Tag: Driving

LRT Update: Oct 31, Deadline for Comments

EVERY VOICE COUNTS !!!

Our QTN neighbourhood and Connaught park will be impacted by the LRT.

Your voice needs to be heard before Oct 31, 2016 to be taken into account in the environmental assessment process.

The City of Ottawa recently completed an Environmental Project Report (EPR) for the Confederation Line West LRT extension. This triggered a 30-day public review period starting Sept 29, 2016. The Province is required to consider any written objections to the transit project received within this period. All submissions must clearly indicate that an objection is being submitted and describe any negative impacts to matters of provincial importance (natural/cultural environment).

During the public review period, comments from all individuals carry the same weight.

You are encouraged to send your comments, questions, or concerns directly to the project contact listed below.

Update 2016-10-22. Concerns raised by the community include, but are not limited to: station access (paths from QTN), delays in or lack of communication from the city, security (rail line in park), height of rail, noise, and greenspace access during construction.

Attn: Gavin Battarino, Special Project Officer
Environmental Approvals Branch, Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change
135 St. Clair Avenue West, 1st Floor
Toronto ON M4V 1P5
General Inquiry: 416-314-8001
Toll Free: 800-461-6290
Fax: 416-314-8452
E-mail: EAABGen@ontario.ca

What is proposed to happen in QTN:

LRT QTN Map.png

  • An elevated alignment bridge (5m (16 ft) above grade) will cross over Pinecrest creek at the end of Henley pathway
  • An uncovered LRT track will cut through Connaught park and continue under Connaught Avenue through a tunnel
  • Pedestrian bridge replacement at Woodroffe High School (moved closer to Carling)
  • New Queensview station will have a pedestrian bridge to south side of Queensway, but no access from QTN
    Closure of Queensway station

Impacts to the community include:

  • Connaught park will not be accessible for at least 2 years
  • There will be visible over-pass on the edge of our green space

Where can I find more information?

LRT in QTN: Stage 2 Connectivity – Public Consultations

From the City of Ottawa:

“As part of the LRT Stage 2 project – which extends the O-Train Confederation Line east and west, and Trillium Line farther south – The City of Ottawa has undertaken a Stage 2 Station Connectivity Study to ensure that community connections are preserved and enhanced along the expanded O-Train system. The study outlines a series of mobility enhancements, including bicycle facilities, multi-use pathways and crosswalks.”

Most applicable to our community would be the West stations. Of note, there is no mention of the Lincoln Fields station as it was considered part of the Byron-Richmond corridor and was consulted on in early June.

West Stations:

  • Queensview, Pinecrest and Bayshore Stations
    • When: August 9, 2016, 7-9 PM
    • Where: All Saints Lutheran Church, 1061 Pinecrest Road
  • Iris and Baseline Stations
    • When: August 10, 2016, 7-9 PM
    • Where: Algonquin College ACCE Building, 1385 Woodroffe Avenue, Room CA105, 1st floor

Source: http://www.stage2lrt.ca/news/lets-get-connected-stage-2-light-rail-transit-lrt-connectivity-public-consultations/

LRT in QTN: What You Need to Know

The Confederation Line West extension is one of three environmental assessment studies currently underway as part of the Stage 2 rail (Ottawa.ca/stage2) package, which is the City’s plan to add 19 new stations and 30 kilometres of rail farther east, west and south of the City.

QTN is one of the communities involved in this study.

For information, please refer to this slide package for the City (which was presented last Spring 2015).
Open House #4 Display Boards [ PDF 9.077 MB ]

We are now awaiting the completion of final environmental assessment document which has been delayed. The city is addressing some feedback with the draft and should be sending it out soon.  The public will have 30 days to provide comments/feedback once the final draft is released.

Here is a summary of concerns and feedback already raised from the community, for which we continue to seek clarification:

  • Is the proposed rail over Pinecrest creek really at grade?  Conflicting information has been presented in documentation and open houses.
  • How high would the rail be elevated over the creek into Connaught park (including the height of train and overhead power lines)? Will it be visible from our residential streets?
  • How much of the Connaught park would the community be losing?
  • What happens if construction starts in early in 2018 through QTN but the train never reaches it due to lack of funding?

Please watch for the draft announcement in the paper and provide feedback/comments to us or the city.