Proposed River FootbridgeAlta Vista - Old Ottawa East

AVCA Meeting

September 2020

Proposal

•Conduct cost-benefit analysis of footbridge over the Rideau River from Old Ottawa East / Old Ottawa South

•Add footbridge to TMP and “ultimate” cycling and pedestrian networks.

Location of Proposed Rideau River Footbridge

Context•New OP includes “support for active transportation”

•Dedicated pedestrian/cycling facilities are safer

•New footbridges: transformative and well-used

•Benefits: community, environmental, economic

•Covid: adventuring / accessibility

•Bonus: new public spaces with beautiful new views.

Benefits of Rideau River Footbridge1. Provides safe convenient link to and from the east and southeast

→ the Smyth Bridge not safe or well-connected.

Benefits (cont.)2. Connects communities

→ supports the OP’s “walkable 15-minute neighbourhoods” and “context-sensitive approach to neighbourhood evolution”

3. Supports Hurdman transit oriented development plans

4. Provides new cycling/pedestrian connection to Hurdman LRT.

Benefits (cont.)

5. Completes four-bridge canal-river loop.

Benefits (cont.)6. Links the two major Ottawa Hospital campuses

- safe & convenient cyclist route to Health Campus

- reduces traffic on Smyth

7. Fosters better “cross-town” cycling route

Benefits (cont.)8. Strengthens accessibility and appreciation of river

9. Provides easier and safer access to Lansdowne Park from east

10. Provides improved access to and safety of Riverside Drive greenspace and isolated Rideau River Eastern Pathway.

Cost• Could be modestly constructed

- Not World Heritage Site

- Minor navigation requirements

- Studies for the Adàwe are relevant

- Carleton footbridge will be $5M

• Economy should be the prime evaluation factor in design.

Priority• Supports LRT / OP / TOD

• Doing EA work and design work = “shovel-ready” project eligible for federal infrastructure funding

• Proposed footbridge should take priority over proposed footbridge between LRT and old railway bridges.

Alternative Location – Windsor Park

Clegg=

Windsor Pk=

Assessment of Alternative Locations

Clegg• Connects to Hospital Link and RRWP-

RREP

• Connection to west via Flora and Main Street

• Requires some new east pathways

• Supports LRT and TOD

• 85m crossing

• Little impact on park / greenspace

• Benefits Riverview Pk & AV

Windsor Park• Connects to Pleasant Park cycling

route and RRWP-RREP

• Poor connections to west

• Requires new pathway through park

• No LRT or TOD benefits

• 95m crossing

• Some impact on park / greenspace

• Benefits AV and Heron Park

• Not better alternative to Bank Street / Billings Bridge