Barrhaven Light Rail Transit (Baseline Station to Barrhaven Town Centre) and VIA Rail Grade Separations
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Barrhaven Light Rail Transit (Baseline Station to Barrhaven Town Centre) and VIA Rail Grade Separations Planning and Environmental Assessment Study - Recommendations Transportation Committee November 2, 2020 Project Benefits • Electric light rail transit; – Reduces greenhouse gas emissions; – Aligns with the City's Climate Change Master Plan; • Connects two major areas of planned growth; – Barrhaven Town Centre and Centrepointe Town Centre; • Connects the south urban communities to other destinations and transit corridors across the city; • Provides Transit-Oriented Development opportunities; – Supports growth management strategies of the Official Plan; and, • Supports anticipated ridership of 11,200 per peak period by 2031, with capacity for growth. 2 Recommended Plan Two Sections: 1. Baseline to Nepean Sportsplex; and, 2. Nepean Sportsplex to Barrhaven Town Centre. Major Elements: • 10 km electric LRT; • 7 stations (3 new, 4 converted); • Train Storage and Servicing Facility; • New 250-space Park & Ride Lot; and, • Rail grade-separations at Woodroffe, Southwest Transitway, Fallowfield. 3 Key Design Considerations • Compatibility with the Confederation Line; ‒ Fully segregated (streets, rail corridors); and, ‒ Same operational and safety requirements. • Geotechnical conditions north of Barrhaven; and, • Right-of-way availability. 4 Section 1: Grade Separation and Pinch Point Considerations: • Close spacing between street crossings and the need to go over or under CN Rail line; • Allowable slope and clearance requirements dictate vertical alignment choice; – would need to be consistent for the entire 2.4 km segment; and, • Available corridor narrows down to 38.8m at the Pinch Point. 5 Corridors Considered At pinch point (Knoxdale to West Hunt Club): • Within and beyond the right-of-way; • Below grade; and, • Elevated. 6 Within the Woodroffe Right-of-Way • Does not affect existing buildings; • Introduces back-to-back curves (increases wheel noise); • Knoxdale Station would not be optimally located; • Remaining right-of-way will be constrained for other roadway elements; • Impacts mobility for all modes on Woodroffe Avenue during and post construction; • Reduces storage capacity in left-turn lanes; and, • Requires relocation of existing underground services. 7 Beyond the Woodroffe Right-of-Way East Side: • Affects existing buildings; • Conflicts with Hydro Ottawa line; • Requires two crossings of Woodroffe Avenue; • Introduces back-to-back curves (increases wheel noise and long-term maintenance issues); and, • May conflict with major underground utilities because of crossings. 8 Beyond the Woodroffe Right-of-Way (Cont’d) West Side: • Affects existing buildings; • Consistent with the protected corridor north and south; • No back-to-back curves (no additional wheel noise); • Optimizes location of Knoxdale Station; • No conflict with major underground utilities; • Provides greater clearance under Hydro One transmission lines; and, • No effect on other modes of transportation during and after construction. 9 Below-Grade Alternative • Sensitive soil conditions; • High risk of de-watering impact on existing buildings; • Significant underground utility conflicts; and, • Complex construction. 10 Below-Grade Alternative (Cont’d) 11 Elevated Alternative • Avoids geotechnical risks; • Minimizes underground utility conflicts; and, • Less technically complicated to build. Hurdman Station 12 Section 1: Recommendation Elevated LRT west of Woodroffe Avenue Looking South 13 Section 1: Recommendation Benefits • Station locations are optimized; • Straighter LRT alignment reduces noise impact; • Allows for programming of open space under the guideway; • Opportunities for Transit Oriented Development; and, • Allows for the future renewal of Woodroffe Avenue as a complete street. 14 Impacts on Residential Properties • 20 m wide strip of land is required; and, • 3 private properties affected. ‒ 120 of 205 rental units directly affected. 