Bank Street renewal, Riverside Drive (westbound) to Ledbury Avenue

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Project limits

The project limits for Bank Street are between Riverside Drive (North) to Ledbury Avenue, approximately 2.8 kilometres. The project is located in Ward 16 (River), Ward 17 (Capital) and Ward 18 (Alta Vista).

Key plan [ PDF – 95.1 KB ]

Project description

The City of Ottawa has completed the functional design plan for the Bank Street Project and is now proceeding with the preliminary and detailed design phase of the project.

The vision for the Bank Street project is to construct a functioning and safe complete arterial main street with a well-balanced multi-modal transportation network which will cater to vehicles, transit, cyclists and pedestrians. To achieve this goal, some of the following aboveground and underground improvements are proposed:

• Full road reconstruction on Bank Street between Riverside Drive and Ledbury Avenue that includes cycle tracks in both directions and protected intersections.
• Introduction of full height and mountable curb medians along sections of Bank Street.
• Implement streetscaping features along Bank Street, including but not limited to new street furniture, streetlights, trees, concrete sidewalks, grassed sections and paver stones.
• Reconstruction of sanitary sewer, storm sewer and replacement of distribution watermains within the project limits.
• Review and improve bus stop and bus shelter locations.
• Renewal of Bank Street Sawmill Creek culvert.

This project will be guided by the work completed as part of the Bank Street functional design plan. The approved functional design of Bank Street was a product of an extensive study process, which included consultation with the public.

Current status (April 2022)

The design team is progressing through the Detailed Design activities, which includes refinements to the roadway cross-sections and proposed roadway geometry and configurations. They are finalizing the watermain, sanitary sewer and storm sewer infrastructure designs, continuing the landscaping design, undertaking property acquisitions, as well as coordinating utility relocations, agency approvals, and designs for new traffic signals and streetlighting. Construction staging and traffic management strategies during construction are also currently being developed.

The project design is being adjusted to implement the City’s new Protected Intersection Design Guide (PIDG) which was released in September 2021. This has had an impact on the design schedule.

Public information session

A public information session is being planned for late 2022 to provide residents and businesses with an update on the proposed Bank Street design. During that meeting the construction timelines and what to expect will also be discussed. Further information will be communicated once the date is set for the information session.

Project timing

• Design: detailed design underway, completion 2023.
• Public information session: late 2022
• Construction: The timing of construction is dependent on budget approvals and overall construction coordination. More details will be shared in advance of work commencing.

The construction phase of this project will occur over multiple years. The above timelines are estimated and may change as the project progresses. Additional public information sessions will be scheduled and held throughout the design process. Residents will be notified of these events.

Accessibility

Accessibility is an important consideration for the City of Ottawa. The City makes every effort to provide access through and around construction sites. If you require a disability-related accommodation, please contact the project team listed below. Accessible formats and communication supports are available, upon request.

COVID-19

The City of Ottawa, in its commitment to protecting people and the community, continues to work closely with the industry and to comply with recommendations provided by municipal, provincial and federal health officials, as well as the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development.

For any emergency outside normal working hours on weekdays and weekends, call the City at 3-1-1.
Should you have any inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact:

City Project Manager
Roxanne Tubb, P.Eng.
Senior Engineer, Infrastructure Projects
Design and Construction - Municipal
100 Constellation Drive, Ottawa, ON K2G 6J8
Tel: 613-580-2424, ext. 16741

Consultant Project Manager
Kelly Lalonde, P.Eng.
Robinson Consultants Inc.
350 Palladium Drive, Suite 210, Ottawa, ON, K2V 1A8
Tel: 613-592-6060 ext. 141

The City of Ottawa invites you to attend an upcoming Public Information Session to discuss a reconstruction project planned in your neighbourhood.

Through this session, the City of Ottawa will be presenting the latest design drawings, proposed schedule, and construction information related to the Bank Street Renewal Advanced Miscellaneous Works project in advance of the start of construction in spring 2023. The Information Session will also provide an update on the design progress of the overall Bank Street Renewal Project, Riverside to Ledbury.

Thursday, March 9, 2023
6:30 to 8:30 pm
Ridgemont High School Cafeteria – Room 153
2597 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa

In addition to the above meeting, residents can also participate through viewing and commenting on the online documents. Your input is an important part of the consultation process. Your feedback can be submitted by email or by phone to the contact below by March 17, 2023.

