Transpo GM seeks a design solution

The city’s transportation head has assembled a team to find a design solution for the Booth Street bridge.

John Manconi, the general manager of OC Transpo, assumed oversight of transportation planning after the recent management shakeup at city hall. Manconi said he has briefed Mayor Jim Watson and transportation committee chair Keith Egli on the Booth Street bridge.

“The transportation committee chair and mayor have encouraged us to find a solution that responds to the needs of all users of this corridor,” Manconi said in an email.

To this point, the bridge design has two vehicular lanes in each direction and no bike lanes or cycle tracks, which is a problem for a city trying to boost cycling infrastructure and connect it to future LRT stations.

The Pimisi LRT station will be built under the Booth Street bridge and at one time the city was considering installing the cycling infrastructure to bring more riders to LRT.

OC Transpo was afraid of conflicts between cyclists and pedestrians, since the bridge will be a bus transfer point for LRT passengers. Plus, the bridge is a heavily used commuter route frequented by trucks.

If the city finds a better design for the bridge, it likely won’t be implemented in time for the bridge opening, which frustrates Somerset Coun. Catherine McKenney. She’s distressed the current design doesn’t include safe bike infrastructure, a point she reiterated in a blog post on her website Friday.

Bridge construction is nearing completion, but there is no opening date set.

The developer of a major mixed-use development along the Ottawa River has also raised concerns about the lack of bike infrastructure planned for the bridge, which will also provide access one day to the redeveloped LeBreton Flats.

Manconi said his team will come up with design options, but nothing has been finalized.