Saint Patrick Street Bridge - Bikeway Modifications

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Context

The St Patrick Street Bridge connects Lowertown with New Edinburgh and Vanier across the Rideau River. People use the bridge on foot, on bike, riding a bus, or in a car/truck. One of the groups most served by the bridge is the students of De la Salle High School. The catchment for De la Salle extends from the Ottawa River to Highway 417 and east to St Laurent Street and beyond.

The bridge is due for a major renewal, which the City is proposing to undertake within 5 years. Many parts of the bridge will be renewed, however, owing to the type of structure the drainage ports through the bridge deck cannot feasibly be relocated.



Current Project

As part of the renewal the City is proposing to modify the cycling facilities, on the bridge and extending to the existing cycle tracks west of the bridge.

Objective

The project’s primary objective is to improve the safety, comfort and connectivity of the cycling infrastructure, while maintaining or improving the conditions for the other modes of transportation across the bridge. The proposed modifications will complement other ongoing nearby initiatives to improve cycling safety and connectivity.


Design Features Proposed (south-west end)

A. The westbound bikeway will transition to a raised cycle track closer to the bridge. One of the objectives of this is to mitigate the pooling of water in the bikeway during storm events.

B. At the end of Lower Charlotte Street a new ride-through feature will be constructed to encourage people on bikes to avoid riding on the sidewalk, and to provide better connectivity to local neighbourhoods.

C. The eastbound cycletrack on St Patrick Street will be extended from where it currently transitions to a bike lane, west of Lower Charlotte Street, up the bridge approach slope and onto the bridge, before transitioning to an on-street bike lane.

Given the constraints imposed by the existing drainage system and the infeasibility of relocating drainage ports the raised cycle tracks can not be extended across the bridge.


Design Features (North-east end)

D. The eastbound bikeway currently has an abrupt transition from the on-street bike lane to the raised cycle track at the east end of the bridge. The transition will be smoothed and extended onto the bridge approach slab. This will improve the comfort in two ways. First, the vertical deflection will be a gentler. Second, the transition will be located at a position where there is less momentum developed from the down slope of the bridge, so the rider would likely be going slower.

E. Along the north-west curb of the bridge the on-road bike lane will be maintained. This will be protected by a barrier curb that will separate the general traffic from the bike lane. The width of the bike lane is being maintained with the potential for a future bidirectional bikeway.

F. A dedicated bikeway connection will be constructed between the on-road bike lane and the branch of the NCC’s Rideau River Eastern Pathway. This will provide pedestrians a dedicated and more direct access towards Beechwood.

As We Heard It Report

Based on the poll, feedback heard at the public open house, and emails received, a strong majority of participants were in support of this project, however nearly half of email respondents and open-house attendees identified a desire for protection/physical separation of the eastbound cycling facility from the general traffic, for it to feel safe. The next most common comment was a desire for the removal of the right-turn channel for general traffic eastbound on the St Patrick Street Bridge turning onto Vanier Parkway, heading southbound. Again, safety was the primary reason.

The poll indicated that 82% of respondents support the proposed modifications over the existing configuration.

Public Open House

There was an in-person public open house held on June 7, 2023 at De La Salle Secondary School. The following is a summary of the comments heard by City staff at the event.

Of the many attendees who shared their perspectives at the public open house, a strong majority supported the project. A clear majority of voices desired continuous protection of the eastbound bikeway across the full length of the bridge. Several parents voiced discontent/despair that their children would not have a safe crossing of the river even after the renewal. Several attendees spoke of the need to ride on the sidewalk because of fear for personal safety in the eastbound bike lane.

Other input included ideas for a multi-use pathway under the west abutment and discontent with the right turn channel between St Patrick and Vanier Parkway.

Summary of Email Responses

Comments from residents in emails received by City staff have been summarized below.

Support for project, but desire for better links between the Lowertown cycling projects.

Support for project because it improves safety and cycling usage.

Support for project, but desire for raised and protected bikeways across the bridge, and dissatisfied with slip lane onto Vanier Pkwy.