The presentation material will be posted here the week of February 27, 2023.

Project summary

What: The proposed renewal of Bank Street includes the installation, rehabilitation and/or replacement of various components of the underground infrastructure including watermains and sanitary and storm sewers. The project also includes the rehabilitation of streetscape elements including sidewalk, cycling, transit and vehicle provisions, street lighting, traffic signals and streetscape improvements. 

Why: The vision for the Bank Street Renewal project is to rehabilitate underground infrastructure and construct a safe arterial main street which will cater to vehicles, transit, cyclists and pedestrians.

When: The project has been separated into phases. Here is a breakdown of the overall project schedule:

• Phase 1A (Bank Street Renewal Advanced Miscellaneous Works): Construction to begin in summer 2023, with completion late 2023.
• Phase 1: Construction currently planned to begin spring 2024.
• Phase 2: Construction to begin following completion of Phase 1.

The preliminary design of Phase 1 is now complete and is currently in detailed design. The Phase 2 design will resume following completion of the Phase 1 design and tender.

Where:

• Phase 1A (Bank Street Renewal Advanced Miscellaneous Works): Bank Street, from Riverside Drive eastbound to Riverside Drive westbound; Sarah Billings Place; and the Sawmill Creek Culvert.
• Phase 1: Bank Street, from Riverside Drive westbound to Erie Avenue.
• Phase 2: Bank Street, from Erie Avenue to Ledbury Avenue.

Who: The City of Ottawa has retained Robinson Consultants to develop preliminary and detailed design drawings for this project.

Please sign up for the Bank Street Renewal e-newsletter.

For further information about this project and/or to submit comments on the project, please contact the City project manager:

City of Ottawa Project Manager
Roxanne Tubb, P.Eng.
Senior Engineer, Infrastructure Projects
Design and Construction – Municipal
100 Constellation Drive, Ottawa, ON K2G 6J8
Tel.: 613-580-2424, ext. 16741

Consultant Project Manager
Kelly Lalonde, P.Eng.
Project Manager, Robinson Consultants Inc.
350 Palladium Drive, Suite 210, Ottawa ON K2V 1A8
Tel.: 613-592-6060, ext. 141

Design Related

Q1: Why are some properties losing their left-in/left-out capabilities on Bank Street?

A: Median requirements were evaluated as part of the functional design and confirmed through the Road Safety Audit that was completed as part of the preliminary design. While the utmost efforts will be made to accommodate businesses’ individual concerns regarding access, maintaining full access to all properties is simply not possible with the proposed design. Many businesses that will see their left-in/left-out access restricted already have alternative accesses on Bank Street or on side streets. As noted in the completed Road Safety Audit for the corridor, restriction of left turn access helps improve the safety of the corridor and reduces vehicle conflicts.

Q2: Why are some of the centre two-way left turn lanes (TWLTLs) being removed?

A: The TWLTLs are being removed to improve the overall aesthetics of Bank Street to better suit its designation as an arterial main street and is in-line with the recommendations of the Bank Street Community Design Plan. The intent is to visually break-up the existing width (four vehicle lanes plus TWLTL) of asphalt with a concrete median. In addition, the collision analysis shows high collision rates in the segments with TWLTLs. As noted in the completed Road Safety Audit for the corridor, removal of TWLTL’s also improves the safety of the corridor and reduces vehicle conflicts.

Q3: What is meant by "raised" and "traversable" medians?

A: Raised medians are generally 150mm in height and are not traversable, whereas traversable medians are 25mm in height with low height mountable curbs which allows drivers to drive onto the median and turn left. Traversable medians are used in lieu of two-way left-turn lanes (TWLTL). The intent is to visually break-up the existing width (four vehicle lanes plus a TWLTL) of asphalt with a concrete median. As noted in the completed Road Safety Audit for the corridor, removal of TWLTL’s improves the safety of the corridor and reduces vehicle conflicts.

Q4: What can be done to increase safety and reduce the number of illegal pedestrian crossings on Bank Street at the Billings Bridge Mall entrance?

A: Due to the short distance between the existing traffic signals at both the Riverside Drive eastbound and the transitway intersections, a new traffic signal cannot be installed at the Billings Bridge Mall access. Under the functional design a fence was proposed to be installed in the median between the Transitway and Riverside Drive (south) to deter pedestrians from illegally crossing Bank Street in this area. This recommendation is being carried through to the preliminary and detailed design under this project. Pedestrians will be able to cross at the signalized intersections at Riverside Drive (eastbound) and the Transitway to access Billings Bridge Mall.

