New Civic Hospital connection to Dow’s Lake Station | Proposed

[zzptichka]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Waiting at a light is easier than going up stairs. If you're taking the elevator, you have to wait for it like you would the light, and once you get to the other side, you'd have to take stairs or an elevator again. I don't think there would be much if any time savings. On a bike, it's easier to stay at ground level.

From a station perspective, I think this latest plan is the best by far. From a connecting to the hospital perspective, I think skywalks from a third level of the headhouse would be best, but I'm quite happy with this approach.

The problem with the earlier plan is that the skywalk was kind of stand alone. It didn't connect directly to the station. It wouldn't have been possible, or at least very complicated, to connect it to the station at a later time, especially not some future southbound platform.

If you need to get to the Hospital, you go upstairs either way. With overpass you do it on the North side, with underpass you do it on the South side, after waiting 1-2 minutes to cross if you didn't arrive by train.

Tunnel option is basically exclusively for people arriving by train, which is kinda of a waste for 80M. Less usage for more money.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

If you need to get to the Hospital, you go upstairs either way. With overpass you do it on the North side, with underpass you do it on the South side, after waiting 1-2 minutes to cross if you didn't arrive by train.

Tunnel option is basically exclusively for people arriving by train, which is kinda of a waste for 80M. Less usage for more money.

Where's the bike parking though? If the bike parking is on the ground floor, the overpass won't be useful to cyclists anyway.

[rocketphish]

City considering widening Carling underpass to connect new Civic Campus to transit

By Ted Raymond, CTV News
Published: April 16, 2026 at 7:59AM EDT

City councillors on Ottawa’s public works and infrastructure committee will be debating an $80-million project to widen the Carling Avenue Bridge in order to better connect Dow’s Lake Station to the future Civic Campus of the Ottawa Hospital.

A report prepared for the April 23 meeting says staff looked at ways to provide better access to the future hospital from the Line 2 light rail station on the north side of Carling Avenue.

An environmental assessment looked at two options, building a bridge over Carling Avenue or a tunnel under it. While the bridge option was found to be less expensive, public feedback favoured the tunnel, which was described as more direct, seamless, and intuitive. The tunnel, however, was not initially preferred by city staff due to construction complexity and the risks associated with underground infrastructure.

“In response, the Ottawa Hospital initiated discussions with the City to explore the feasibility of an alternate crossing option using the Carling Avenue underpass,” the report says.

While initially deemed infeasible due to the underpass being too narrow, staff explored another recommendation that involved replacing the aging Carling Avenue Bridge with a wider underpass.

“Constructed in 1965, the bridge has an estimated remaining service life of 15 to 20 years, presenting an opportunity to coordinate its replacement with construction of a new pedestrian crossing. This coordinated approach would allow the underpass to be appropriately sized to accommodate anticipated pedestrian activity while adhering to current safety and design standards adjacent to an active rail corridor,” staff said.

The design involves extending the Dow’s Lake Station platform south under Carling Avenue. The wider bridge would also accommodate future plans to install a second track on Line 2 in the area and a second platform. The design would eliminate the need for a headhouse on the north side of Carling Avenue, which was a concern raised by developers in the area.

“Compared to the bridge and tunnel, this solution provides a more direct, intuitive connection to the Ottawa Hospital for those accessing the site by transit, with direct line-of-sight connectivity across Carling Avenue from the O-Train platform,” staff said.

Staff say the project would require significant funding, coming in at an estimated price tag of $80 million.

Should funding not be available, other options are being considered in the interim to better connect transit users with the hospital campus.

One suggestion is a minibus shuttle between Dow’s Lake Station and the hospital. Staff say the shuttle would provide a fast, barrier-free, and weather-protected connection between the transit network and the hospital site and would be at no cost to riders. It would require approximately $1.5 million in funding to buy the necessary minibuses, plus operating costs. The shuttle service would be discontinued once the underpass is completed.

Other options include weather protection at the Carling Avenue crossing from Dow’s Lake Station, at a cost of $1 million.

The report also includes a $2.6 million plan to widen the multi-use pathway over the O-Train tracks on the south side of Carling Avenue by installing a six-metre-wide active transportation bridge. This bridge would only be constructed if the Carling Avenue bridge replacement and underpass is implemented in the longer term, staff say.

For comparison, the initial bridge proposal came in at an estimated cost of $54 million, while the tunnel would be $82 million, but these prices do not include the additional cost of eventually replacing the Carling Avenue Bridge.

There was no projected timeline for the project in the committee report. The new Civic Campus of the Ottawa Hospital is projected to open in 2028.

The committee meets on April 23. Staff are recommending councillors approve the underpass and interim options.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/ci...-to-connect-new-civic-campus-to-transit/

[dougvdh]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Waiting at a light is easier than going up stairs. If you're taking the elevator, you have to wait for it like you would the light, and once you get to the other side, you'd have to take stairs or an elevator again. I don't think there would be much if any time savings. On a bike, it's easier to stay at ground level.

From a station perspective, I think this latest plan is the best by far. From a connecting to the hospital perspective, I think skywalks from a third level of the headhouse would be best, but I'm quite happy with this approach.

The problem with the earlier plan is that the skywalk was kind of stand alone. It didn't connect directly to the station. It wouldn't have been possible, or at least very complicated, to connect it to the station at a later time, especially not some future southbound platform.

The least expensive improvement (basic zero dollars) the City could make would be to decouple the pedestrian crossing light timing from the intersection at Preston Street. Don't make people wait for 2mins to cross the street.

