[gweed123]

When people say BRT can't be converted to LRT they mean the BRT isn't being designed to accommodate a simple retrofit. Some BRT lines are designed to be easily retrofitted and some aren't. Obviously, even if the BRT isn't designed to be easily retrofitted it can be ripped out and replaced with LRT for a cost.

Yup, substantial parts of Ottawa's Transitway over the next decade or so will be upgraded to LRT. It was partially designed for LRT in that it has grade separations in key places, but for stations outside of the downtown (Blair, Cyrville, St. Laurent, Train, Hurdman, Lees, uOttawa, Bayview, LeBreton) they're being more or less completely rebuilt in order to support LRT, although the degree of reconstruction varies depending on the station.

 

[denfromoakvillemilton]

So is the Eglinton West going to the airport or Square One? The Province might be more interested in Square, which would make ridership look better.

 

[Rainforest]

So is the Eglinton West going to the airport or Square One? The Province might be more interested in Square, which would make ridership look better.

Perhaps the best option is to send Eglinton LRT to the airport, and send SmartTrack (via the Weston sub and then parallel to Hwy 401) to the Eglinton and Hwy 427 area, and then to Square One.

Not sure though, if there are major problems with such routing of SmartTrack.

 

[innsertnamehere]

or how about letting the literally just opened mississauga transitway, which has been planned for over 20 years, serve Square one? It will handle demand in terms of capacity formidably for a long time.

 

[denfromoakvillemilton]

Perhaps the best option is to send Eglinton LRT to the airport, and send SmartTrack (via the Weston sub and then parallel to Hwy 401) to the Eglinton and Hwy 427 area, and then to Square One.

Not sure though, if there are major problems with such routing of SmartTrack.

I can go with that.

 

[Rainforest]

or how about letting the literally just opened mississauga transitway, which has been planned for over 20 years, serve Square one? It will handle demand in terms of capacity formidably for a long time.

Sure.

We are talking long term here. I think, no upgrade will be feasible for at least 10 years. The central section of SmartTrack (or GO RER, whichever name you prefer) needs to be built first anyway; and there is a list of other pressing priorities.

 

[BurlOak]

I don't believe bunching will be an issue that needs to be worried about. The Crosstown is in its own ROW, and is going to have traffic signal priority. The trains are also much longer, and can be grouped together. It can't be compared to any of the existing streetcar lines because it is nothing like the existing lines.

The Crosstown would be about 50 km from Malvern to Square 1. It would only work if fully grade-separated so they have full control of the train travel. With 15 traffic lights in the East and probably a similar number in the west, there are just too many chances for something to go wrong. The slower travel time due to a lack of full grade-separation is another reason why this full route would be too long as an in-median LRT.

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

Once the two TBM's (Dennis and Lee) are reset on their way on the east side of Allen Road, will the dirt going out and the linings going in continue to use Launch Shaft #1 (Black Creek) for that purpose? Or will they use the shaft at Allen Road?

Likely, to reduce the congestion and neighbourhood tensions, they'll probably continue to use Launch Shaft #1 until they reach Yonge Street. It'll be a longer trip for the material, but might be better for the neighbourhood at Allen Road and Eglinton. But what is the "official" plan & timeline for Launch Shaft #1?

 

[Tuscani01]

Once the two TBM's (Dennis and Lee) are reset on their way on the east side of Allen Road, will the dirt going out and the linings going in continue to use Launch Shaft #1 (Black Creek) for that purpose? Or will they use the shaft at Allen Road?

Likely, to reduce the congestion and neighbourhood tensions, they'll probably continue to use Launch Shaft #1 until they reach Yonge Street. It'll be a longer trip for the material, but might be better for the neighbourhood at Allen Road and Eglinton. But what is the "official" plan & timeline for Launch Shaft #1?

Not sure that would work, as there is no tunnel connecting launch shaft 1 to launch shaft 2. Any dirt coming from launch shaft 2 would need to be removed from the site, and then dropped back into the extraction shaft to be carried to the launch shaft for extraction again.

 

[Palma]

Once the two TBM's (Dennis and Lee) are reset on their way on the east side of Allen Road, will the dirt going out and the linings going in continue to use Launch Shaft #1 (Black Creek) for that purpose? Or will they use the shaft at Allen Road?

Likely, to reduce the congestion and neighbourhood tensions, they'll probably continue to use Launch Shaft #1 until they reach Yonge Street. It'll be a longer trip for the material, but might be better for the neighbourhood at Allen Road and Eglinton. But what is the "official" plan & timeline for Launch Shaft #1?

So what about the neighbourhood at Shaft 1 (Mount Dennis)? What makes the neighbourhood at Allen so special? Its not the greatest stretch.

 

[Markster]

Yup, substantial parts of Ottawa's Transitway over the next decade or so will be upgraded to LRT. It was partially designed for LRT in that it has grade separations in key places, but for stations outside of the downtown (Blair, Cyrville, St. Laurent, Train, Hurdman, Lees, uOttawa, Bayview, LeBreton) they're being more or less completely rebuilt in order to support LRT, although the degree of reconstruction varies depending on the station.

And many of the stations downtown are being completely replaced by the tunnel anyway.
Ottawa's Transitway serves as a baseline route for the replacement LRT, but it's largely no different from fresh construction from scratch.

 

[nfitz]

So what about the neighbourhood at Shaft 1 (Mount Dennis)? What makes the neighbourhood at Allen so special?

The portal east of Mount Dennis is in a city park. The portal at Allan is in a residential neighbourhood.

I don't see what it matters though. They won't build the connection underground between the two Allen shafts until after tunnelling is completed, so any soil coming out of the run between the Allan and Yonge will have to come out at Allan.

 

[crs1026]

IIRC the volume of dump trucks at the extraction/reentry site at Allen Road was one of the reasons that the Project debated closing the Allen south of Lawrence until the excavation to Yonge was finished. In the end they decided to leave it open. But it was apparent that hauling dirt out of the Allen site was the plan.

At least this way, tracklaying and station construction can proceed on the western leg.

- Paul

 

[gweed123]

And many of the stations downtown are being completely replaced by the tunnel anyway.
Ottawa's Transitway serves as a baseline route for the replacement LRT, but it's largely no different from fresh construction from scratch.

The Transitway stations in downtown Ottawa are the least "stationey" of any stations on the system. They're just elongated glorified bus shelters. The stations on the dedicated ROW portions of the Transitway (Scott St trench and from Lees to Blair) are much more elaborate. The stations themselves are being replaced, but the trenches and the over/underpasses that the Transitway uses are being retained. Even the Transitway bridge over the Rideau River is being used for LRT. It's far from from scratch.

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

The ESSO Station at Dufferin and Eglinton has been boarded up.
Future home of the LRT station.

Dufferin & Eglinton in the 1950's:

Dufferin & Eglinton in 2010:

`

Link to this Crosstown website for more information on the future Dufferin station.