Q5: Why are there no bus bays planned for the corridor?

A: Bus bays are not currently being implemented in the City of Ottawa and existing bus bays are being removed as they are not desirable for OC Transpo as they result in difficulties for buses merging back into traffic.

Q6: What is a protected intersection?

A: A protected intersection is a signal-controlled intersection with dedicated space and crossings for pedestrians, bicycles and motor vehicles which improves user safety and comfort. Protected intersections create shorter, simpler crossings, more predictable movements, and better visibility between people on bikes and people driving. Unlike at conventional intersections, cyclists are not forced to merge into traffic. Instead, they are given a dedicated path through the intersection. The setback between the vehicle lane and the cycling facility makes cyclists more visible to turning drivers than in a conventional intersection. This, along with design elements including corner safety islands, setback cross rides (cycling crossings) and crosswalks, and dedicated bicycle signals reduce potential conflicts between all users. For more information please visit https://ottawa.ca/en/parking-roads-and-travel/cycling/cycling-planning/…

Q7: Why do there appear to be two different protected intersection/corner designs?

A: Due to adjacent property, building or grading constraints two different intersection/corner designs have been proposed throughout the corridor which is in accordance with the City of Ottawa and Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities (AODA) current design guidelines. If there are no constraints, a pedestrian refuge area can be provided between the curb and cycling facility where a pedestrian will wait to cross. In this option the pedestrian and cyclist facilities remain at the same level. If there are significant constraints that do not provide sufficient space for a pedestrian refuge area between the curb and the cycle track the cyclist facility ramps down to road level in advance of the intersection and pedestrians will wait on the sidewalk before crossing. The cyclist facility will ramp back up on the far side of the intersection, past the crosswalk and crossride.

Q8: The northeast corner of Bank Street and Heron Road does not have separated facilities for cyclist and pedestrians?

A: The existing building at the northeast corner of Bank Street and Heron Road results in significant constraints for providing dedicated pedestrian and cycling facilities, however, this corner is currently under review and opportunities to provided separate cycling and pedestrian facilities are still under consideration

Q9: What are you doing to improve pedestrian facilities?

A: The proposed pedestrian facilities along Bank Street are minimum 1.8m wide (and wider where feasible) in accordance with current City of Ottawa and Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities (AODA) guidelines. The pedestrian facilities will be located behind the cycle track which will provide a greater buffer between vehicles and pedestrians. Where the pedestrian facility is against the cycle track, demarcation tiles will be installed to separate the two facilities in accordance with AODA guidelines. Intersections will be constructed with properly sized waiting areas and bus stops will be constructed with landing areas between the curb and cycle track.

Q10: Why are you adding cycle tracks along Bank Street that are raised instead of on road facilities?

A: Bank Street from Riverside Drive (westbound) to Ledbury Avenue has been identified in the City of Ottawa’s Transportation Master Plan as a Cycling Spine Route and is a Cross Town Bikeway north of Heron Road, with several connections to other spine routes, local routes and pathways. In accordance with the City of Ottawa’s Cycle Plan, cycle tracks are being provided to provide greater accommodation and connectivity to cyclists. Due the high traffic volumes and operating speed on Bank Street, separated raised cycle tracks are preferred for this type of corridor to improve comfort for cyclists and enhance the overall safety of the corridor.

Q11: Why are the raised cycle tracks (bike lanes that are raised up from road level) curved at some intersections?

A: Horizontal curves are used for multiple reasons such as slowing cyclists before they enter an intersection and are being designed to the City’s current guidelines and standards which are in line with North American standards.

Q12: Why are there two-way/bi-directional cycling facilities only in a few locations versus one-way/unidirectional facilities?

A: Unidirectional cycle tracks are primarily proposed throughout the corridor however there are a few bi-directional cycle tracks proposed at key locations to improve connectivity to destination points or existing pathways/facilities.

Q13: What is being done to improve the cycling and pedestrian facilities at the Bank Street and Riverside Drive (westbound) intersection?

A: The geometry of the Billings Bridge results in significant constraints for the pedestrian and cycling facilities. In the Preliminary Design, there are cycling ramps that allow cyclists to merge and take a lane on Bank Street in advance of the Billings Bridge. Modifications to the Billings Bridge are outside of the scope of this project; however, opportunities to provide aa further improved cycling and pedestrian connection are currently under review.

