most likely the cheapest that ends up going over budget and over schedule, rather than doing it properly from the start).

The vehicles being used on line 2 do not strike me as a 5 minute service vehicle

Well.. We know the older trains were going to be fine for 8 minute service before they bungled that improvement. So the FLIRT trains can probably do that or even a bit better.

 

[ponyboycurtis]

10 minutes would

I think that Walkley is the most egregious decision. They could have shaved a few minutes off and gotten to a 10 minute benchmark which mentally feels better than 12 minutes lol. Dow's lake to me isn't so bad because twinning that entire tunnel would be expensive depending on what method they chose to do (most likely the cheapest that ends up going over budget and over schedule, rather than doing it properly from the start).



Well.. We know the older trains were going to be fine for 8 minute service before they bungled that improvement. So the FLIRT trains can probably do that or even a bit better.

I think in the interim, bus service needs to be improved before spending another 1B plus and multi year shutdown. Getting busses at peak hours off 30 minute service will probably carry a lot more water.

 

[CapitalSeven]

Even last year the ridership blew expectations out of the water. The original plan is to twin the whole route in like 10-15 years but honestly it should be happening a lot sooner.

I wish the goals were that ambitious. Here's what the Transportation Master Plan says.

I think we all agree that Walkley was a huge, Ottawa-normal, mistake. The TMP only proposes to fix it in 20 years.

In the interim, however, the recommendation regarding the crossing from Dow's Lake to the new hospital is to rebuild the bridge structure to allow double tracking and pedstrian crossings from both platforms under Carling. This would ideally be in place when the hospital opens in a few years. The "business as usual in Ottawa" scenario is that nothing happens. The Pollyanna scenario is that city actually looks at ridership and the shortcomings of the present setup, and puts Dow's Lake, Walkley, and some other improvements into a bundled project allowing for 7.5-minute service, and devises a plan to implement it with only some summer shutdowns, having learned its lesson with the last 4.5-year debacle. That will require some new thinking at City Hall, certainly a new mayor.

 

[J.OT13]

Between the park-and-ride discussion next week and the TMP calling for Walkley widening to increase frequency to 10 minutes based on Riverside South projections, it shows how very suburban minded the City is.

Other than the Dow's Lake Station talk that was forced upon as a requirement of the hospital site, the City doesn't seem to be considering ridership increase from crazy TOD between Bayview and Dow's Lake, or the significant ridership increase from the major trauma centre that should open within 6 years (and it was supposed to be 2028).

 

[ponyboycurtis]

I realize we are starting to get off topic but there are a million things OC can do to facilitate Line 2 in it's current state. Does anyone care to take a guess what is wrong with this picture? This is departing Leitrim station at peak hours. *hint* it's not the 30 minute service.

WHy the Hell ArE 2 DiffeRENT BusseS bringing me to my destination at the same time!!!!????

 

[jay2028]

Is the 34 floor one being built first?

 

[hoggytime]

Is the 34 floor one being built first?

Yes

 

[Lonestar]

I drove by the site today , was in a bit of a rush, but saw hydro on site . Looked like they were re-positioning hydro poles and hydro lines on Lorretta . In front of where that building was demolished . Not sure if this work is related to the project .