From: David Jeanes

More information that could interest the Task Force members.

There was also a question raised at the Friends of the O-Train presentation
on Monday January 29 about the possible impact on O-Train operation if the
line from Bayview is electrified to Carleton University or beyond in future.

I am convinced that such electrification could be done in future without a
prolonged shutdown, as it has been in other countries. The rock cut is wide
enough for the masts and the tunnel is high enough. (Service could be
maintained to Carleton from the south, even during any required shutdown to
the north.)

It was actually the double tracking that was forcing the city to plan a
shutdown, based on the way that they proposed to replace the Rideau River
bridge, add a second tunnel at Dows Lake, and widen the rock cut.

All of these could be done incrementally over several years with summer-only
shutdowns, if they were not required to work within a 2-year construction
program.

But if the diesel light rail is not going downtown, there may actually be no
need to electrify or double track this section. The capacity needs can be
met by up to 3-car trains every 7-8 minutes on single track, with a capacity
of about 13,700 persons per hour.

This is far in excess of any forecast need in this corridor, particularly
when you consider that many of the users along the proposed north-south LRT
route would actually choose to go downtown on the two already existing
transitways.

Since this line is designed for heavy rail, it could be converted in future
to handle higher-capacity commuter trains, This could giver us a commuter
rail network with hubs at Bayview and Alta Vista reaching out to Casselman,
Osgoode, Barrhaven-Richmond, Kanata-Carp, Gatineau and even Stittsville and
Aylmer on existing or reinstated tracks.

When we do need more capacity to the south, including electric LRT to the
airport, it would actually make more sense to put LRT on the transitway from
Hurdman to South Keys via Billings and Walkley. It was designed for this
and there are no new bridges or tunnels to build.

Since this section of the Transitway is less busy with buses than the east
and west transitways, and since the O-Train provides an alternate route to
downtown, the buses could probably keep running during the conversion to
LRT.

I don't see that a second tunnel under Dows Lake would ever deliver more
value than spending the same money on surface LRT or commuter rail
extensions.

On the other hand, OC Transpo's strategy of using every possible technique
to push bus capacity on Albert and Slater to the absolute limits, is
virtually guaranteeing that we will never be able to do major work on those
streets, even to repair sewers.

Regards,
David L. Jeanes, P.Eng.
spokesperson, Friends of the O-Train