Month: July 2010

LeBreton Flats, O-Train, Prince of Wales Bridge

Prince of Wales maintenance

Westsideaction

Picture taken yesterday from the bike path on the west side of the War Museum, looking upriver. A service vehicle is on the Prince of Wales bridge near the Quebec side. Closer view, shows the vehicle has two sets of wheels, rubber ones for the road and steel wheels for driving on rails. What it is doing? Men in cherry picker extendable arm are working on the side of the bridge. Arm continues to extend, now right under the whole bridge, the men are beyond the far side of their vehicle. It is rather like using your left hand to … Continue reading Prince of Wales maintenance

chinatown arch, somerset street2 Comments

Chinatown arch takes shape

Westsideaction

The Ottawa Chinatown Royal Arch has taken a huge step towards its final form with the addition of ceramic roof tiles imported from China. Suddenly, instead of a scaffolding-hidden pile of concrete and forms, the beauty of the future arch is emerging. While crews work on the roofs, other crew members are preparing to lay curbs and new paving for the sidewalk and road under the arch. The arch is significantly ahead of schedule. No 2 bus users may get their Somerset route back before the end of July! There are more details at http://www.ottawachinatownroyalarch.blogspot.com/. Continue reading Chinatown arch takes shape

chinatown arch, somerset street

Chinatown arch takes shape

Westsideaction

The Ottawa Chinatown Royal Arch has taken a huge step towards its final form with the addition of ceramic roof tiles imported from China. Suddenly, instead of a scaffolding-hidden pile of concrete and forms, the beauty of the future arch is emerging. While crews work on the roofs, other crew members are preparing to lay curbs and new paving for the sidewalk and road under the arch. The arch is significantly ahead of schedule. No 2 bus users may get their Somerset route back before the end of July! There are more details at http://www.ottawachinatownroyalarch.blogspot.com/. Continue reading Chinatown arch takes shape

Bayview, Bayview Otrain, downtown, interprovincial transit study, LeBreton Flats, LRT, NCC, O-Train, Uncategorized3 Comments

Interprovincial transit opportunity to choose your mode

Westsideaction

Prince of Wales rail bridge from Ottawa to Gatineau Tuesday from 5.30 to 8.30 at City Hall (main floor) there will be a public display of the options for interprovincial transit between Ottawa and Gatineau. Options include which mode of transit to use: Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) or LRT. Route options include connections via the Alexandra Bridge (or under it, in a tunnel under the river, and remember the tunnel under downtown Ottawa is already very deep down so this doesn’t require a steep slope, and the Rideau station has been designed with this connection in mind); a west connection on the Prince … Continue reading Interprovincial transit opportunity to choose your mode

Bayview, Bayview Otrain, downtown, interprovincial transit study, LeBreton Flats, LRT, NCC, O-Train

Interprovincial transit opportunity to choose your mode

Westsideaction

Prince of Wales rail bridge from Ottawa to Gatineau Tuesday from 5.30 to 8.30 at City Hall (main floor) there will be a public display of the options for interprovincial transit between Ottawa and Gatineau. Options include which mode of transit to use: Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) or LRT. Route options include connections via the Alexandra Bridge (or under it, in a tunnel under the river, and remember the tunnel under downtown Ottawa is already very deep down so this doesn’t require a steep slope, and the Rideau station has been designed with this connection in mind); a west connection on the Prince … Continue reading Interprovincial transit opportunity to choose your mode

Preston street, streetscaping, west wellington4 Comments

Arty mainstreets

Westsideaction

precast block awaiting its hole Shown above is a precast foundation block for urban sculpture. When planted into a hole, only the top portion shows. Upon this plinth will be mounted civic art work. On Preston, these will be Italian-style columns. On West Wellie will be sculptural renditions of fire hydrants. The Preston art pieces will arrive mid-August, according to city officials supervising the final touches on the street. precast block inserted in hole, surface pavers relaid  I really look foreward to seeing these art pieces, as they will be the first of their type for an Ottawa main street, as … Continue reading Arty mainstreets

Preston street, streetscaping, west wellington

Arty mainstreets

Westsideaction

precast block awaiting its hole Shown above is a precast foundation block for urban sculpture. When planted into a hole, only the top portion shows. Upon this plinth will be mounted civic art work. On Preston, these will be Italian-style columns. On West Wellie will be sculptural renditions of fire hydrants. The Preston art pieces will arrive mid-August, according to city officials supervising the final touches on the street. precast block inserted in hole, surface pavers relaid  I really look foreward to seeing these art pieces, as they will be the first of their type for an Ottawa main street, as … Continue reading Arty mainstreets

oc Transpo, sidewalks, Transit1 Comment

Unknown offence

Westsideaction

There’s a big hubabaloo in the Centre of the Universe ™ about arrests without cause (just being in Toronto should have been enough cause for criminal prosecution). Here in Ottawa, we have our own cryptic crimes ™  — see sign above along the “virtual LRT line” (as bus rapid transit is now being rebranded in some cities).  What is the offence? The fine is known, and it indicates the city has its revenue enhancement priorities straight. Safety considerations seem to have been let fade away, however. Continue reading Unknown offence

oc Transpo, sidewalks, Transit

Unknown offence

Westsideaction

There’s a big hubabaloo in the Centre of the Universe ™ about arrests without cause (just being in Toronto should have been enough cause for criminal prosecution). Here in Ottawa, we have our own cryptic crimes ™  — see sign above along the “virtual LRT line” (as bus rapid transit is now being rebranded in some cities).  What is the offence? The fine is known, and it indicates the city has its revenue enhancement priorities straight. Safety considerations seem to have been let fade away, however. Continue reading Unknown offence

sidewalks, streetscaping7 Comments

City discovers flat sidewalks !

Westsideaction

One of my major complaints about Ottawa city sidewalks is that they grovel and contort themselves for the convenience of motorists. They dip low at driveways, so motorists don’t have to rise up to cross the sidwalk, but the pedestrian must go down slope then up slope. Some sidewalks end up looking like roller coasters. These are difficult to keep clear in winter, and every driveway dip turns into a salt and slush puddle or slippery ice surface all winter. Honestly, the city couldn’t have designed a worse sidewalk for pedestrians if their goal is to thwart any pedestrian movement at … Continue reading City discovers flat sidewalks !

sidewalks, streetscaping

City discovers flat sidewalks !

Westsideaction

One of my major complaints about Ottawa city sidewalks is that they grovel and contort themselves for the convenience of motorists. They dip low at driveways, so motorists don’t have to rise up to cross the sidwalk, but the pedestrian must go down slope then up slope. Some sidewalks end up looking like roller coasters. These are difficult to keep clear in winter, and every driveway dip turns into a salt and slush puddle or slippery ice surface all winter. Honestly, the city couldn’t have designed a worse sidewalk for pedestrians if their goal is to thwart any pedestrian movement at … Continue reading City discovers flat sidewalks !