1 1 2 3 2 Redevelopment Potential (Concept) 3 15 Alternatives 3 and 4 Not Recommended Located within the Woodroffe Avenue ROW: • Alternative 3 would be down the middle of the roadway • Alternative 4 would be down the west side 16 Why Not in the Right-of-Way? Alternatives 3 and 4 are not recommended because they would: • Require reconstruction of a 600m segment of Woodroffe Avenue; • Result in a constrained ROW that is unable to achieve complete street design objectives; • Diminish capacity for all modes and leave insufficient space for transit priority lanes; • Have notable transportation impacts to an Arterial Road and Transitway during construction; • Introduce back-to-back curves which would: • Diminish travel times; and, • Create risk of wheel noise and cause wear-and-tear on vehicles and tracks. 17 Tallwood Station Looking Southwest Provides access to the City Archives building and local community. 18 Knoxdale Station Looking Southeast • Planned multi-use pathway parallel to LRT; and, • Adjacent to City-owned lands zoned residential. 19 Nepean Sportsplex Station Looking Southwest New pedestrian/cycling bridge connection over Woodroffe Avenue with access ramp on the east side. 20 Section 2: Nepean Sportsplex to Barrhaven Town Centre • Conversion of the Southwest Transitway and modification of existing stations; • Includes: ‒ VIA Rail grade separations; ‒ New Park & Ride at the Town Centre; and, ‒ New Storage and Servicing Facility. 2121 VIA Rail Grade Separations • New bridges over VIA Rail at: ‒ Woodroffe Avenue; ‒ Southwest Transitway; and, ‒ Fallowfield Road. • Affects the Greenbelt: ‒ NCC engaged. 22 NCC Greenbelt Considerations • Land requirements are minimized; • Access for Greenbelt tenants are maintained; • Existing MUPs are maintained or improved; • Views and vistas considered; • Areas of natural environment value are protected; and, • New eco-crossings for wildlife movements. 23 Woodroffe Avenue / Barrhaven LRT Looking Southwest 24 Woodroffe Avenue / Barrhaven LRT (Cont’d) Looking Southeast 25 Fallowfield Road Looking Northeast 26 Fallowfield Station Major Elements: • Elevated LRT station with new bus loop at- grade; • New signalized connection to Woodroffe Avenue; • New pathway connections; and, • Integration with VIA Rail station. 27 Longfields Station Major Elements: • Conversion of existing station; • Expanding station's lower level to accommodate fare gates and ticket vending machines; • Existing below-grade MUP crossing maintained; and, • Improvements to pedestrian and cycling facilities in the station vicinity. 28 Strandherd Station Major Elements: • Conversion of existing station; • Centre island platform in below- grade open trench; • New pedestrian bridge connection to provide access to platform and retail uses west of station; and, • Existing Park & Ride remains. 2929 Barrhaven Centre Station Major Elements: • Below-grade LRT station with new at-grade bus loop; • Connects to future Southwest and Chapman Mills transit facilities; and, • New Park & Ride Lot (250 spaces). 30 Train Storage and Servicing Facility • Storage and light servicing for 8 double trains; • Servicing to occur inside closed building; and, • Site is most optimal for LRT operations. 31 Public Consultation Major feedback includes: • Support for advancing the project; • Impact on rental housing units; • Noise and visual impacts from the elevated facility; • Avoid traffic impacts to Woodroffe Avenue during and post construction; and, • Support for pedestrian and cycling facilities. 32 Public Consultation (Cont’d) Major feedback (cont’d): • Make use of the space under the elevated LRT; • Support for grade separations at the VIA rail crossings; • Limit impacts on the NCC Greenbelt and green spaces; and, • Impact on Royale Equestrian Centre site. 33 Project Cost • Total Project Cost: $3 billion • Implementation can be phased: 1. Baseline Station to Fallowfield Station: $2 billion (with VIA Rail grade separations and expansion of Moodie Facility) 2. Fallowfield Station to Barrhaven Centre Station: $1 billion • VIA Rail grade separations can be built independently of LRT project ($400 million) • Interim transit priority measures ($2 million) 34 Recommendations • Approve the functional design for the project and interim transit priority measures; • Direct staff to complete the Environmental Assessment process; • Direct staff to remove the 1005-1045 Greenbank Road site from the list of affordable housing development sites; and, • Direct the Interdepartmental Task Force on Affordable Housing to review Stage 3 LRT corridors to identify alternative locations for future affordable housing to replace the 1005-1045 Greenbank Road site. 35 Questions? 36.