By Alanna Smith, Ottawa Citizen, February 23, 2018
When the temperature dips below freezing, Lorne Johnson’s entire family braces for a cold night ahead.
The draft flowing through his young daughter’s room gets so unbearable some winter nights that she climbs into bed with her parents.
“It’s literally one of the most inefficient homes in Ottawa,” Johnson said. “On a cold winter day or anytime it’s below -10, you can literally feel the cold air coming from the walls.”
By Hani Mokhtar and others, Ottawa Citizen Letters to the Editor, February 23, 2018
Bikes and trains won’t mix
Re: Transit commission wants to allow bikes on trains during all service hours, Feb. 21.
The decision by the Transit Commission to allow bikes on the LRT trains is a mistake. I am not aware of any transit system that allows bikes on subway, LRT or streetcars anywhere else. Rapid transit systems are designed to move a lot of people quickly; therefore stops should be as short as possible. Even European cities, which are a lot more bike-friendly than North America, do not allow bikes on their systems.
I have ridden the same model of Alstom trains in France for years and cannot see how allowing bikes can possibly work. In Nice, tourists with suitcases have a hard time getting on and off the trains and the locals let them know in no uncertain terms of their displeasure.
By David Reevely, Ottawa Citizen, February 23, 2018
The federal government will pay $11.8 million to clean up poisoned soil on the Carling Avenue property it’s leasing to the Ottawa Hospital for a new Civic campus, Liberal MP Steven MacKinnon said Friday.
That’s part of a 99-year agreement for a site at the northeast corner of the Central Experimental Farm, near Dow’s Lake, where Agriculture Canada’s Sir John Carling Building used to be. MacKinnon is the member of Parliament for Gatineau and parliamentary secretary to Carla Qualtrough, the minister of public services and procurement. Her department is the land’s custodian.
By Tom Spears, Ottawa Citizen, February 24, 2018
Spring flood season is still two months away, but for the moment the region has a little good news: there’s a lot less snow up-river from Ottawa and Gatineau than there was last winter.
A heavy snowpack wasn’t the single biggest factor in last May’s floods, says a report from the Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board. But it played a role.
“The main cause of the exceptional 2017 spring flooding can be described easily in just a few words: rain, rain and even more rain,” the report says.
By the Ottawa Citizen, February 24, 2018
There were some old favourites and some surprises in the list of names for the train cars on the city’s 40 Light Rail Transit system.
For one thing, there are no Ottawa Senators hockey players on the list but sainted Montreal Canadiens icon Rocket Richard will ride the rails on a Trillium Line car.
Former governor general Lord Stanley, who donated the Stanley Cup to denote hockey supremacy, will be on a Confederation Line car long before the actual Cup is won by the modern-day Senators.
By CTV News Ottawa, February 22, 2018
Many drivers across the capital have been in for a bumpy ride over the last few days and the problem plaguing commuters is only going to get worse.
According to the city of Ottawa, crews have filled more than 10,000 potholes since January 1st, 2018. That's down from the roughly 20,000 they filled this time last year but drivers say the craters appear bigger than before.
By Kelly Egan, Ottawa Citizen, February 22, 2018
Paws and pedals on our new light-rail trains — are we on track for trouble?
The city’s transit commission this week recommended that bicycles and pets in reasonably-sized containers should be permitted on our spiffy new train system, even during rush hours.
I’m skeptical about the plan, for one main reason. We’re spending $2 billion (and counting) on a rail system that is supposed to be smoother, cleaner, more comfortable and reliable, more spacious and accommodating, than what we have today.
By Bruce Couchman, Ottawa Citizen Letter to the Editor, February 21, 2018
Carbon tax needs a backer
One advantage of Patrick Brown’s entry into the leadership race is that there will presumably be one candidate who supports the People’s Guarantee in detail.
There are a number of good ideas in the platform, in particular a carbon tax. Many conservative economists have favoured a market-based approach to controlling greenhouse gas emissions. A carbon tax certainly satisfies that requirement. It is useful that at least one candidate supports that approach.
By CBC News Ottawa, February 21, 2018
Uber drivers in Canada trying to work for more than 12 hours straight will soon be forced to take a six-hour break before they can hit the road again.
The new policy, which will be rolled out the beginning of next week, will be enforced through the company's ride-hailing app, which will block drivers from accepting customers.
Uber Canada's general manager, Rob Khazzam, said the introduction of the feature follows similar moves by the company in other countries, as part of an effort to curb driver drowsiness and make the platform safer.
By CBC News Ottawa, February 21, 2018
Cats, small dogs — and yes, even snakes — could soon be allowed aboard OC Transpo trains and buses, and at least one city councillor is warning fur will fly when the change takes effect.
Ottawa's transit commission passed a motion Wednesday to allow small pets in carriers on all buses and light rail trains, starting this spring. That will extend to the new Confederation Line after the LRT system begins operating later this year.
Currently, only service animals are allowed aboard OC Transpo.
By Fran Dawson, Ottawa Citizen Letter to the Editor, February 21, 2018
Ottawa discourages parking and driving Re: Let’s walk and bike to revitalize the downtown, Feb. 20
The City of Ottawa and the federal government woo tourists to the capital, but block off access by reducing the width of the main streets by taking pieces out of them for bicycle lanes and also creating complete streets, which narrow the main roads that were built before our population grew by leaps and bounds.
The “easy driving and parking” that Michelle Perry wrote about is a thing of the distant past. City bureaucrats don’t prioritize driving; they favour bicycles. The “cyclists and pedestrians support urban shopping districts” because of their easy access to them. The “cycle tracks on busy streets” are dangerous. Driving and parking provide a way for tourists and non-downtown residents to get to Ottawa’s centre. Ottawa should be a place people can get to and around with some degree of comfort, instead of paying parking fines to put their car someplace.
By Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen, February 21, 2018
OC Transpo customers should be allowed to bring their bikes on Confederation Line and Trillium Line trains during all hours of operation, the transit commission recommends.
As part of changes to the transit bylaw, the commission on Wednesday also approved allowing customers to bring their pets on buses and trains, as long as the animals are in carriers that can sit on the customer’s lap. In addition, the transit commission directed Transpo to draw up a program that regulates busking in transit stations