If the City is really worried about traffic delays (hey, pedestrians are traffic too!), then they could break the crossing into a two leg PXO/Crossride which would shorten amount of time drivers would be stopped while also improving pedestrian delay times.

[skyscraperaccount]

The wider bridge would also accommodate future plans to install a second track on Line 2 in the area and a second platform.

Le fcking sigh

[VANRIDERFAN]

Why was this not thought of when they were working on the O-Train railway?

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by VANRIDERFAN

Why was this not thought of when they were working on the O-Train railway?

Timing was perfect; Stage 2 planning and the the new Civic's planning were being done at the same time. It would have been easy for them to coordinate, but the City's focus was getting the train as far south (to the suburbs) as possible for the lowest possible price. It was never about improving service for existing riders or future riders within the Greenbelt.

Even when the Civic was planning the parking, they gave plenty of time for the City to widen the trench where the future parking would be. It was the perfect time while the line was already closed for Stage 2, but the City didn't act.

It's all very frustrating and will now require yet another long shutdown in the near future, and even then I'm sure the City won't deal with other issues.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by VANRIDERFAN

Why was this not thought of when they were working on the O-Train railway?

It was thought of.

[lrt's friend]

Rideau and Sussex immediately comes to mind when a pedestrian underpass is suggested in a secluded location

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

Rideau and Sussex immediately comes to mind when a pedestrian underpass is suggested in a secluded location

Not quite the same. This is part of a transit station and adds a headhouse on the south side of Carling. Rideau/Sussex was just about making things easier for cars. Rideau/Sussex underpass is the poor man's Portage and Main concourse.

[Kitchissippi]

A new station integrated into the parking garage design would have made a lot of sense, but I guess they had spent so much money on the existing station. At this point we should just bite the bullet and rebuild the bridge.

[ponyboycurtis]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

A new station integrated into the parking garage design would have made a lot of sense, but I guess they had spent so much money on the existing station. At this point we should just bite the bullet and rebuild the bridge.

I'm firmly in the thought that the hospital building and garage should have been flipped. Both for the train station and just as importantly not having a multi story car park abutting Dows Lake. Building to tall! crickets on the car park.

The irony of having to walk through/past a parking garage after leaving the station is great.

The station being across the street would be a non issue with the layout of the Hospital done another way. Moving the station across the street and under the garage is a sideways improvement at best.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by ponyboycurtis

I'm firmly in the thought that the hospital building and garage should have been flipped. Both for the train station and just as importantly not having a multi story car park abutting Dows Lake. Building to tall! crickets on the car park.

The irony of having to walk through/past a parking garage after leaving the station is great.

The station being across the street would be a non issue with the layout of the Hospital done another way. Moving the station across the street and under the garage is a sideways improvement at best.

I imagine building the hospital over Line 2 presented challenges that were insurmountable. Other configurations would have been possible, like the research towers around Line 2, the hospital on the west part of the site on Carling and the parking at the back, though it's possible the hill presented its own challenge for such an option.

As long as I can get from the station to the hospital without stepping outside, I'm fine with it. It's still far more transit accessible than the current location or worse the General campus.

And although the hospital is a bit further, the research towers will be well located closer to the station.

[ponyboycurtis]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I imagine building the hospital over Line 2 presented challenges that were insurmountable. Other configurations would have been possible, like the research towers around Line 2, the hospital on the west part of the site on Carling and the parking at the back, though it's possible the hill presented its own challenge for such an option.

As long as I can get from the station to the hospital without stepping outside, I'm fine with it. It's still far more transit accessible than the current location or worse the General campus.

And although the hospital is a bit further, the research towers will be well located closer to the station.

Ok medical equipment is not something I thought of. Remember.. we can't have 18 wheelers going down Aviation Parkway because of the Montfort allegedly.

I'm mostly bummed out by the aesthetics of it all. So lets hope the exterior treatment of that garage is all that it's cracked up to be.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by ponyboycurtis

Ok medical equipment is not something I thought of. Remember.. we can't have 18 wheelers going down Aviation Parkway because of the Montfort allegedly.

I'm mostly bummed out by the aesthetics of it all. So lets hope the exterior treatment of that garage is all that it's cracked up to be.

I'm not too worried. Facing Dow's Lake should be mostly trees on a hill (yes, it will take a while for them to grow) and the Carling face will eventually be hidden by the research towers. The massive hospital on top of the hill should look kind of cool as well.

[ponyboycurtis]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I'm not too worried. Facing Dow's Lake should be mostly trees on a hill (yes, it will take a while for them to grow) and the Carling face will eventually be hidden by the research towers. The massive hospital on top of the hill should look kind of cool as well.

I suppose like most things you will just get used to it. The parkade renderings do look quite promising all things considered.

While our climate does not compare....

https://interiordesign.net/projects/8-su...ally-significant-buildings-in-singapore/

Man Singapore is a crazy place. Went there in 2001. I can just imagine what it looks like now. It was the first time I had travelled out of the country. Blew my mind. Wait what.. you can tap a card to get on the skytrain?

Anyhow. The notion here is that anything is possible. We are just lazy and cheap. Singapore is an incredibly wealthy country but it's not like we are broke either.

[J.OT13]

Approved by Committee yesterday, though I don't what that means if anything in terms of steps to actually get the thing done. Apparently Graham Bird and Ritchard Brisbin have been the ones pushing the City to move on this.

https://bsky.app/profile/jleiper.bsky.social/post/3mk6avxw2ps26