Alta Vista Drive Functional Planning Study

Project Overview

The City of Ottawa is commencing a study to develop a functional road design for Alta Vista Drive between Faircrest Road and Edge Hill Place. Aging underground utilities such as sewers and watermains, from Billings Avenue to Kilborn Avenue and Wesmar Drive to Edge Hill Place, require renewal in the short to medium term, respectively. This provides an opportunity to upgrade the design of surface elements such as the roadway, sidewalk and cycling facilities.

Study Result and Timing

This Study will result in the preparation and approval of a Functional Design that will serve as a basis for subsequent detailed designs for the reconstruction of sections of Alta Vista Drive, as applicable. It is anticipated that this Functional Planning Study will be completed before the end of 2019.

Public Involvement

Various opportunities for public involvement will be provided, including a public open house to present study material. Public input and comment is encouraged throughout the project process. The study will receive input from a combined Technical and Public Advisory Committee and other stakeholders during the study.

You are encouraged to participate in the study by attending consultation events or by directly contacting the study team with information, comments or questions. Updated project information will be posted periodically on the study website.

A Public Open House is scheduled for early Summer 2019. Notifications for the Public Open House will be provided closer to the date on the project website with e-mail notifications to the study contact list.

Map of Alta Vist Drive Functional Planning Study

For further information or to provide comments please contact:

Vanessa Black, P. Eng.
Transportation Engineer – Network Modification
Transportation Services Department
613-580-2424, ext. 12559
Email: Vanessa.Black@ottawa.ca

A Public Information Session was held on June 18th, 2019, from 6 to 8 pm at St. Timothy’s Presbyterian Church, Main Hall, 2400 Alta Vista Drive. The objectives of this event were to provide information about the study, answer questions and receive input from the public that could inform the design of the project. An estimated 105 people attended the event. Twenty information panels were available for review along with plans showing design Options A and B, and a Protected Intersection design for Alta Vista and Heron Road. No formal presentation was made.

Display Boards

Boards 1 to 3 [ PDF 6.886 MB ]
Boards 4 to 6 [ PDF 6.058 MB ]
Boards 7 to 9 [ PDF 3.137 MB ]
Boards 10 to 12 [ PDF 2.829 MB ]
Boards 13 to 15 [ PDF 5.052 MB ]
Boards 16 to 19 [ PDF 1.733 MB ]

A total of 140 comments were provided either via Comment-Questionnaire forms during the Public Information Session or via email in the weeks following the public event.

Of the comments received, the following provides a break-down of clearly stated preferences:

1. Option A (Separate Sidewalk and Cycle Track): 38 responses
2. Option B (Bundled Sidewalk and Cycle Track): 44 responses
3. Other cross-section options: 21 responses
4. Status Quo: 18 responses

Support for the project centred on:

• Safer cycling facilities;
• Improved walking environment;
• Potential for traffic calming on Alta Vista Drive; and
• Benefits associated with underground infrastructure renewal.

The main concerns associated with the project centred on:

• Potential removal of trees;
• Snow and ice management for the cycle track (Options A or B) and implications for driveways;
• Narrowing the roadway and its potential impacts to emergency vehicle access, traffic, access to driveways, air pollution and collisions; and
• Potential implications for residents of Alta Vista Drive versus community wide impacts.

No consensus nor general direction was achieved when reviewing all comments as many of the comments submitted conflict with others. Whereas opposition to Option A was mostly due to the lack of spatial separation between cyclists and drivers, opposition to Option B was mostly due to the perception of conflicts between pedestrians and cyclists.

A Public Information Session was held on October 3, 2019, from 6 to 8 pm at St. Timothy’s Presbyterian Church, Main Hall, 2400 Alta Vista Drive. An estimated 85 people attended the event. The participants provided comments verbally to the Study Team, via the Comment forms provided and via email subsequent to the event. After the information was posted on the City’s website, a period of two (2) weeks was provided (deadline October 24th, 2019) so that the public could reflect on the concepts and provide comments.

A total of 26 comments were received either via comment forms during the Public Information Session and via email after the event. The common or recurring themes that were heard are summarized below:

Support for the project centered on:

• Safer cycling facilities and existing curb line maintained;
• Wide sidewalks provide for an improved walking environment;
• Benefits associated with underground infrastructure renewal;
• Some support for flexible posts and the benefits they offer;
• General appreciation for the recommended mid-block road width configuration for safe passage of emergency vehicles.

The main concerns associated with the project centred on:

• Potential removal of trees;
• Snow and ice management activities for cycle tracks and implications for driveways;
• Suggestions for new bus stop locations;
• Safety of cyclists at unsignalized intersections and mid-block locations;
• Impacts to corner lots

Display Boards

Boards 1 to 4

Boards 5 to 8

Boards 9 to 12

Boards 13 to 16

Boards 17 to 21

Boards 22 to 25

Boards 26 to 28

Vanessa Black, P. Eng.
Transportation Engineer – Network Modification
Transportation Services Department
613-580-2424, ext. 12559

The City of Ottawa has completed the Alta Vista Functional Planning Study. Comments received from the two public open houses were used to finalize the recommended functional planswhich have been approved via a Roadway Modification Approval Report:

• Roll Plan 1 [ PDF 2.486 MB ]
• Roll Plan 2 [ PDF 2.347 MB ]
• Roll Plan 3 [ PDF 797 KB ]

The proposed roadway modifications include:

• A mid-block road width of 11.0m, including a 3.5m general traffic lane and 2.0m buffered bike lane in each direction
• Elevate buffered bike lanes into cycle tracks and bend out at intersections
• Widen sidewalks to 2.0m on both sides of the road
• Narrow the roadway to 8.0m at unsignalized intersections
• Reduce curb radii to assist with traffic calming
• A “protected intersection” layout at signalized intersections
• Enhance bus stops and relocate slightly in some cases due to geometric constraints or to improve transit efficiency
• Upgrade of school crossing to type “B” pedestrian crossover at Charles H. Hulse Public School.
• Replace right turn channels at Heron Road with right turn lanes.
• No stopping will be permitted on the corridor.
• Maintain existing trees to the maximum degree possible.

The functional design will proceed to the detailed design stage in advance of the following anticipated construction schedules for each road segment:

• •  
• Smyth to Billings - Potential interim surface works (implementation TBD)
• Billing to Kilborn – Road, sewer and watermain reconstruction (target 3-6 years)
• Kilborn to Wesmar - Potential interim surface works (implementation TBD)
• Wesmar to Bank– Road, sewer and watermain reconstruction (target 5-9 years)

Vanessa Black, P. Eng.
Transportation Engineer – Network Modification
Transportation Services Department
613-580-2424, ext. 12559
Email: Vanessa.Black@ottawa.ca