tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218149071529011844.post2402992111912910093..comments2024-03-09T05:03:54.979-05:00Comments on Public Transit in Ottawa: Questioning Ottawa's downtown tunnelPeter Raaymakershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10883553886241429786noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218149071529011844.post-78885318435602119622010-01-17T12:12:57.804-05:002010-01-17T12:12:57.804-05:00My personal concern for the tunnel (aside from the...My personal concern for the tunnel (aside from the budget issues) is the depth of this tunnel being much deeper than other cities. Other cities such as Montreal and Toronto have shallow tunnels which do not pose a great threat or inconvenience to the Ottawa public. This tunnel would require the use of several escalators and elevators which we know through experience are prone to breaking down on a regular basis as we have seen with St. Laurent station. There are simply too many stairs to climb in the event of these breakdowns and/or power outages. How will someone in a wheelchair feel being stuck in an elevator that stops halfway down? It just doesn't appeal to me from a safety issue in many ways. <br /><br />HM in OttawaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218149071529011844.post-53779539684788703872009-08-13T12:07:24.885-04:002009-08-13T12:07:24.885-04:00The requirement for the tunnel was predicated upon...The requirement for the tunnel was predicated upon the hundreds of busses that transit the Slater/Albert corridors each (work)day. With Light Rail the number of transit vehicles transitting the downtown core will be greatly reduced; so, there's no longer a reason for a tunnel. Go surface on Queen Street and eliminate all cross traffic North of Queen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218149071529011844.post-11894534362501593902009-05-19T13:12:00.000-04:002009-05-19T13:12:00.000-04:00Contrary to what the newspaper says, the DOTT stud...Contrary to what the newspaper says, the DOTT study process includes briefings to the Feds, and certainly the NCC. At the very beginning, running under the NAC and DND was ruled out. Its rather silly to say they dont have persmission to go under the Langevin block, as the study is still dealing with route choices, but the feds havent objected to that routing. And what risk will Stevie or Iggy have from a tunnel six stories below their basement? A nuclear device??<br /><br />Similarly, the DOTT hasnt permission to use the western parkway because the study only goes to Tunneys. The route beyond there (parkway vs byron vs other?) is subject for the next phase, starting shortly. <br /><br />The current DOTT tunnel is essentially flat from LeBreton to Campus (economical energy costwise), and the downtown surface is on a hill above it. I am concerned the tunnel is too deep down, but the track could be brought up part way. <br /><br />But to bring it up to run a shallow tunnel under Albert requires two separate tunnels under Albert and Slater since each street by itself isnt wide enough to include the whole station (according to the DOTT planners) so we would have twice as many stations, gates, attendants, and access escalators and elevators if we have to have separate east and westbound stations. And the multitude of stations would be less user friendly. <br /><br />As for an underground city, that was ruled out as the DOTT study began. Cities the size of Ottawa cannot support two lively streetscapes - one at street level, and one in underground concourses, let alone 3, if above ground plus 16's are built. <br /><br />there are many parts of the DOTT I would not choose myself ... but most of the criticisms in the blog entry were already addressed by DOTT and at the public meetings.<br /><br />Eric Darwin<br />www.WestSideAction.blogspot.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218149071529011844.post-17188482683811317292009-05-19T12:31:00.000-04:002009-05-19T12:31:00.000-04:00The tunnel is the only way to get through the down...The tunnel is the only way to get through the downtown. There's physically no other way possible unless we're going to have some kind of a dedicated track which runs above the street level 20 / 30 feet off the ground. There's no other way to do it. SO just do it I say.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218149071529011844.post-30857599409158374702009-05-19T11:39:00.000-04:002009-05-19T11:39:00.000-04:00My thoughts?
Abolish the NCC, for starters.My thoughts?<br /><br />Abolish the NCC, for starters.WJMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08070910923518931583noreply@blogger.com