The city of Ottawa has reached a deal with the federal government to scrap a proposed extension of Preston Street in favour of building a pedestrian bridge that would connect to a future arena at LeBreton Flats.
Details of the agreement were revealed in the agenda for Wednesday’s meeting of the city’s planning committee, where members approved removing the extension from the official plan.
The agenda includes a copy of the memorandum of understanding the city reached with the federal National Capital Commission that would trade killing the long-planned street project for increased public transit access to Kichi Zībī Mīkan, a parkway that cuts through LeBreton Flats.
The deal includes upgrading a bridge on the parkway over the CPR rail tracks to allow for full-sized buses. This would happen before the opening of the arena, which is not expected until 2032.
The NCC owns the parkway, and the agreement spells out several conditions for improving access to the road, including permitting buses and private vehicles to turn left at the Slidell intersection.
It also lays out plans to improve transit priority on Slidell and on routing that would connect to special event buses on the parkway and to the O-Train and bus station at Bayview.
In a statement, the NCC said it requested replacing the Preston Street extension with a pedestrian bridge to better reflect the “shared priority of making active mobility and transit the primary modes for LeBreton Flats.”
NCC spokesperson Valérie Dufour said the bridge would “enhance access” to the arena and “provide essential active transportation connectivity” for the some 6,000 new homes being proposed at the site, with 25 per cent of those to be earmarked as affordable units.
The NHL’s Ottawa Senators had to make plans to build new housing on the site as part of its winning bid for the arena land.
City staff recommended approving the agreement but wouldn’t provide any further comment when reached by the Ottawa Compass on Monday.
Somerset Coun. Ariel Troster, whose ward includes Preston Street, said she supported the agreement because the area needs more “more active transportation connections” and it would help reduce the number of cars in LeBreton Flats, which is home to an O-Train station.
She said the long-winding debate on the new arena was the major drag on negotiations as it was unclear if the Senators would need the roadway extension for vehicle traffic.
But the Senators reached a deal on the site last year with the NCC, paving the way for an agreement with the city.
Troster said the city’s main concern initially was ensuring transit access in peak times but the MOU does just that, ensuring the “transportation network is preserved.”
Under the deal with the city, the NCC would be responsible for building the “active transportation” bridge, which would include both pedestrian and cycling access.
The bridge, which is required to include separate lanes for pedestrians and cyclists, would run generally along the planned Preston alignment, connecting Albert Street to a future extension of Vimy Place in LeBreton Flats.
Vimy Place currently encircles the national War Museum and a surrounding park that plays host to events like Bluesfest and Canada Day celebrations.
After winning approval at committee, city council will now have to cast the final vote on removing the Preston Street extension from the official plan.
*This story has been updated with the result from the committee meeting.