Support for project, especially the connection to Rideau River East Pathway, but desire for curb separation for eastbound bike lane, desire for better connection from Charlotte to westbound on St. Patrick, and dissatisfaction with the existing slip lane onto Vanier Parkway.

Support for project, but desire for safer cycling facilities to De La Salle School, and desire for safer cycling facilities instead of sharrows on St Patrick Street.

Not supportive of project because the priority should be the reduction in interprovincial traffic volume through Lowertown. Desire to see more equitable traffic routing through affluent neighbourhoods like Beechwood area.

Not supportive of project because current bike facilities are acceptable.

Support for project, but desire for physical barrier for bike lane, especially because of winter conditions, desire for smoother curvature of bikeway on approach to Vanier Parkway, and desire for improved public realm to enhance pedestrian experience.

Support for project, but desire for raised cycletrack or physical barrier between cars and bikeway. Noted the separation is especially important for winter conditions.

Suggested bidirectional bike lane on north side of bridge to improve eastbound connectivity.

Support for project, questions on barrier being extended over the bridge, signage and visibility.

Support for project, but desire for raised cycletrack if drainage solution is found.

Support for project, but desire for physical separation/protection for eastbound bike lane, and desire for removal of vehicle slip lane.

Question of utility, shared personal experience of people cycling on the bridge in the wrong direction and on sidewalks.

Support for project, but desire for physical barrier to protect EB cyclists from car traffic.


Conclusion

The feedback received demonstrated strong support for the project but also a strong desire for physical separation for the eastbound cycling facilities.

Your feedback has been reviewed and decisions about the project have been finalized. Unfortunately, the provision of additional physical separation of the eastbound cycling facility was determined to be infeasible for drainage and structural lifecycle reasons. The public engagement site for the complete structural renewal, active transportation improvements and construction impacts is available at this link:

Renewal of St. Patrick Street Bridge and Porter’s Island Bridge | City of Ottawa

City of Ottawa contact for this project:

Adam Hortop, P.Eng.

Senior Project Manager,

Active Transportation Planning

613.580.2424 x20234

adam.hortop@ottawa.ca

Context

The St Patrick Street Bridge connects Lowertown with New Edinburgh and Vanier across the Rideau River. People use the bridge on foot, on bike, riding a bus, or in a car/truck. One of the groups most served by the bridge is the students of De la Salle High School. The catchment for De la Salle extends from the Ottawa River to Highway 417 and east to St Laurent Street and beyond.

The bridge is due for a major renewal, which the City is proposing to undertake within 5 years. Many parts of the bridge will be renewed, however, owing to the type of structure the drainage ports through the bridge deck cannot feasibly be relocated.



Current Project

As part of the renewal the City is proposing to modify the cycling facilities, on the bridge and extending to the existing cycle tracks west of the bridge.

Objective

The project’s primary objective is to improve the safety, comfort and connectivity of the cycling infrastructure, while maintaining or improving the conditions for the other modes of transportation across the bridge. The proposed modifications will complement other ongoing nearby initiatives to improve cycling safety and connectivity.


Design Features Proposed (south-west end)

A. The westbound bikeway will transition to a raised cycle track closer to the bridge. One of the objectives of this is to mitigate the pooling of water in the bikeway during storm events.

B. At the end of Lower Charlotte Street a new ride-through feature will be constructed to encourage people on bikes to avoid riding on the sidewalk, and to provide better connectivity to local neighbourhoods.

C. The eastbound cycletrack on St Patrick Street will be extended from where it currently transitions to a bike lane, west of Lower Charlotte Street, up the bridge approach slope and onto the bridge, before transitioning to an on-street bike lane.

Given the constraints imposed by the existing drainage system and the infeasibility of relocating drainage ports the raised cycle tracks can not be extended across the bridge.


Design Features (North-east end)

D. The eastbound bikeway currently has an abrupt transition from the on-street bike lane to the raised cycle track at the east end of the bridge. The transition will be smoothed and extended onto the bridge approach slab. This will improve the comfort in two ways. First, the vertical deflection will be a gentler. Second, the transition will be located at a position where there is less momentum developed from the down slope of the bridge, so the rider would likely be going slower.

