Ecology Ottawa

News Clippings

Icy sidewalks a slippery subject as city sets roads budget

By Kate Porter, CBC News Ottawa, March 1, 2019

Residents descended on Ottawa City Hall Friday to demand something be done about sidewalks that have become treacherous and impassable as layers of ice continue to build underfoot.

Terrie Meehan told councillors on the city's transportation committee how her wheelchair has seen so much wear and tear this year it needs replaced. She said some friends have been unable to leave their homes, period.

(...)City staff will review maintenance standards, which haven't been updated since 2003. The review should be complete and any changes implemented by the winter of 2022-23.

"When the standards were done the focus on pedestrian movements wasn't what it is today," said Coun. Stephen Blais, who chairs the transportation committee. "Frankly, the focus on walking and cycling in the suburbs wasn't what it is today."

Stittsville councillor back in the 'bus habit' after transit challenge

By Megan Gillis, Ottawa Citizen, March 1, 2019

Stittsville Coun. Glen Gower’s self-imposed one-month transit challenge is over but he’s going to keep riding the bus whenever he can.

Gower did the annual week-long challenge one better, taking the bus for all of February, he explained in a video posted Thursday wrapping up his experiences.

“Overall, it was a pretty good experience,” he said, although he acknowledged some “very cold days” waiting for the bus on the Mackenzie King Bridge and even being late for a transit commission meeting. “Oh, the irony.”

Transformation of Booth Street complex clears hurdle

By Kate Porter, CBC News Ottawa, February 28, 2019

The bleak block of brick buildings that once housed the federal government's mining labs in the heart of Ottawa's Little Italy is a major step closer to revitalization.

On Thursday, the city's planning committee granted the necessary zoning approvals to allow Canada Lands Company, the Crown corporation that prepares federal properties for sale, to transform the 2.6-hectare Booth Street complex into a retail and residential area some are comparing to Toronto's Distillery District.

The rezoning paves the way for five new highrises — the tallest reaching a maximum of 25 storeys — as well as various additions to existing buildings, all set amid a number of protected heritage structures. A corner of the property at Norman and Rochester streets will be set aside for a park.

More money spent on LRT, the better: expert

By Staff, 1310 News, February 25, 2019

The city will be digging a little deeper to pay for the extension of light rail when Phase 2 begins - about $1.2 billion dollars deeper.

But, Dr. Ian Lee, Associate Professor with the Sprott School of Business at Carleton University explained to 1310 NEWS that the increase in funds needed should come as no surprise.

"Big, big amounts of money over long periods of time with a public sector driven by politicians who are notorious for changing their mind and making changes to the project produce...guess what? A: cost overruns and B: delivery behind schedule problems."

(...)"If we are going to spend money as a municipal government, I would rather they spend it rather than on ephemeral things like painting bicycle icons on the pavement, which will wear off in a year or two," he explained. "I'd rather we spend the money on a very long life asset called an LRT."

Ottawa the province's fourth 'rattiest' city, according to Orkin

By Mike Vlasveld, 1310 News, February 26, 2019

Pest control company Orkin Canada has put together a list of the top 25 'rattiest' cities in Ontario, and Ottawa is number four.

The ranking is based on the number of rodent (rat & mice) treatments the company performed through 2018, including both residential and commercial treatments.

The fourth-placed ranking is an improvement from the 2017 results, released last year at this time, when Ottawa came in second.

City councillor frustrated with plans for LRT Phase 2, 'We have no choice'

By Jenn Pritchard, 1310 News, February 26, 2019

"'The train has left the station and it's barreling down the track, and we better get out of the way.' That's basically what we've been told by city staff," says Gloucester-South Nepean's Carol Anne Meehan.

As the City of Ottawa gets set to discuss its next phase of light rail transit, one councillor feels rushed into accepting something that might not be as good as it seems.

Councillor for Gloucester-South Nepean Carol Anne Meehan didn't mince words, Tuesday, when discussing her concerns with the LRT Phase 2 proposal.

March 4 slated for open house to introduce Ottawa’s official plan

By StittsvilleCentral, February 26, 2019

The City of Ottawa invites residents to the launch of the project to develop the new Official Plan. The Official Plan is the strategic document that guides our city’s growth and development, and it will impact how and where the city will grow around us, now and for years to come.

