Investing in our roads, sidewalks and paths

By Jim Watson, New Edinburgh News, April 2018 Edition
One of the most important aspects of our city that sets it apart from others is its particularly large geographical scale. Its total land surface of 2,758 square kilometres
is large enough to encompass the cities of Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, and we are still larger by 100 square kilometres. From rural and farming areas to family-centric suburbs to vibrant urban neighbourhoods, Ottawa’s geography
makes it a uniquely diverse and rich city. But Ottawa’s large size also means that we
have an extensive network of more than 5,460 kilometres of paved roads to continuously develop, improve and maintain.

River level warnings, zoning & pathway reviews this spring

By Tobi Nussbaum, New Edinburgh News, April 2018 Edition
NCC capital pathways consultation
The National Capital Commission is embarking on a renewal of its 2006 plan
entitled “Pathway Network for Canada’s Capital Region.” The purpose of the revised
plan will be to provide a framework for future planning and day-to-day management of the capital pathway network, including pathways along the Rideau and Ottawa rivers in our ward.
Consultations began this winter in theme areas including: integrated network, multi-use
and user-friendly paths, public safety, resilient facilities, pathway network expansion
and seasonal use. Visit ncc-ccn.gc.ca to stay connected with this process, which is
expected to produce a draft report for public comment as early as this summer.

Bus ban, bail for man accused of sexually assaulting women on OC Transpo

By Gary Dimmock, Ottawa Sun, March 29, 2018

The Ottawa man arrested on charges that he sexually assaulted women on city buses has been banned from riding OC Transpo while he awaits trial. 

Mohamad El-Husseini, 37, won bail on Thursday after his first court appearance on four counts of sexual assault. 

El-Husseini was released on bail conditions that require him to surrender his passport and stay clear of all OC Transpo stations and property — including future LRT routes. 

Slater, Albert streets in for major makeover after LRT launch

By Joanne Chianello, CBC News Ottawa, March 29, 2018

The $32-million makeover planned for Slater and Albert streets after Ottawa's Confederation Line is up and running calls for an east-west bikeway through the downtown, leaves room for fewer parking spots, and gives more space to pedestrians but less to cars.

"Once the buses come off of those roadways, we are taking back that public space," said Somerset Coun. Catherine McKenney. "And we are making it active for pedestrians and cyclists, which is what it should be."

The plan for redesigning Albert and Slater, from Empress Avenue in the west to Waller Street in the east, will be discussed at the transportation committee on Wednesday, where public delegations are also expected to make presentations.

River authority expects minimal spring flooding

By Kelly Ann Speagle, Ottawa Citizen, March 29, 2018

With little snowfall and higher temperatures over March, Rideau Valley Conservation Authority expects the majority of 2018 spring flooding in Rideau Valley may have already occurred.

Above-normal temperatures in the latter half of February resulted in a a huge amount of snow melting. With little snow and minor rainfall predicted in the upcoming forecast, RVCA anticipates there will not be enough runoff to cause any significant increase in Rideau Valley water levels.

Residential flooding is not expected, although the RVCA predicts that the lowest lying shorelines in the watershed could experience some overflow.

Two men suffer minor injuries after collision at LRT construction site

By Devyn Barrie, Ottawa Citizen, March 29, 2018

Work on a section of the Rideau Street section of the LRT project has been put on hold after two workers were hospitalized with minor injuries after an incident Wednesday night.

Police said the workers were injured when two transportation devices crashed shortly after 11 p.m.

The injured workers were last reported to be in stable condition.

Provincial Ministry of Labour spokeswoman Janet Deline said in an email investigators had issued one order to ensure the scene is not disturbed and another order for supervisors to provide relevant documentation.

 

2-year detour planned for Harmer Avenue pedestrian bridge replacement

By Matthew Kupfer, CBC News Ottawa, March 28, 2018

Pedestrians and cyclists who use the Harmer Avenue bridge to cross Highway 417 between the Wellington West and Civic Hospital neighbourhoods will be re-routed for two years during work to replace it.

People attending a Tuesday night public meeting about the upcoming construction described their children using the bridge to get to school, meet with friends, walk to bus stops and connect to cycling routes north and south of the highway.

Risk of flooding low, Gatineau mayor reassures residents

By Amanda Pfeffer, CBC News Ottawa, March 28, 2018

The mayor of Gatineau is reassuring nervous residents that a repeat of last year's destructive spring flooding is unlikely, but warns guarding against future disasters could cost "billions."

Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin said Wednesday river levels are well below normal for this time of year, and there are signs the region will escape the flooding that devastated some neighbourhoods last spring.

"Last year we experienced the worst catastrophe in the history of this city," Pedneaud-Jobin said. "What we went through last year, it was absolutely not normal."

Gatineau gets passing grade on flood response review, but improvements possible

By Norman Provencher, Ottawa Citizen, March 28, 2018

A Quebec consultant has given the City of Gatineau a passing grade for its handling of the massive flooding of 2017, but says the municipality needs to fine-tune its system to respond better in the future.

The report by MUSE consultants, released by the city Wednesday, said the municipality responded in an efficient manner to the “once in 100 years” flooding condition that created emergency conditions for weeks.

“The analysis revealed that the City of Gatineau (performed) well in terms of civil security,” the city said in a release Wednesday.

Council approves plastic bags and dog feces for green bin in mid-2019

By Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen, March 28, 2018

Council has approved plastic bags and dog feces for the green bin program starting in mid-2019.

The 19-3 vote on Wednesday approves a revision to the city’s contract with Orgaworld to modestly expand the list of items allowed in the green bin. Councillors Tobi Nussbaum, Jeff Leiper and Catherine McKenney voted no.

The changes would cost the city an extra $626,000 annually. The average household will pay 15 cents more each month. The “put or pay” volume under the contract will be reduced from 80,000 tonnes annually to 75,000 tonnes. The city has never sent 80,000 tonnes of organic waste to Orgaworld.

Bees, swallows, turtles and antelope among wildlife to benefit from WWF Go Wild Community Grants

By GlobeNewsWire.com,  March 28, 2018

Toronto, March 28, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Highway animal crossings in Alberta, bee corridors in British Columbia, an urban lot transformation in Hamilton, Ont., and wood turtle surveys in Nova Scotia are among the newest crop of projects to receive Go Wild Community Grants, awarded today.

The Go Wild Community Grants program, presented by TELUS, helps thousands of Canadians connect more deeply with nature and find solutions to conservation challenges affecting their communities and wildlife across Canada. Since 2015, grants totalling more than $300,000 have been awarded to 74 projects across the country.

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