Light Rail: The Big Picture

After many months of public consultation and hard work, and with the Minister’s sign-off on the Moodie LMSF (Light Maintenance Storage Facility) and rails extension just weeks ago, we can now give you a snapshot picture of what rail will look like in College Ward and its destinations. A whopping six LRT stations will be within or bordering College Ward.  So what’s already happening? There is a new light rail station coming to Iris, another to Queensview, one to Pinecrest, and furthest west, Moodie and Bayshore.  And, finally, there is the new underground Baseline Station (which we may rename “College Station”) which was mostly complete 7 years ago is but is not yet opened.
 
Details: The Confederation Line West extension is a wishbone shape.  In the west fork, it will connect directly to the West Transitway leading to Kanata. And, in the southwest fork, it will connect directly to the Southwest Transitway leading to Barrhaven.
 
Moving from west to east: From Moodie, the line will travel along the existing West Transitway, crossing over Holly Acres to arrive at Bayshore Station. Then, the line will continue along the existing bus rapid transit (BRT) corridor to a converted Pinecrest Station, then to a new station at Queensview Drive. It will then run, at grade, parallel to the north side of the Queensway before entering into a tunnel beneath Connaught Avenue, crossing above Pinecrest Creek towards Lincoln Fields at the Pinecrest junction.
 
Moving from the southwest:  Baseline Station is the southwest terminus of Stage 2’s Confederation Line West extension and is adjacent to Algonquin College.  At Baseline, trains will travel north along the existing Southwest Transitway through Iris Station passing through to Lincoln Fields. Passengers will be able to stay on the train and travel further east along the Confederation Line.
 
Extensive consultations were held about providing better transit to ensure light rail will be the best improvement for people in the area and in Ottawa.  I remember the good discussions in May 2017 regarding the Iris Station and whether or not the LRT line should go over or under Iris.  The most recent consultations were regarding Pinecrest and Queensview Stations. These were well adverstised and well attended in June of this year.  Thank you to everyone who participated!

The western stations aim to connect people to many locales city wide, including: retail destinations and shopping centres across the city; green spaces along the Ottawa River like the future Linear Waterfront Park, Westboro beach, and others; employment centres in Tunney’s Pasture and Queensview Drive, Morrison Drive, Baxter Road, and Centrepointe; and educational facilities such as Algonquin College, La Cité and Ottawa and Carleton Universities (2 of the 4 universities in Ottawa); community centres and places of worship.
 
​See the Route of the Confederation Line

​Success: Your Input has Shaped the Outcome of the Western Light Rail

I have been working hard to ensure the proposed second phase of Light Rail for Ottawa will serve our part of the City well for decades to come. Your input has led to a much better plan - a plan that could begin construction in just a couple of years, immediately following the completion of Phase 1.

Our ongoing consultation with residents regarding the proposed Phase 2 of Light Rail culminated in a public meeting in May. That community-wide meeting focused on the three staff-generated western light rail transit routes for the portion of the new Western Light Rail corridor that is proposed to travel through Iris Street. 

Residents asked their questions and had their say about  the impact each option would have on traffic flow and walk-ability. They  made it clear that any option had to have the least negative impact for the environment and  the surrounding community. 

Overall, the three proposed routes through Iris to Baseline Station were    positively received with attendees favoring one of them in particular. Following the  meeting, I posted a survey with the options so everyone could vote. You can view the poll results here.

The alternative receiving the highest number of votes was the "half and half" option. While slightly more expensive, it features a low vehicle and pedestrian bridge  crossing over Iris. Light Rail would then pass under the bridge in an unobstructed path for both the Transit Way and Iris St.  This alternative promises to maintain the current flow and safety of Iris Street while having the least impact on the creek and local soccer field.

It was my mission to ensure that every voice spoken was a voice heard and so I must thank everyone who took the time to be at the public meeting, wrote or called in and/or filled out the survey.  The overwhelming responses had a huge impact on what I ultimately decided staff should continue forward with- the option that you and your neighbors most voted for and the best possible outcome for all.  Staff are currently in the final design phase of the Iris Station pass with only some minor details to work out, please view the image above as the most recent rendering of what is to expect in the future.

Now when the western corridor of the light rail transit system is complete, you can ride through Iris knowing that you played a first hand part in the design and success of that portion of the line. Well done everyone!      ​

View the poll Results and See which Option you and your Neighbors chose here