Our long-term goal is for Ottawa to grow into the most liveable mid-sized city in North America, and we need your insight to make this happen. We are collaborating with residents from across the entire city to gather public input on the key issues facing Ottawa today.

Find out how you can help us plan for Ottawa’s future at the upcoming Open House event:

Monday, March 4 12 to 8 pm Context presentations at 12:30 pm and 5:30 pm in Council Chambers Ottawa City Hall, Jean Pigott Place and Council Chambers 110 Laurier Avenue West

New plaza for Trans-Canada Trail – open house on March 2nd

By Lesley McKay, StittsvilleCentral, February 26, 2019

In 2018, the City of Ottawa’s Finance and Economic Development Committee (FEDCO), with the support of Shad Qadri Stittsville’s former councillor, gave approval for $200,000 to be spent on an upgrade to the western entrance of the Trans-Canada Trail on Main Street near Abbott Street. This funding became available through Ontario’s Main Street Revitalization Initiative.

On March 2nd from 10:00am – 12:00pm at the Pretty Street Community Centre, Councillor Glen Gower has arranged for an Open House on this change for the better to Stittsville’s Main Street. City of Ottawa planners will be present to explain the details of this proposed project. The planners would like to hear your suggestions, questions or comments.

Mayor Watson says it's 'asinine' to muse about not building Stage 2 LRT, which would be $1.2B more than previously estimated

By Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen, February 26, 2019

Mayor Jim Watson says it’s “absolutely asinine” to consider not proceeding with Stage 2 LRT, while one of his council foes is questioning if he would fulfil his re-election promise at any cost.

Watson told reporters in Toronto on Tuesday that the public is “very much on board” with the Stage 2 program, which now has a price tag of $4.6 billion, up from the $3.4 billion council had been told it would cost to extend tracks to Moodie Drive, Algonquin College, Trim Road and Riverside South.

The mayor, who was at Queen’s Park in a 20-member delegation from Ottawa to have meetings with provincial cabinet ministers, said the city isn’t blowing the Stage 2 budget because, according to him, there isn’t a budget yet.

OC Transpo causing irritation for Stittsville ridership

By StittsvilleCentral, February 24, 2019

On Thursday, February 21, Ottawa’s Transit Commission met and Councillor Glen Gower, Ward 6 Stittsville, was present. We would like to share his update from that meeting and how Stittsville will be affected by transit service – at least until the LRT is up and running.

“Ottawa’s Transit Commission met on Thursday morning. I took the bus in and was 9 minutes late due to congestion on the Transitway downtown. STO buses that normally use Wellington Street were re-routed due to the truck convoy downtown.

Being 9 minutes late was not a significant problem for a meeting that spanned over 4.5 hours. The main item on the agenda was the OC Transpo budget for 2019.  From a budgeting perspective this is a unique year. The launch of LRT will represent a significant change for Ottawa’s transit system, and the uncertainty around the launch date makes the budgeting and planning process for 2019 extremely challenging.

Councillor removes 'beg buttons' at Old Ottawa South crosswalks

By CBC News Ottawa, February 23, 2019

An Ottawa city councillor has gotten rid of what he calls "beg buttons" — the buttons pedestrians have to press before getting a crossing signal — along a busy street in Old Ottawa South.

Capital Coun. Shawn Menard said he's eliminated the need to press the buttons on a stretch of Bank Street between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

During those times, whenever the traffic lights change, the walk signal will now automatically display.

Students rail against longer-than-expected O-Train shutdown

By Kate Porter, CBC News Ottawa, February 24, 2019

Students at Carleton University are expressing frustration after learning the O-Train's Trillium line will be shut down at least one year longer than anticipated for the expansion of Ottawa's light rail network.

The lengthier-than-expected shutdown was detailed in Friday's technical briefing for Phase 2 of LRT, in which city officials announced the bidders chosen to work on the massive infrastructure project.

• LRT expansion balloons by more than $1B

Originally, the Trillium line was going to be taken offline from May 2020 to September 2021 — a total of 16 months. Now, the shutdown and resulting bus detours will last until at least September 2022.