Functional design study (2018)

Notice of Study Commencement
Functional Design Study

The City of Ottawa has initiated a study to develop a recommended functional design for the surface of the Mackenzie King Bridge, from Elgin Street to the Rideau Centre. The design will be consistent with the Albert and Slater Streets Post Light Rail Transit (LRT) Repurposing Functional Design Study plan, approved by City Council on 11 April 2018.  The approved plan identified right-side on-street bicycle lanes and one traffic lane for each direction on the Mackenzie King Bridge between the National Arts Centre and the Rideau Centre.  

This study will build upon the approved plan to establish an ultimate vision for the area that removes the existing median and incorporates raised cycle tracks, facilitates a transition to median bicycle lanes east of the Rideau Centre, and provides enhanced public realm opportunity spaces. The study will assess the structural implications of this plan and together these findings will provide design input for the City’s planned bridge deck renewal work. 

Consultation

Early and on-going consultation with key landowners and public stakeholders will be undertaken to ensure the success and timely completion of this study.

For further information or to provide comments, please contact:

Vanessa Black, P.Eng.
Transportation Engineer - Network Modification  
City of Ottawa
110 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa ON K1P 1J1
613-580-2424, ext.12559
Email: Vanessa.Black@Ottawa.ca

Slater Street Realignment Environmental Assessment Study

The City of Ottawa has completed the Class Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Slater Street Realignment Study. This Study was carried out in accordance with the requirements for a Schedule ‘C’ project under the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment document (October 2000, as amended 2007, 2011 and 2015).​

An Environmental Study Report has been prepared to document the planning and design process and the recommended plan for the realignment of Slater Street and widening of Bronson Avenue. The ESR is available for public review at the following locations during regular business hours for a period of 30 calendar days, starting on Friday, June 1, 2018.

City of Ottawa
City Hall Information Desk
110 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, Ontario

Ottawa Public Library
Main Branch
120 Metcalfe Street
Ottawa, Ontario

University of Ottawa
Morisset Hall
65 University Private
Ottawa, Ontario

Ministry of the Environment
and Climate Change
2430 Don Reid Drive
Ottawa, Ontario

During the public review period, interested persons are encouraged to read the ESR and provide comments. Please direct written comments to:

Vanessa Black, P.Eng.
Transportation Engineer - Network Modification  
City of Ottawa, 110 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa ON K1P 1J1
Tel: 613-580-2424 ext. 12559
E-mail: Vanessa.Black@Ottawa.ca

If concerns regarding this project cannot be resolved in discussion with the City, a person/party may request that the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change order a change in the project status and require a higher level of assessment under an individual Environmental Assessment process (referred to as a Part II Order). The Part II Order request must be received by the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change during the 30 day review period and a copy of the request should be forwarded to the City of Ottawa. If there are no requests received by Tuesday, July 3, 2018, the project will be considered to have met the requirements of the Municipal Class EA, and the project may proceed to design and construction as presented in the ESR.

Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Ontario
The Honourable Chris Ballard
77 Wellesley Street West
11^th Floor, Ferguson Block
Toronto, ON   M7A 2T5

Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Ontario
Environmental Approvals Branch
135 St. Clair Avenue West, 1^st Floor
Toronto, ON, M4V 1P5

With the exception of personal information, all comments will become part of the public record.  Information collected will be used in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and solely for the purpose of conducting the environmental assessment.

This Notice was first published on May 25, 2018.

The City of Ottawa is studying Albert Street, Slater Street and the Mackenzie-King Bridge between Empress Avenue and Waller Street. The study will explore opportunities to improve walking, cycling, transit and general traffic along these streets by reallocating existing Transitway lanes after the O-Train Confederation Line opens in 2018. The study findings will contribute to the City’s planned integrated road reconstruction west of Bay Street and for interim roadway modifications east of Bay Street.

The study findings will provide design input into the City’s:

• Planned integrated road and underground infrastructure reconstruction project at the west end of Albert and Slater Streets between Empress Avenue and Bay Street and the intersection with Bronson Avenue and Commissioner Street, and for
• Interim roadway modifications to Albert and Slater streets between Bay and Waller streets, including the Mackenzie King Bridge, to be implemented following decommissioning of the bus Transitway in the downtown when the O-Train Confederation Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line comes into service in 2018.

Study Area

The street design will address all travel modes and the many demands on the street through:

• Seeking opportunities to improve walking environments for the tens-of-thousands of people who will be walking to and from the new Confederation Line light rail transit stations;
• Identifying opportunities to enhance the cycling environment on Albert Street, Slater Street and the Mackenzie King Bridge;
• Incorporating measures to address transit operations including potential operations in mixed traffic, localized transit priority measures and other operating requirements; and
• Addressing, in general terms, the potential spatial requirements for other functions along the street including: on-street parking, taxi and lay-by/loading zones, bicycle parking, building entrances, street side services and amenities, and emergency vehicle access.

The renewal of the Albert Street and Slater Street corridor will implement the vision established in the City of Ottawa Official Plan and build on the findings and recommendations of the 2013 Downtown Moves Study. The Study’s direction is to pursue improvements to the pedestrian and cycling environment, streetscape enhancements, and connections to the planned Confederation Line light rail transit stations. Accordingly, the streets’ designs will have regard for the various planned functions and community contexts along the project limits.

Study Process

As part of the overall planning and design study, the City of Ottawa is conducting a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) for a Schedule “C” project in the area slated for full road reconstruction, undertaken in accordance with Ontario’s Environmental Assessment Act. Initial study investigations have identified opportunities to improve pedestrian routes, cycling facilities, traffic circulation and access to adjacent property through the potential modifications to Slater Street between Empress Street and Bronson Avenue and to Bronson Avenue and Commissioner Street between Albert and Slater streets. The City must consider alternative designs for the project, undertake public and agency consultation, assess the potential environmental effects of the Recommended Plan and identify measures to mitigate any such impacts. The study will also address potential implications on federal and National Capital Commission (NCC) properties and the need for federal approvals to implement the project.

Study Result and Timing

The street planning and design study will provide functional design levels of guidance for the reallocation of street space to inform a fully integrated road and sewer renewal project and the implementation of interim measures to modify Albert and Slater Streets east of Bay Street. As part of the environmental assessment process, an Environmental Study Report (ESR) will be prepared for public review. Following the public review period, the project will be considered to have EA approval and may proceed to implementation once funding is in place. It is anticipated that the study and environmental assessment will be completed in mid 2018.

Getting Involved

Various opportunities for public involvement will be provided, and public input and comment will be welcomed throughout the project process. The study process will have regard for the provisions of the Province of Ontario’s Environmental Assessment Act. The study will also have the benefit of input from agency, business and public consultation groups that will meet at key points 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 may be posted periodically on the study website.

An Open House is scheduled for November 28, 2017. Notifications for the open house will be provided through local newspapers, e-mails to the study mailing list and postings on the study webpages.

For further information or to provide comments, contact the City’s project managers at the addresses below.

Nelson Edwards
Senior Project Manager, Transportation Planning
Transportation Services Department
613-580-2424, ext. 21290 
Email: nelson.edwards@ottawa.ca

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