Q14: How are you improving the traffic capacity of Bank Street as it is a major arterial corridor?

A: The section of Bank Street between Riverside Drive (westbound) and Ledbury Avenue has many designations including being an Arterial Mainstreet, truck route, transit route and cycling route. Therefore, the corridor is being reconstructed as a “complete street” to improve the multi-modal capacity throughout the corridor, by providing improved facilities for all users.

Q15: Will OC Transpo routes or bus stops be changing?

A: OC Transpo route changes are not part of the project scope. Bus stop locations have been reviewed and relocated in consultation with OC Transpo. Bus stops will be primarily located on the far side of the intersection to allow buses to clear the intersection before stopping for passengers.

Q16: Why aren’t roundabouts being consider for this corridor?

A: Roundabouts were reviewed during the functional design however due to the limited property and traffic volumes throughout the corridor were not deemed to be appropriate for this corridor.

Q17: How will accessibility of the corridor be improved through the reconstruction?

A: The design will meet the City of Ottawa Accessibility Design Standards, as well as the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Some of the key accessibility components of the design include a minimum 1.8m wide pedestrian facilities with delineator tiles placed when adjacent to a cycle track and seating areas / rest areas throughout the corridor. Intersections will include properly sized refuge areas for pedestrian crossings, accessible pedestrian signals and installation of tactile walking surface indicators (TWSIs).

Q18: Is there coordination between the renewal project and the development applications at 1335 to 1346 Bank?

A: Yes. Coordination between this project and the proposed developments is ongoing.

Q19: Will the overhead utility lines be buried.

A: There is currently no plan to bury Hydro lines within the project limits. It is City policy, for roadways classified as is this section of Bank Street, to work around the Hydro lines unless there is a technical requirement to bury them. In this case, there is no requirement to bury the Hydro lines.

Q20: Will you ensure that city scaping is reflective of native fauna and contributes to the ecology of the area (e.g., trees that produce berries for wildlife or that blossom for bees)?

A: Yes. Wherever possible, native plants will be used.

Construction Related

Q21: What are the timelines for construction of this project?

A: The timing and duration of the project is still under review as it will be dependent on available funding. The project will be completed in multiple phases. Currently, construction is expected to commence in mid-2022 at the earliest. Please note that utility works, including Enbridge gas upgrades and Hydro pole and overhead utility relocations, will be completed in advance of the reconstruction works.

Q22: Will Bank Street be closed during construction

A: While it is not anticipated that Bank Street will be closed during construction, impacts to traffic during construction are still under review and will be finalized during the detailed design stage.

Q23: How will public transportation be impacted during construction?

A: Impacts to public transportation and traffic during construction are still under review and will be finalized during the detailed design stage.

Q24: I am a frequent user of the pedestrian facilities along Bank Street. How can I still access these facilities during construction?

A: Accessibility and maintaining accesses to pedestrian facilities and businesses is an important consideration for the City. Pedestrian access to homes, pedestrian facilities and businesses will be maintained at all times and the City will make every effort to provide access through and around construction sites. Detours and sidewalk closures will be communicated on-site with signage.

Q25: My business receives weekly/daily deliveries. How can I make sure this is not impacted?

A: Access to each business will be maintained during construction. On rare occasions, if access cannot be maintained for short periods of time, the project team will coordinate with the business owner to reduce impacts. We ask that each business fills out a business questionnaire for the project. This will also help us get primary contacts for each business and relay important information to the Contractor like peak delivery times. Please email the project contacts for a copy of the survey.

Q26: Will utilities to businesses and residents be impacted during the reconstruction? How will business and residents be notified when utilities (i.e. water, gas, electricity) are shut off?

A: During construction, there may be times where utilities, such as gas or water, will need to be interrupted. The City will provide 48 hours of notice of planned service disruptions; however, there may be instances when unforeseen construction issues will result in water, gas and hydro disruptions.

Q27: Will garbage/recycling pick-up and snow removal be impacted during lane closures?

A: The City’s contractor is responsible for coordination of garbage/recycling pick-up and snow removal within the construction zone. All City services outside of the construction zone will continue as normal. The project team will monitor these activities closely during construction.

Q28: Will the City be replacing water and sewer services to private properties?

A: As part of this assignment, the City’s Contractor will be installing new water and sewer services on City of Ottawa property in areas where the watermain and sewers are to be replaced. The private services beyond the City property line will not be included in this work.

