Ottawa cycling advocates aren't impressed by Elgin redesign proposal
Metro Ottawa

By Tamar Harris, Ottawa Metro News, May 2, 2017

A cycling advocacy group is calling the Elgin Street redesign a “missed opportunity.

”The proposal, which the Ottawa transportation committee will consider on Wednesday, includes a speed-limit reduction to 30 km/h, wider sidewalks and raised intersections. The number of on-street parking spaces would also fall, from 122 to 90, and flexible street space, for parking and patio use, would be added.

Bike Ottawa says the proposal fails to provide safe biking infrastructure.

Environmental assessment of Highway 417 on-ramp closure released to public
Metro Ottawa

By Alex Abdelwahab, Ottawa Metro News, May 2, 2017

A new report on the planned widening of Highway 417 between Maitland Avenue and Island Park Drive recommends closing an on-ramp at Carling Avenue.

The Transportation Environmental Study — available for review at city hall, several libraries and at queenswayexpansioneast.com — notes the Highway 417 Carling Avenue interchange has two eastbound on-ramps, which it says is “atypical for a freeway interchange.

”It recommends permanently closing the on-ramp near Westgate Shopping Centre, used by westbound traffic on Carling Avenue to access the eastbound lane of the highway.

Drinking-water scare at Defence Department's Carling Avenue campus
Metro Ottawa

By Tamar Harris, Ottawa Metro News, May 2, 2017

The Department of National Defense’s Carling Campus is under a drinking-water advisory until further notice.

DND operations are continuing as normal.Recent water -sampling results showed that the campus’s drinking water doesn’t meet current Health Canada guidelines. The advisory applies to buildings 8 and 9 and affects all 980 employees on the campus.

Massive gas leak in downtown Ottawa caused by LRT construction
CTV Ottawa News

By CTV News Ottawa, May 2, 2017

Buildings in a four-block radius in downtown Ottawa near Queen Street and O' Connor Street have been evacuated following a massive gas leak.

The leak was caused when subcontractors for Rideau Transit Group, the consortium in charge of the light rail transit project, struck a four-inch stub on a gas main while doing streetscraping work on Queen Street, according to RTG.

The subcontractor immediately called 911.

The LRT tunnel beneath was evacuated, and no injuries were reported. As of 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, the gas was still leaking.

Ottawa cyclists throw mud in Great Fender Debate - Ottawa - CBC News

By CBC News Ottawa, May 2, 2017

While offering his tips for cycling in wet weather on the first day of Bike to Work Month, Ottawa's Cyclelogik owner Ian Fraser weighed in on the fender debate that played out on Twitter Monday morning.

Speaking to CBC Radio's All in a Day, Fraser said bike fenders, also known as mudguards, are a "practical" way for cyclists to stay clean on the road and keep their fellow two-wheeled commuters happy.

Flooding prompts evacuations, road closures in Gatineau - Ottawa - CBC News

By CBC News Ottawa, May 2, 2017

Significant rainfall has flooded dozens of streets in Gatineau and firefighters were going door to door Tuesday morning east of Pointe-Gatineau asking people to evacuate their homes.

As of 7 a.m., nearly 20 streets were closed and firefighters had visited approximately 300 homes.

The affected streets are impassible but the evacuations are voluntary at the moment, said City of Gatineau spokesperson Yves Melançon.

"We've actually reached some of the water levels [as] last week," Melançon said.

Reevely: Sandy Hill is where Ottawa needs to get intensification right, or go the way of Toronto
Ottawa Citizen

By David Reevely, Ottawa Citizen, May 2, 2017

Sandy Hill is Ottawa’s prime territory for new apartments the city needs, but we’re a long way from figuring out how to make them welcome there.

Consider a four-storey building in the works for a group of lots at 407 Nelson St., in the middle of a block just east of the University of Ottawa. The project doesn’t need a rezoning, just approval of its details. Because Sandy Hill, and a handful of other downtown neighbourhoods roughly hugging the Rideau River, have unusual zoning.

Most of Sandy Hill has zoning one notch denser than the bulk of downtown’s residential streets, which max out at triplexes. In what’s called an “R4” zone, you can build a four-storey apartment building that occupies more of its lot and packs in a lot more people. Practically, that’s when digging an underground garage starts to make financial sense and where you get buildings constructed for the purpose of renting apartments out.

Ecology Ottawa looking to grow tree program
Metro Ottawa

By Drew May, Ottawa Metro News, April 30, 2017

Ecology Ottawa has started a new program to get thousands of trees planted on private property in Ottawa.

Graham Saul, the group’s executive director, said they aim to give out 10,000 to 20,000 saplings of different varieties for people to plant in backyards or on front lawns.

The tree give-away is part of a larger campaign started in 2014 to have 1 million trees planted in Ottawa for Canada 150. He said the give-away fills the hole in the original campaign of putting trees on private property.

“A lot of the land in the city is in the hands of private property owners so it’s essential that private property owners participate in the replanting process,” he said.

NCC seeks public input on additional 110 km of proposed official trails
Metro Ottawa

By Haley Ritchie, Ottawa Metro News, April 30, 2017

The National Capital Commission is asking the public for feedback on a new plan to add another 110 km of trails inside Gatineau Park, which it hopes will satisfy rogue trail users.

“The unofficial trail network that has developed over the years is having a significant environmental impact on sensitive habitats in this conservation park,” reads the NCC’s statement on the consultation.

“To address this issue, we are seeking to reduce the overall negative impacts on the Park’s ecological health, while improving the trail network to meet user needs,” it continues.

Memo details OC Transpo service changes coming at the end of June
Metro Ottawa

By Alex Abdalwahab, Ottawa Metro News, May 1, 2017

More changes are coming to OC Transpo routes at the end of June.

The city is continuing to roll out its plan to renumber several bus routes and adjust some schedules, ahead of next year’s opening of the O-Train Confederation Line.

Coming June 25, the city will renumber 15 bus routes.

Ottawa River pathways remain closed as water levels creep back up
Metro Ottawa

By Ryan Tumilty, Ottawa Metro News, May 1, 2017

Pathways along the Ottawa River will remain closed for the time being, with more rain in the forecast threatening them again.

The pathways have been closed for several weeks due to high water levels along the river that put the paths under water.

Cédric Pelletier, a spokesperson for the National Capital commission, said while some drier weather last week helped the situation the rain returned.

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