1. DOWNTOWN MOVES TRANSFORMING OTTAWA’S STREETS
International Downtown Association | Awards 2013
Category: Planning

2. Downtown Moves is:
A sustainable Urban Design and Transportation Planning strategy that:
Capitalizes on the transformative opportunities of the Confederation Line light rail transit project
Pursues a balance among street users
Provides practical urban design solutions
Promotes progressive “moves” to enable a sustainable and economic- successful downtown
Source: Friends of Downtown Ottawa web site

3. The Downtown Study Area
The Central Business District of downtown Ottawa
Heart of our Capital Region
98,000 employees
10,000 residents
+ growth!
Rideau LRT Station
Downtown East LRT Station
Downtown West LRT Station

4. Study Timeline
Transportation Committee approved the Statement of Work in April 2011
Phase 1: Study Start-Up
Phase 2: Study Design, Data Collection and Research
Phase 3: Momentum Building
Phase 4: Downtown Mobility and Design Framework
Phase 5: Implementation Strategy
Phase 6: Study Finalization and Approval
August
2011
Fall 2011
Winter/Spring
2012
Summer/
Fall 2012
Winter 2013
Transportation Committee and City Council unanimously
approved Downtown Moves in March 2013

5. Case for Making Moves Downtown
Investment in active transportation will improve downtown livability and health
Downtown streets serve over 100,000 people who work in Ottawa’s compact high-density central area
Number of downtown residents will double by 2031
3 Confederation Line stations in downtown Ottawa will accommodate tens of thousands of riders each day
Increased Level of Service for pedestrians is essential for Confederation Line success
All travel modes can be accommodated downtown while improving public spaces

6. Building on Opportunities Downtown
The underground Confederation Line will transform downtown Ottawa by:
Significantly reducing the volume of surface buses and changing the street environment
Creating opportunities to meet the needs of pedestrians and cyclists
Completely changing the relationship of public transit to the street

7. Function and Form Downtown
It’s more than just providing for mobility …
It’s the quality of the urban experience and the economic success of downtown Ottawa

8. Inclusive Representation
Capital Builders
Real Estate & Developers
Downtown Communities
Downtown Workers
Visitors and all Canadians
Business and Retailers
Transportation & Infrastructure Providers
Multiple perspectives in an open consultative approach:
Representation from over 19 stakeholder groups, including: community and business associations, special interest groups, provincial and federal departments, technical agencies and City staff
All groups shared information, perspectives and worked through issues together
Consultation techniques included working group meetings, open houses, walking and cycling tours, web site, blogs, newsletters and peer-reviews

9. Innovative Approach to Downtown Street Reconstruction and Management
New ‘Street Design Framework’ simplifies the planning and street design decision-making
Supported by tools that recognize new street priorities and focus
The Framework provides a logical process that can be adapted and replicated for use by other municipalities
Street Design Framework
Plan of Streets
Vision Plans: Mobility Overlays
Pedestrians
Cyclists
Transit
Toolkit
Vehicles

10. Sustainability = Complete Streets Downtown
Over a dozen different street cross sections were developed to promote sustainable street design choices
Addresses the mix of all transportation modes, local businesses and street activities
Pioneering research into the concept of “Pedestrian Level-of-Service” (LOS) informed the street design and contributed to furthering planning for active transportation

11. Street Demonstrations for Sustainable Downtown
Street Demonstration illustrations were prepared to assist politicians, business leaders and policy makers envision the opportunities for change
Slater Street - before
Slater Street - after

12. Execution and Downtown Outcomes
Downtown Moves was approved unanimously by City Council in March 2013 with broad public support
It was undertaken as a “Master Plan” and fulfills Phases 1 and 2 of the Environmental Assessment process, outlining how future projects can proceed
As an outcome, the City has initiated the Queen Street Renewal project in June 2013 to increase downtown appeal and enhance the pedestrian experience based on the new ‘Street Design Framework’
This planning document guides the incremental transformation of streets as part of life-cycle renewal over the next 5, 10, and 20-years …
Downtown Moves strongly promotes the economic success and vitality of downtown Ottawa
1877 Sparks Street (Between Elgin and Metcalfe)