Q29: I have a disability; will I be able to get around the construction?

A: Under the terms and conditions of their contract, the Contractor is required to prepare a Construction Site Pedestrian Control Plan which will ensure the provision of a safe and accessible path of travel for all pedestrians through and/or around the construction site. The plan shall ensure that persons with disabilities, as well as those with increased mobility needs (parents with strollers and/or young children, elderly pedestrians using canes, walkers, or wheelchairs, etc.), will be accommodated either through or around the construction site. The project team is available to review and facilitate accessibility related accommodations during construction.

The City of Ottawa continues to take precautionary steps to protect members of the public. As an alternative to hosting in-person public information sessions, information is being posted to Ottawa.ca. The City remains committed to keeping the public informed of projects occurring in your neighbourhood.

A virtual public information session is being held on Thursday April 22, 2021 at 6:30 pm.

We request that participants submit their questions to the project contacts below in advance of the session. During the session, we will attempt to answer all questions received, however if there are too many questions or questions received after the session, we will provide follow-up responses on the project website.

Display Boards [ 11.3 MB ]

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Boards 7 [ 677 KB ]

Aerial Board 1 [ 17.7 MB ]
Aerial Board 2 [ 10.5 MB ]
Aerial Board 3 [ 8.33 MB ]
Aerial Board 4 [ 13.1 MB ]
Aerial Board 5 [ 12 MB ]
Aerial Board 6 [ 12.8 MB ]
Aerial Board 7 [ 6.89 MB ]

What: The proposed renewal of Bank Street includes the installation, rehabilitation and/or replacement of various components of the underground infrastructure including watermains and sanitary and storm sewers. The project also includes the rehabilitation of streetscape elements including sidewalk, cycling, transit and vehicle provisions, street lighting, traffic signals and streetscape improvements.

Why: The vision for the Bank Street Renewal project is to rehabilitate underground infrastructure and construct a safe arterial main street which will cater to vehicles, transit, cyclists and pedestrians.

When: The design of the project is currently on-going, and the preliminary design is now complete. The construction timelines for this project are subjected to budget approvals and overall construction coordination.

Where: Bank Street between Riverside Drive to Ledbury Avenue.

Who: The City of Ottawa has retained Robinson Consultants to develop preliminary and detailed design drawings for this project.

For further information about this project and/or to submit comments on the project, please contact the City Project Manager.

Thursday, October 17, 2019, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Jim Durrell Recreation Centre
Ellwood Hall
1265 Walkley Road
Ottawa, ON

The City of Ottawa invites you to attend a drop-in public information session/Visioning workshop as part of the preliminary design for the renewal of Bank Street between Riverside Drive to Ledbury Avenue. The purpose of the meeting is to recap the recommendations outlined in the Bank Street Functional Design Study (completed February 2018) and present plans depicting improvements for Bank Street (Riverside Drive to Ledbury Avenue).

Open House Display Boards [ PDF 11.620 MB ]

This public information session/Visioning workshop is an opportunity for you to learn about the project and provide input. City staff will be available to discuss the current project status and respond to questions.

Who: The City of Ottawa has retained Robinson Consultants to develop preliminary and detailed design drawings for this project.

Why: The vision for the Bank Street Renewal project is to rehabilitate underground infrastructure and construct a functioning and safe arterial main street which will cater to vehicles, transit, cyclists and pedestrians.

What: The proposed renewal of Bank Street includes the installation, rehabilitation and/or replacement of various components of the street infrastructure within the rights-of-way. This includes the layout of the surface elements including sidewalk, cycling, transit and vehicle provisions, street lighting and streetscape improvements, and solutions for underground infrastructure.

When: The design of the project is currently on-going. Subject to receipt of approvals and funding availability, the timelines for this project will be confirmed. It is expected in the next two to three years.

Where: Bank Street between Riverside Drive to Ledbury Avenue.

For further information about this project and/or to submit comments, please contact:

City of Ottawa project manager:
Roxanne Tubb, P.Eng.
Senior Engineer, Infrastructure Projects
Tel: 613-580-2424, ext. 16741

Consultant project manager:
Kelly Lalonde, P.Eng.
Project Manager, Robinson Consultants Inc.
Tel: 613-592-6060 ext. 141

Geotechnical borehole work on road update (November 2019)

The subsurface investigation work for the Bank Street Renewal project is currently ongoing.

