I have also just found out that the City plans to abandon the freight rail connection from Walkley Yard to the National Research Council’s Institute for Surface Transportation at Uplands. This could cause a shutdown or impose massive costs on a world-class research facility which is a recognized leader in analysis and testing of rail vehicles and interaction between rail vehicles and their tracks. This facility has been effectively privatized by the federal government as an entrepreneurial operation and cannot afford the cost that the City’s action would impose. Even if the Centre can continue its work, it could mean a major road transport operation along Lester Road any time that a rail vehicle has to be delivered for testing.

Cheryl has proposed that an alternative route for the LRT line could take it along the east side of the Airport parkway. I have looked at this and believe that the idea has merit for the following reasons:

1. The City already owns the right of way along the Airport Parkway and Alert Road.
2. LRT is environmentally quite compatible with the existing road vehicle activity in the corridor. There would be no need for fencing between the road and the rail line as it is not a recreational pathway route south of Hunt Club.
3. The 4 km distance from Hunt Club to Leitrim would only increase by about 10% or 400m via this route.
4. Distance of the LRT line from the air terminal would be reduced by about 750m and would be a much better location for a shuttle transfer stop, as well as direct access to employment areas of the airport. It would reduce the airport-downtown distance by nearly 1 km.
5. It would cross Lester Road at Alert at a point where traffic signals are feasible and may well be required in future, rather than at the present rail crossing which would be much more disruptive to traffic on Lester Road.
6. It would avoid any conflict with the Institute for Surface Transportation, by passing west and south of it to rejoin the rail corridor towards Leitrim Road.
7. The cost of a Leitrim Road station would be saved, as there is already a plan that the Airport link would have its own station near Lester/Alert to serve the airport employment areas.
8. Since daytime use of the Leitrim park and ride after 9 am would be quite limited, it makes more sense for all the daytime trains that are not going all the way to Woodroffe, to just serve the Airport. Leitrim Park and Ride would still have 10-minute all-day service under the current plan. This would eliminate a 5 km round-trip part of the route which is probably equivalent to one entire train and driver.
9. There would be no problem with an unfenced recreational pathway, as in the Official Plan, along the present rail freight corridor between Hunt Club and Lester.

Regards,
David Jeanes
613 725 9484

Official Plan Extracts:

Section 2.3.1 Transportation, Policy 35 states (in part) “It is recognized that the parkway network in the city, primarily developed by the National Capital Commission, contributes greatly to the distinct open space character of Ottawa”.

Policy 36 states “In recognition of the importance of preserving and enhancing the visual and aesthetic appeal of the main scenic and entry routes in Ottawa, the City will require additional development controls for lands along these routes, as identified in schedules I and J, and detailed in section 4.6.4.”

Section 4.6.4 “Scenic-Entry Routes form a network that links major tourist, recreation, heritage and natural environment destinations in and beyond Ottawa. Some of them follow historic routes,” (DLJ note: In this case, the first railway corridor into Ottawa, established in 1854), “while others follow rivers and highways, parkways, arterial roads and local streets. This system of Scenic-Entry Routes is under the jurisdiction of the federal government plus provincial and municipal governments in Ontario and Québec. Most Scenic-Entry Routes can be enjoyed by a variety of modes, including bus, bicycle, and in many areas of the network in the urban area and Villages, foot. Many Scenic-Entry Routes, such as Riverside Drive or the Ottawa River Parkway, contribute to the continuity of the Greenspace Network through the design of their corridors. Key Scenic-Entry Routes are also the principal roads used by visitores and business travellers arriving in Ottawa nd in the National Capital Region. Signage along these roads must orient travellers and provide direction to the City’s attractions, while the overall pattern of development along the routes must create a favourable first impression of Ottawa.” (DLJ note: This section of the airport parkway is the first view of the city that arriving travellers see after they leave the airport.)

Policies (selected):
2. “Guidelines for Scenic-Entry Routes that elaborate on the more general Arterial Road Corridor Design Guidelines, as updated from time to time, will be developed and implemented by the City. While respecting the primary function of the road, the guidelines will promote:”
...
c) “The protection of views to natural and cultural heritage features, mature trees, and roadside vegetation on and beyond the right-of-way;”

The Official Plan describes “Major Recreational Pathways” in section 4.6.5. They are an off-road network for pedestrians and cyclists, and according to section 2.3.1 Policy 14 they “may also be used by commuter cyclists”. In section 4.6.5, Policy 1, “Major Recreational Pathways are designated on Schedukes I and J. The system shown on the schedule is conceptual and the location of pathways may be refined without amendment to this Plan as a result of further study by the City or through the provisions of a development agreement, provided that continuity is maintained within the system, that detinations within the system continue to be connected, and the same general area is served.”

(DLJ note: Since schedule I shows the pathway connected only to Lester Road and to Hunt Club Road, but following the west side of the rail line, it may be that the above criteria would be met by rerouting it along the east side of the LRT line or along the Airport Parkway. However, it can not be eliminated.)