LRT Building Snarled, Traffic A Mess, Take A Boat
Your agent was talking with one of Ottawa’s most astute political minds who is also an expert in light rail.
This person keeps wondering why, in driving past the light-rail project, that nothing changes. The western part of the project has already been delayed in opening all the way back to 2026. That might be wishful thinking given that this expert doesn’t see anything much happening in the construction.
Your agent has noticed the same thing. Dirt gets moved around, holes are dug, then filled and huge mounds of rock and soil just sit here … week after week.
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City officials in a report said they were making great progress on one station. Unfortunately, they’ve made such stunning progress that I can’t find it. Truly … how do you hide a light-rail station?
Furthermore, light-rail construction has snarled traffic in many locations. Meanwhile, the Champlain Bridge is a nightmare and earlier this spring and into the summer the Chaudiere Bridge was closed due to repairs. The Ottawa River parkway goes from one lane to two lanes in width along its path causing traffic jams at the pinch points. And the Alexandra Bridge is slated to be closed. Meanwhile, what have you heard of progress on the east-end bridge? Have the landed rich in Rockcliffe and Manor Park stopped it again?
The City of Ottawa has done an absolutely exemplary job with transportation in this city. Let’s see. They’ve cocked up the main light-rail line that was to be the basis of the city’s transportation system. Bus transit is a mess. As well, the road system is being destroyed or so packed with cars that traffic jams at midday are common on Highway 417, which is still under construction at points.
We’ll need those roads when cars go electric and eventually shift to hydrogen fuel. You know for climate change when burning forests choke cities with smoke, tornadoes pop out of nowhere and record heat scorches Ottawa. Wait a second, that’s right now.
In reality, no mode of transportation, despite the best planning of drivers and passengers can reliably and efficiently get you to your destination in Ottawa.
While cyclists and pedestrians revel in the burgeoning bike network that can be used for about a third (maybe) of the year, anything approaching mass transportation is crippled in so many areas.
One of the most important factors of production is transportation. No transportation, no business.
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So if the pro-business faction of city council wants the economy to improve, why are they not demanding answers from staff to construction planning fiascos, horribly snarled traffic, a wonky light-rail line (at least the part that is built) and a bus system in shambles.
One person joked with me that if you want to go to Quebec this weekend, with mountains of re-routed traffic from Highway 417 snaking slowly through the city and massive bridge construction, best you take a boat.
So in the picture above, a computer-generated image shows a new Ottawa commuter boat.
The fastest way across any body of water in Ottawa.
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Digital image on front created by AI generator Bing Image.
Ken Gray
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Recent articles in the Bulldog have discussed including Ottawa as a stop in the bullet train line running from Toronto to Montreal. If Ottawa city council wants to jump on the bullet train bandwagon it has to prove it is capable of not botching this project. The points noted above indicate that Ottawa city council is likely not capable of playing in a sandbox with more capable kids.
We have an expert in light rail among us in Ottawa and is not working on the LRT project? WFT !!!
Bus service it just terrible , my daughter waited 1 1/2 hours for a bus and eventually went home to work from home for the day . This is not uncommon in Barrhaven .
Sisco:
Thank you for this.
I doubt the city would be building this one so we have an outside chance of it working.
It’s interesting watching Ron and Dan discuss this from opposite sides. Two smart guys have a public policy debate in good will.
I could learn from this.
Have a good Sunday.
cheers
kgray
Kosmo:
I wish I could tell you who is it.
cheers
kgray
Not me Ken you should be letting Mayor Marky know.
he does k
Oh Kosmo! Surely you know by now that someone with expertise in anything but particularly the LRT is the LAST person the City will be calling on to work with them.
Good one, Voter. k
I hope this individual isn’t a “Guest” in the city.
R
Nope.
k
Lord help us… lord help us all.
Regarding the comment, “Meanwhile, what have you heard of progress on the east-end bridge?” No matter the political pressure from Manor Park, think a bit about how acceptable the Aviation Parkway is for interfacing with a new bridge. Are we building another transportation bottleneck on the Ontario side of a bridge on an NCC controlled road with traffic lights at Montreal Road and Olgivie? Is having 417 access (hopefully west as well) at the split a good idea?
John:
A lot of people have taken one for the team in the past.
Have you seen the traffic on Island Park Drive at the end of people’s driveways?
Have you seen heavy trucks driving over sidewalks downtown trying to make a turn?
Maybe it’s time for Rockcliffe and Manor Park to take one for the team like the rest of us have on occasion.
cheers
kgray