Who: The City of Ottawa has retained Robinson Consulting and their subconsultant GEMTEC Consulting Engineers to complete the work.

Why: The work is in preparation for the reconstruction works on Bank Street between Riverside Drive and Ledbury Avenue scheduled to begin in 2021.

What: Work will involve borehole drilling equipment, operators and technicians for soil and groundwater sampling.

When: New dates - This work will take place until December 20. This work takes place between 7 pm and 3 am. A Noise By-Law Exemption is in place for this work.

Where: The work will take place at various locations along Bank Street between Riverside Drive and Heron Road. The limits of work will vary daily.

We apologize for any inconvenience this work may cause.

Traffic

Lane reductions are anticipated by this work.

Impact on the Right of Way and Adjacent Private Properties

It is not anticipated that the right of way will be impacted by this project.

Noise

You may notice noise during drilling. The City of Ottawa Noise By-law (2017-255) allows construction activity to occur weekdays between 7 am and 10 pm. On Saturdays, work is permitted between 7 am and 10 pm, while Sundays, statutory and public holidays work is permitted between 9 am and 10 pm.

Geotechnical borehole work on road (September 2019)

Representatives of the City of Ottawa will be undertaking work in your neighbourhood.

Who: The City of Ottawa has retained Robinson Consulting and their subconsultant GEMTEC Consulting Engineers to complete the work.

Why: The work is in preparation for the reconstruction works on Bank Street between Riverside Drive and Ledbury Avenue scheduled to begin in 2021.

What: Work will involve borehole drilling equipment, operators and technicians for soil and groundwater sampling.

When: This work period is planned for September 23 to October 23, 2019 between 7 pm and 3 am.

Where: The work will take place at various locations along Bank Street between Riverside Drive and Ledbury Avenue. The limits of work will vary daily.

We apologize for any inconvenience this work may cause.

Traffic

Lane reductions are anticipated by this work.

Impact on the right of way and adjacent private properties

It is not anticipated that the right of way will be impacted by this project.

Noise

You may notice noise during drilling. The City of Ottawa Noise By-law (2017-255) allows construction activity to occur weekdays between 7 am and 10 pm. On Saturdays, work is permitted between 7 am and 10 pm, while Sundays, statutory and public holidays work is permitted between 9 am and 10 pm.

Public Meeting

Tuesday, December 6, 2016
6 to 8:30 pm
Presentation at 7pm
Jim Durrell Recreation Centre – Ellwood Hall
1265 Walkley Road
OC Transpo routes 1, 8, 41, 87 and 146
Free parking is available

Your feedback is an important component for this renewal project (full road, watermain and sewer replacement). Key elements that will be presented for comment include:

• Cycle tracks
• Widened sidewalks
• Transit priority measures
• Additional medians and the removal of the two way left turn lane in select locations
• Intersection designs
• New traffic control signals

Presentation [ PDF 4.964 MB ]
Open House Display Boards [ PDF 4.628 MB ]
Functional Design Plan [ PDF 17.7 MB ]

Comments and information regarding this project will be collected to assist the project team in finalizing the design. All comments received, with the exception of personal information, will become part of the public record.  Deadline extended - please send comments by January 15, 2017.

Approximately 100 people participated in the Open House.  A presentation by the consulting team was held at 7 pm followed by a question and answer period. Approximately 15 comment sheets were received during the course of the evening and approximately 30 emails were received prior to the deadline for comments.

Summary of Public Comments [ PDF 249 KB ]

• Many participants identified these issues to be of greatest interest to them:
• Widening sidewalks
• Improving the cycling environment along the corridor 
• Adding Street trees and Landscaped Boulevards
• Concerns with the removal of the  two way left turn lane and access to the local businesses

City staff and the consulting team reviewed the feedback and the following drawings were amended to address the specific concerns:

1. Addition of a pedestrian signal at Notting Hill and Bank Street
2. Addition of a shared westbound transit lane with right turn lane  on Heron Road at Bank  Street as well as a double southbound left turn lane
3. Modification to the median from Cecil Avenue to Randall Avenue
4. Addition of a traffic signal at Blue Heron Mall and 1525 Bank Street
5. Reconfiguration of the northbound cycling facility from Riverside Drive south to Riverside Drive North 

Foxbar Avenue to Surrey Avenue [ PDF 332 KB ]

Billings Bridge to Riverside Drive [ PDF 800 KB ]

Heron Road to Evans Avenue [ PDF 459 KB ]

Blue Heron Mall [ PDF 444 KB ]

Next Steps (updated March 2019)

• Bank Street from Riverside Drive to Heron Road is currently forecast for construction to begin in 2021; however, this timeline could change dependent on bus detour routes required for Light Rail Transit (LRT) construction.
• Bank Street from Heron Road to Ledbury Avenue is forecast for construction in 5-10 years.