E. Along the north-west curb of the bridge the on-road bike lane will be maintained. This will be protected by a barrier curb that will separate the general traffic from the bike lane. The width of the bike lane is being maintained with the potential for a future bidirectional bikeway.

F. A dedicated bikeway connection will be constructed between the on-road bike lane and the branch of the NCC’s Rideau River Eastern Pathway. This will provide pedestrians a dedicated and more direct access towards Beechwood.

As We Heard It Report

Based on the poll, feedback heard at the public open house, and emails received, a strong majority of participants were in support of this project, however nearly half of email respondents and open-house attendees identified a desire for protection/physical separation of the eastbound cycling facility from the general traffic, for it to feel safe. The next most common comment was a desire for the removal of the right-turn channel for general traffic eastbound on the St Patrick Street Bridge turning onto Vanier Parkway, heading southbound. Again, safety was the primary reason.

The poll indicated that 82% of respondents support the proposed modifications over the existing configuration.

Public Open House

There was an in-person public open house held on June 7, 2023 at De La Salle Secondary School. The following is a summary of the comments heard by City staff at the event.

Of the many attendees who shared their perspectives at the public open house, a strong majority supported the project. A clear majority of voices desired continuous protection of the eastbound bikeway across the full length of the bridge. Several parents voiced discontent/despair that their children would not have a safe crossing of the river even after the renewal. Several attendees spoke of the need to ride on the sidewalk because of fear for personal safety in the eastbound bike lane.

Other input included ideas for a multi-use pathway under the west abutment and discontent with the right turn channel between St Patrick and Vanier Parkway.

Summary of Email Responses

Comments from residents in emails received by City staff have been summarized below.

Support for project, but desire for better links between the Lowertown cycling projects.

Support for project because it improves safety and cycling usage.

Support for project, but desire for raised and protected bikeways across the bridge, and dissatisfied with slip lane onto Vanier Pkwy.

Support for project, especially the connection to Rideau River East Pathway, but desire for curb separation for eastbound bike lane, desire for better connection from Charlotte to westbound on St. Patrick, and dissatisfaction with the existing slip lane onto Vanier Parkway.

Support for project, but desire for safer cycling facilities to De La Salle School, and desire for safer cycling facilities instead of sharrows on St Patrick Street.

Not supportive of project because the priority should be the reduction in interprovincial traffic volume through Lowertown. Desire to see more equitable traffic routing through affluent neighbourhoods like Beechwood area.

Not supportive of project because current bike facilities are acceptable.

Support for project, but desire for physical barrier for bike lane, especially because of winter conditions, desire for smoother curvature of bikeway on approach to Vanier Parkway, and desire for improved public realm to enhance pedestrian experience.

Support for project, but desire for raised cycletrack or physical barrier between cars and bikeway. Noted the separation is especially important for winter conditions.

Suggested bidirectional bike lane on north side of bridge to improve eastbound connectivity.

Support for project, questions on barrier being extended over the bridge, signage and visibility.

Support for project, but desire for raised cycletrack if drainage solution is found.

Support for project, but desire for physical separation/protection for eastbound bike lane, and desire for removal of vehicle slip lane.

Question of utility, shared personal experience of people cycling on the bridge in the wrong direction and on sidewalks.

Support for project, but desire for physical barrier to protect EB cyclists from car traffic.


Conclusion

The feedback received demonstrated strong support for the project but also a strong desire for physical separation for the eastbound cycling facilities.

Your feedback has been reviewed and decisions about the project have been finalized. Unfortunately, the provision of additional physical separation of the eastbound cycling facility was determined to be infeasible for drainage and structural lifecycle reasons. The public engagement site for the complete structural renewal, active transportation improvements and construction impacts is available at this link:

Renewal of St. Patrick Street Bridge and Porter’s Island Bridge | City of Ottawa

City of Ottawa contact for this project:

Adam Hortop, P.Eng.

Senior Project Manager,

Active Transportation Planning

613.580.2424 x20234

adam.hortop@ottawa.ca

Page last updated: 14 Jan 2025, 01:16 PM