Abstract Manager

In the west end of the City of Ottawa, an abandoned CN railway begins within the Greenbelt area and extends north-west leaving the City, through the suburb of Kanata.   With the growth of tech companies in northern Kanata area there has been an increase in housing demand in the area and further expansion of the neighbourhoods surrounding the railway are currently underway. With limited active transportation in the surrounding rural area, the City of Ottawa identified a 7km section of abandoned railway between Carling Avenue and Cameron Harvey Road to be a promising candidate for an active transportation facility.  

The overall project seeks to utilize the current geography of the railway as much as possible to reduce the capital cost required to create a rural pathway. The general plan of the design revolves around the addition of granular material on top of the current ballast resulting in a more consistent pedestrian and cyclist path.  

Key design considerations of the pathway consisted of: 

• Evaluation of cycle connections to nearby pathway systems and the Defence Research and Development Canada Facility. 

• Identifying regular locations along the edge of the trail where rest stops can be provided. Rest stops were chosen based on topography and desirable surrounding area. 

• Analyzing the safety of the trail where it crosses water bodies. Safety was determined based on guidelines for accessible exterior paths of travel. 

• Identify areas of steep slopes and methods to mitigate the danger associated. 

• Reviewing and providing pedestrian crossings at locations where the trail crosses roadways and PXOs were proposed at key crossings. 

• Identifying locations where the trail can be connected to other trails or neighborhoods. A site visit allowed the identification of natural trail links created by the residents for incorporation into the design. 

• Proposing areas where chain link fencing should be utilized alongside the path. 

• Identifying options for the crossing of Carling Avenue. The railway continues across an abandoned overpass at Carling Avenue. Three options for the connection of the trail to Carling Avenue were proposed.