Project Overview

The City of Ottawa has initiated a study to develop a Recommended Functional Design Plan for Bank Street from the Riverside Drive North to Ledbury Avenue. The Plan will include preliminary roadway geometry and general arrangements, typical cross sections, pavement markings, intersection details, preliminary landscape designs, and identify property requirements and project costs.

The Plan will build upon the Preliminary Design for Bank Street (Riverside Drive South to Walkley Road) completed in 2007and will incorporate recommendations emerging from the 2012 Bank Street Community Design Plan (CDP), the 2013 Official Plan (OP) and associated Transportation Master Plan (TMP) update, and other recent studies and City policies such as the Complete Streets Implementation Framework.

Study Area Map [ PDF 1.854 MB ]

Presentation [ PDF 2.598 MB ]

Background

The Bank Street CDP completed in 2012 is the Council-approved guide to the long-term growth and development of the portion of Bank Street from Riverside Drive to the CN rail line located south of Walkley Road (near Ledbury Avenue). The purpose of the CDP was to create a framework for the future development of these lands, which fulfills the policy direction outlined in the City's OP and sets the specific objectives for the Bank Street community. The CDP provides the land use concept for the area, as well as the servicing and transportation structure for future development.

The City of Ottawa completed a full update to the TMP in 2013. The TMP includes recommendations and actions that support the development of Complete Streets as a component of providing safe and efficient roads.

As part of the Complete Street Implementation Framework, one of the tools identified to support the process was the development of a multi-modal level of service (MMLOS) framework. The TMP provides high level direction on how the MMLOS will be considered and outlines preliminary measures for each mode: pedestrians, cycling, transit, trucks and motor vehicles. The guideline builds upon the work of the TMP and subsequent research into MMLOS indicators to provide a detailed overview of how the MMLOS indicators are to be used and interpreted as part of the transportation impact assessment process.

Study Objectives and Schedule

The development of a Recommended Functional Design Plan will be guided by a detailed assessment of the MMLOS for pedestrians, cyclists, transit service and general traffic for existing and future travel conditions at key locations within the corridor. This analysis considers the roadway geometry and operations of each travel mode and will be used as input in the analysis of design alternatives for the Riverside Drive (North and South), Alta Vista Drive, Heron Road and Walkley Road intersections, and for the roadway segments in between.

As portions of Bank Street are designated as either a Cross-Town Bikeway or a Spine Route on the City's Primary Urban Cycling Network (beyond 2031), a key study objective will be to incorporate cycling facilities into the Recommended Functional Design Plan. The results of the above noted MMLOS analysis will assist in identifying the need for and the degree to which protected facilities can be achieved.

As well, the study will review the need for transit signal priority and assess the feasibility of incorporating bus queue jump lanes at various intersections to address the expected increase in frequency of bus services over time needed to achieve the modal share objectives set out in the 2012 CDP.

The Recommended Functional Design Plan will be refined based on the input received from agencies, stakeholders and the public. Comments received will be considered and incorporated as appropriate into the plan and included in a final Functional Design Report.

This study is to be completed in early 2017.

How to Get Involved

The study will have the benefit of input from a Technical Advisory Committee and a Public and Business Consultation Group that will meet at key points during the study.

An Open House is tentatively scheduled for early October 2016 to provide an opportunity to review and provide input on the Recommended Functional Design Plan. Notification for the Open House will be provided through local newspaper notices, emails to the study mailing list and postings on this website.

Updated project information will be posted periodically on the study website.

You are encouraged to participate in the study through dialogue with your local Community Association or by directly contacting Ann Selfe to have your name placed on the study mailing list to receive project updates or to submit comments and questions.

Ann Selfe, P.Eng.
Senior Implementation Engineer
Development Review Transportation Engineering Services
Transportation Services Department
110 Laurier Avenue West, 4th Floor, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 1J1
613-580-2424 ext. 13185
Email: ann.selfe@ottawa.ca