Abstract Manager

The Montreal Road Revitalization project in the City of Ottawa is an example of excellence in the improvement of facilities to support people who walk, bike, rely on mobility devices and use public transportation. Montreal Road is a constrained arterial corridor with a traditional main street designation. The project included conversion of an existing four-lane cross-section with substandard pedestrian facilities and no designated cycling facilities to a three-lane cross section between Vanier Parkway and St. Laurent Boulevard. The final cross-section included two eastbound lanes with transit priority and off-peak on-street parking, one westbound lane, raised unidirectional cycling tracks in both directions along with improved pedestrian facilities, and the implementation of protected intersection design at all major intersections.  

The project demonstrates significant improvement in the safety, functionality, and attractiveness for active transportation users in the neighbourhood. While the project recently achieved substantial performance, this heavily used, critical corridor to and from the downtown core has already seen an increase in the use of active transportation modes to support the socioeconomic growth and environmental sustainability of the neighbourhood.

Challenges to implementing cycle tracks on this project included:   

• Narrow right of way which impacted boulevard, cycle track and sidewalk widths.
• Bend out designs were applied where possible to provide setback for improved visibility of cyclists and pedestrians to right turning vehicles.
• Design vehicle turning radii review at intersections to narrow side street widths to minimize cycling and pedestrian crossing distances.
• Providing bus landing areas between the curb and cycle track to minimize conflicts with transit users and cyclists.
• Implementing the proper treatments at the high number of mixed private and commercial driveways.
• Placement of street furniture and tree plantings to avoid impeding cycle tracks and sidewalks.
• Providing a transition from raised cycle tracks to on-street cycle lanes at a constrained intersection with a historical bridge with a significant grade change.
• Tie-ins to existing and future cycling network facilities.
• Providing appropriate accessibility measures at intersections.
• Conflicts with existing overhead utility pole locations resulting in burial of hydro and telecommunication lines.
• Catchbasin placement to avoid conflicts with existing underground utilities and ensure proper drainage away from pedestrian and cycling crossings.

• Throughout the project, the City of Ottawa was in the process of updating their cycling, pedestrian, and traffic signal design guidelines, which the design team continuously worked to incorporate into the final design.