Bus passengers cross the transitway at LeBreton Station.The transitway is being relocated.
With the new LRT development underway, transit passengers and residents living near LeBreton station are unsure of the future of the transitway and how it will affect the surrounding community.
When city council accepted an LRT bid in December 2012, the proposal outlined expansion plans for Scott-Albert streets, including dedicated expanded lanes which could accommodate bus traffic for two years until a new transitway could be proposed.
Eric Darwin, former president of the Dalhousie Community Association, says the relocation of the transitway to Scott-Albert is one way to avoid schedule interruption.
“With 190 buses per peak hour, per direction, it makes good sense,” he says.
“The routes run parallel and will allow for connecting routes to see minimal interruption, as opposed to having all new routings. Right now, it’s important to stir the conversation so we can see all the available options.”
DCA president Michael Powell and Darwin agree, however, that the plan has a long way to go until it is considered ideal.
Powell says that the lack of details is a cause for concern, as the intensification of traffic will have a large impact on the community.
“It’s very important that we preserve a pedestrian-friendly environment,” he says.
“We’re all going to have to make a lot of sacrifices to accommodate the LRT, but we need to respect the existing residents.”
Currently, Scott-Albert borders several communities that include residences, as well as community spaces such as the Good Companions Centre, which provides seniors a space to socially interact with each other.
Aside from the lack of details so far about how the shifted bus route would work, Powell says he’s also concerned with the lack of community inclusion in the process.
According to Powell, there was supposed to be a community consultation on the relocation this month. However, the date has yet to be set and the issue of it being open or by invitation-only is still undecided.
Kaitlyn Fraser is a resident on Bayswater Avenue who has to cross Scott everyday to get to Bayview Station.
She says that the way the street is already designed makes it difficult for pedestrians because of the high volumes of traffic.
“You already have drivers whipping through that corridor of the city too fast as it is,” she says.
“Adding volume is just a recipe for disaster. You have schoolchildren, families, and people who are using Scott to walk to where they need to be. What’s going to be done to protect us?”
Coun. Diane Deans, chair of the city’s transit committee, was not immediately available for comment on the specifics of the plan or the definite timeline of the road’s renovation.