Gatineau Bus Terminal to Ease Ottawa Traffic
The City of Gatineau plans to build a terminal to ease the congestion its buses create along King Edward Avenue during rush hour.
"Our ridership is increasing so we need more buses," said Celine Gaultier, STO's spokeswoman. "So where do we put the buses, you know?" she said.
With ridership increasing on both sides of the river, the two cities are working together to figure out how to deal with the capital's downtown traffic congestion.
The Gatineau bus company hired an engineering firm last month to figure out the best place to keep the buses while they wait to start their afternoon rush hour runs along Rideau and Wellington streets. STO hopes to have the terminal up and running within a year or two.
It has not yet been decided where to put the terminal, or even whether it should be in Ottawa or Gatineau.
OC Transpo is involved in the project, but the Ottawa buses won't use the terminal.
"I don't foresee OC Transpo buses being involved, but we are transit people, so we'll bring our experience to the table," said Helen Gault, OC Transpo's acting head.
As for those who want the buses off King Edward now, Ms. Gault said the problem is already being addressed. Some STO buses are taking different routes to avoid the busiest intersections along King Edward and Rideau.
Ottawa and Gatineau each have their own transit expansion plans. Ottawa has light-rail and Gatineau has Rapibus. The projects have to mesh where they overlap, but Ms. Gault is optimistic.
"We work very closely with our colleagues across the river. ... What's good for them is good for us. So we're all trying to attract ridership and we're not in competition; rather in collaboration," she said.
The two cities and the National Capital Commission are toying with the idea of a transit loop between the Ottawa and Gatineau cores.
One route being considered is along Wellington Street in Ottawa and Rue Laurier in Gatineau, and the two would be connected by the Alexandra Bridge and the unused Prince of Wales railway bridge near LeBreton Flats.
But Ms. Gault said the study is in its preliminary stages and they're keeping their options open.
"That particular concept shouldn't get too many legs. It might be the solution but certainly we haven't proved that it is yet," she said.
The interprovincial rapid transit study will probably wrap up some time in 2007.
STO announced Wednesday it was spending $1.2 million more a year on bus services in Gatineau, Buckingham and Masson-Angers. The Gatineau transit system has seen about a 3.5-per-cent increase in passengers due to housing developments and increased services.
OttawaCitizen
"Our ridership is increasing so we need more buses," said Celine Gaultier, STO's spokeswoman. "So where do we put the buses, you know?" she said.
With ridership increasing on both sides of the river, the two cities are working together to figure out how to deal with the capital's downtown traffic congestion.
The Gatineau bus company hired an engineering firm last month to figure out the best place to keep the buses while they wait to start their afternoon rush hour runs along Rideau and Wellington streets. STO hopes to have the terminal up and running within a year or two.
It has not yet been decided where to put the terminal, or even whether it should be in Ottawa or Gatineau.
OC Transpo is involved in the project, but the Ottawa buses won't use the terminal.
"I don't foresee OC Transpo buses being involved, but we are transit people, so we'll bring our experience to the table," said Helen Gault, OC Transpo's acting head.
As for those who want the buses off King Edward now, Ms. Gault said the problem is already being addressed. Some STO buses are taking different routes to avoid the busiest intersections along King Edward and Rideau.
Ottawa and Gatineau each have their own transit expansion plans. Ottawa has light-rail and Gatineau has Rapibus. The projects have to mesh where they overlap, but Ms. Gault is optimistic.
"We work very closely with our colleagues across the river. ... What's good for them is good for us. So we're all trying to attract ridership and we're not in competition; rather in collaboration," she said.
The two cities and the National Capital Commission are toying with the idea of a transit loop between the Ottawa and Gatineau cores.
One route being considered is along Wellington Street in Ottawa and Rue Laurier in Gatineau, and the two would be connected by the Alexandra Bridge and the unused Prince of Wales railway bridge near LeBreton Flats.
But Ms. Gault said the study is in its preliminary stages and they're keeping their options open.
"That particular concept shouldn't get too many legs. It might be the solution but certainly we haven't proved that it is yet," she said.
The interprovincial rapid transit study will probably wrap up some time in 2007.
STO announced Wednesday it was spending $1.2 million more a year on bus services in Gatineau, Buckingham and Masson-Angers. The Gatineau transit system has seen about a 3.5-per-cent increase in passengers due to housing developments and increased services.
OttawaCitizen
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