STO reaches out to public for comments

Three options and their variations for an efficient public transit system in Aylmer on the table

A tramway, additional reserved bus lanes, dedicated bus lanes, are the options being considered by the Société de transport de l'Outaouais (STO) to provide a rapid transit system for the western part of Gatineau. On October 17, the STO made public these possible modes of transportation and three potential corridors with their variations.

The more modest scenario, called Option A, Improve Status Quo, is simply to improve the current bus network in Aylmer and in Hull. This is the least expensive option and serves as a basis for the other scenarios. “When we analyse many options we need to consider the more economical one,” explained Sandrine Poteau, project manager with the STO.

In a nutshell, this option would see the addition of reserved bus lanes on Allumettières, Saint-Raymond, and on Pink Road. More bus routes would also use Allumettières Boulevard and the northern part of Aylmer would be better served.

The next option or option B1, is to make Aylmer Road and Alexandre-Taché Boulevard the primary transit corridor. In this case, the Allumettières axis would still be used to provide service for north Aylmer. The STO notes that implementing a tramway on this corridor would prove complicated, mainly because of space constraints. Aylmer Road, which was already expanded years ago, is considered a heritage corridor with its many historic homes.

Option B2, called Champlain Bridge, is a variant of the Aylmer Road/Taché option. It would still use the same axis, but certain routes heading to downtown Ottawa would take the Champlain Bridge to connect with Ottawa’s light rail at the Tunney’s Pasture station. In this variant, routes heading to Old Hull would take the Aylmer Road/Taché axis.

“Yes, the NCC is aware that we are studying this option,” said Renée Lafrenière STO Director, Development, Marketing and Communications. The NCC maintains the Champlain Bridge and in the past has shown its resistence in permitting large vehicles to use the bridge. Furthermore, the space currently available on the three-laned Champlain Bridge may be insufficient for implementing such a system, noted the STO. “The lanes to access the Champlain Bridge are congested and require redevelopment both on the Gatineau and Ottawa side,” states an STO document.

Option C would see buses mainly use the Allumettières axis to head to Old Hull and downtown Ottawa. The Aylmer Road/Taché axis would still be maintained to serve Aylmer’s southern neighbourhoods. In this scenario, all transportation modes could be easily implemented as there are few public utilities under the main corridor, unlike Aylmer Road. However, a new multipurpose bridge parallel to the existing Ruisseau des Fées bridge and Lac-des-Fées Parkway would be required.

A variant of option C, called Plateau Boulevard, would see the STO primarily use a corridor formed by Allumettières/McConnell/Plateau. Again, the Aylmer/Taché axis would be maintained. According to the STO, using McConnell Road, between Vanier to Samuel-Edey Roads, would make it possible for buses to get closer to some residential streets and improve accessibility to public transit in those area. One challenge is that street parking along Boulevard du Plateau would be lost.

In each scenario, all bridges, even the defunct Prince-of-Wales rail bridge owned by the City of Ottawa, are taken into account. Moreover, the tramway option, favoured by Hull-Aylmer MP Greg Fergus, is part of every scenario, but often scores the lowest in regard to the ease of implementation. The tramway is also the most expensive.

The STO evaluated that it would cost roughly $50 million per km for a tramway versus between $5 and $25 million for a bus system per km. The STO is looking at developing about 12 kms for the west end’s transit system.

Public consultation

The STO will continue the consultation online until November 13 and will answer questions from the public. The STO is also hosting two information sessions on October 19 and 20 in the west of Gatineau. The October 19 session will take place the Centre communautaire du Plateau at 145 de l'Atmosphère Street in Hull and the October 20 session will be held on Centre communautaire Front at 175 Front Street in Aylmer.

These sessions and a 20-minute online questionnaire will help the STO broaden their reflection as they finalize their study estimated at $546,000; 75 % of which is paid by the ministry of Transport, Sustainable Mobility and Transport Electrification. Residents can also contact the STO to obtain a paper version of the questionnaire.

Following the public consultation, the STO aims to table a report of their study to the provincial government at the beginning of 2017. The next step for the STO will be to obtain an agreement in principle with the province to finance the project, followed by a detailed study on the preferred option. Once complete, the STO will need to develop the construction plans and specifications before obtaining the final agreement from Quebec City to fund the project and going to tender.