Duncan Rae

This could be #Ottawa’s Bank Street of the near future. By keeping select parking spaces for accessibility, deliveries, and quick-stops, and using the rest of that space for people (in the same 18m), it’s amazing what one of our most popular destinations could become.

Hear me out: trees, chairs, restaurants, micro-playgrounds. Cities need space for people, and the only space that we're not using efficiently is the street.

I see a lot of traffic lane repurposing opportunities in NYC's future.

If a neighborhood or city in the United States was built today to look like this, it would sell out before construction is finished.

No stepbacks. Extruded box. This simple building typology is the workhorse of so many great cities.

@DevineSean It’s exciting indeed, as long as the alternatives are viable & pleasant. Thankfully, NYC knows this! The best part about the program is that revenues are allocated to the NYC subway network, improving safety and reliability. Can’t wait to see how this’ll transform their city.

The true results of NYC’s recently launched congestion pricing program will take a while, but the early results are nevertheless impressive. Along with significant decrease in traffic, they’re also seeing increased transit ridership. Gridlock can be solved without new asphalt!

@_MarkSutcliffe @DevineSean @OC_Transpo Don’t jinx it!!! 😅 But yes, Line 2 is proving itself quite well right now. Choosing the Stadler FLIRT trains was the right decision — we should build more lines using them!

Congratulations to the team at @OC_Transpo on a successful first phase of the implementation of the new Trillium LRT line. I’ve heard very positive feedback from residents. There are still a few hurdles to cross before full seven-day service is in place, but I’m pleased that the rigorous and open testing process has led to a strong and reliable first week of service. Félicitations à l'équipe d'@OC_Transpo pour la réussite de la première phase de mise en œuvre de la nouvelle ligne Trillium du train léger. J'ai entendu des commentaires très positifs de la part des résidents. Il reste encore quelques étapes à franchir avant de mettre en place un service complet sept jours sur sept, mais je suis heureux que le processus d'essai rigoureux et transparent ait abouti à une première semaine de service solide et fiable.

There isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States. Workers and communities in both our countries benefit from being each other’s biggest trading and security partner.

Took #Ottawa Line 2 today, it was a chilly 5AM morning but I wouldn’t dare miss the opening! Such a great train — smooth, fast, comfortable.

@Cobylefko Now this is what we need more of! Simple and elegant. (IMO Especially that second pic.) 😍

Designed by Torti Gallas & developed by Community Three, this is a new development of staggering quality

Our world can be as good as we dream it to be, so long as we dare to dream! Completed in 2019, 40 new homes were built on the site of a small commercial structure in the heart of DC's Capitol Hill neighborhood

Ever see a bus lane and thought it looked empty? Think again! Each bus lane can move more people per minute faster than a typical lane for cars. 💡 Learn more at translink.ca/buspriority

@DevineSean Thanks Sean! 😃

Duncan Rae’s urban design work is beautiful and inspiring. There’s a reason I hire this guy to do work for me when it comes to using images to help tell a story.

A rule I live by: I’ll never design an area or building I wouldn’t want to live in myself. Here’s a woonerf design I’m working on for a typical 8m wide by 50m long street. It’s part of something I’m calling the ‘Mosaic Grid System’ 😍

@earthcurve89 Yep! The 2nd pic is the original render for the Baseline BRT. However, because of the very high costs of expropriation & road rebuild, from inception to completion will probably take ~2 decades. (~2012 to ~2033). All so we don't take away a car lane, even if just temporarily.🫤

@duncrae There is a plan, to use the grass median along baseline from Woodroffe to Prince of Wales to allow rapid bus useage. Homes on nort and south side would be annexed to allow re-aligning of Baseline to accomodate this lane.....

Hey #Ottawa, did you know? In September 2023, the most popular bus route *by far* was the 88 on Baseline, clocking in at 4.7% of ALL weekly bus trips! After that are Routes 6 & 7. The time for bus lanes on Baseline Road and Bank Street is now. Source: OC Transpo via FOI req.

@JakeLandauTO I think Ottawa definitely could and should hope for a subway under Bank Street, but I believe bus lanes are the best solution to solve problems quickly and efficiently right now.

@duncrae Do you see BRT as the best that Bank Street could hope for in Ottawa? I'm worried about that kind of investment in infrastructure, knowing that Ottawa wouldn't match it with an increase in service and frequency. Elevated metro would cut out the operator problem entirely.

North America is the only region of the world with an auto mode share over 50%. You can thank massive amounts of government spending on automobile infrastructure.

It's impossible. Until it isn't. Unlike some party leaders, I'm not going to be satisfied with second place. I'm in it to defeat this Government & replace them with a government that gives a damn In the words of Jack Layton: Don't ever let them tell you it can't be done.

The Danger of Minimalist Design (& the death of detail) A short thread...

A very Happy Thanksgiving to all who are celebrating out there! This year, I'm grateful for all of you, and the many places that give me optimism for the future of our built environment! In this spirit, below are some of my favorite recent buildings and projects!

bro i’m Inside Leitrim Station Bro