Ottawa city councillors have rejected the idea extending Preston Street through Lebreton Flats, opting instead for a pedestrian and cycling bridge over the area.
City staff say the ‘active transportation bridge’ will reduce traffic and improve transit access in the area.
The Preston Street Extension was proposed in the 1970s, long before the current plan for LeBreton Flats was conceived. If built now, a staff report says, the extension would attract additional traffic to the area, worsening traffic conditions around LeBreton Flats on Preston Rochester, and Booth Streets and would require a bridge nearly twice as long as Booth Street.
“In contrast, building it as an active transportation bridge increases the pedestrian and cyclist accessibility to the O-Train stations and that will hopefully ensure transit mode share targets that are envisioned for this area,” city urban planner Erin O’Connell told planning committee on Feb. 4.
Over time, LeBreton Flats will become a major-use area with more housing, commercial space, parks a new central library and the new Ottawa Senators arena.
The local councillor welcomed the move.
“It’s a win-win scenario and we’re going to get a beautiful pedestrian cycling bridge,” said Somerset Coun. Ariel Troster.
“I’ve seen what the people traffic looks like on Booth Street exiting Bluesfest after a major concert. It’s absolutely wild. It’s shoulder to shoulder. So, I do think this will help provide some relief.”
The proposed bridge would allow people to walk and cycle. Transit and emergency vehicles will still use neighbouring streets and NCC roads to reach the area.
The committee gave staff instructions to complete a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the National Capital Commission (NCC), which will build and manage the bridge.
Additionally, staff confirmed that if council accepts the modification, the Preston Street Extension will no longer be in the Transportation Master Plan.
The staff report said the new bridge plan received more support than opposition during the public consultation process. Instead of developing a new road, many residents favoured priority for walking, cycling and public transit. The bridge would be between the Pimisi LRT station and the Bayview station, which also connects to the O-Train Line 2.
“Transit is the best way to transport people,” Troster says.
Subdivision and site plan approvals, as well as other planning proposals at LeBreton Flats, will be made possible if the change is given final approval by council.
