By CBC News Ottawa, November 11, 2016
The collapse of some steel material on the side wall of Ottawa's light rail transit tunnel is at least the fourth incident — and third this year — to prompt an investigation from the Ontario Ministry of Labour.
Three workers had to wait for clearance from emergency responders before leaving the tunnel after a steel mesh cage separated from the tunnel wall, according to one of the senior engineers on the LRT project.
By Kate Porter, CBC News Ottawa, November 10, 2016
Gatineau city councillors voted on a series of budget recommendations Thursday that will see the city increase parking fees, help create a district of artist workshops on Montcalm Street, and wage its yearly battle to balance its books.
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Overall, Gatineau intends to spend $577 million, raised almost entirely through property taxes.Faced with the pressure to catch up with road, sewer and other infrastructure work, Gatineau councillors voted to put off other projects, such as a new main library.
By CBC News Ottawa, November 11, 2016
A senior engineer for the consortium building Ottawa's $2-billion light rail line says they'll be looking into the cause of an industrial incident that required three tunnel workers to be escorted out by emergency crews on Thursday afternoon.
Peter Lauch, technical director with the Rideau Transit Group, told CBC News that a steel "cage" designed to provide stability and strength came loose from the tunnel wall as workers were applying shotcrete — essentially, sprayable concrete used to reinforce structures.
By the Editor, Ottawa Citizen, November 10, 2016
Ontario has softened its stance on photo radar. Mayor Jim Watson has, too. If carefully planned, this shift could benefit Ottawans. Back in the 1990s, then-premier Mike Harris, sensing a crowd-pleaser, firmly kiboshed the province’s nascent photo radar plan. Fast-forward to six months ago, when Ottawa Council discussed it.
Watson worried aloud that the re-introduction of photo radar might just become a cash grab. But he eventually agreed with its use in school zones and if an area councillor wanted it. Council asked the province for the power to introduce the speed-control scheme.
By Susana Mas, Joe Lofaro and Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen, November 10, 2016
Ontario’s Labour Ministry is investigating the third construction emergency on Ottawa’s LRT tunnel project after three underground workers were trapped on a lift Thursday by buckled steel.
The incident, which LRT contractor Rideau Transit Group characterized as minor, happened about 100 metres from the tunnel portal near Laurier Avenue and Waller Street at around 4:30 p.m.
By Kelly Egan, Ottawa Citizen, November 11, 2016
In the first 20 days the O’Connor bike lanes were open — a period of fairly light volume — three cyclists have been struck by tonnes of rolling steel.
If you look at the video of the latest collision, near the corner of Waverley Street, we’re lucky someone isn’t dead.
And if city hall’s fingers are not reaching for the reset button, they must be drumming the table. This is a bad situation.
By Jennifer McIntosh, Ottawa Community News, November 9, 2016
Trevor Haché, past-president of the Healthy Transportation Coalition, said advocates of a low-income bus pass believe the city’s “EquiPass” is a positive first step in the right direction.
Mayor Jim Watson announced the details of the pass in his budget address on Nov. 9, before the tabling of the city’s draft budget.
By Blair Crawford, Ottawa Citizen, November 10, 2016
Ottawa police will be keeping a close eye on the O’Connor Street bike lane during the Thursday afternoon rush hour following three serious collisions since the north-south route opened two weeks ago.
Officers from the Ottawa Police Traffic will be watching for infractions on O’Conner at the intersections of Waverley and Isabella streets while members of Safe Roads Ottawa will also be on hand to distribute free lights to cyclists.
By Susan Sherring, Ottawa Citizen, November 9, 2016
Like a stay at the Holiday Inn, Mayor Jim Watson’s draft budget contained few surprises.
History suggests that’s the mayor’s style: A little money here, a tiny pot there — goodies spread out across Ottawa in an attempt to keep everyone satisfied — if not over-the-moon elated.
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But back to Watson’s positive spin. He told council that, through consultation, they heard the public wants an affordable city, a caring city, a sustainable city, and a prosperous and vibrant city, as well as a city that has an investment plan for innovation and job creation.
By Tom Spears, Ottawa Citizen, November 9, 2016
Police have charged a van driver after a man cycling on the O’Connor Street bike lanes was knocked to the ground Tuesday. It was the third collision involving a bike on O’Connor since the bike lanes opened two weeks earlier.
The crash happened at the corner of O’Connor and Waverley streets at about 3:30 p.m. A passing cyclist with a helmet camera recorded it and posted the video online.
By Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen, November 9, 2016
It’s going to be hard for council’s most vocal critics to condemn the city’s $3.26-billion draft budget for 2017.
And that’s exactly how Mayor Jim Watson likes it.
The two biggest requests from social service advocates were included in the 2017 estimates tabled Wednesday. There will be money to provide a transit pass for low-income residents and the city is willing to give more money to social service agencies.
Par Louis-Denis Ebacher, Le Droit, le 8 novembre 2016
L'argent des contribuables d'Ottawa aura servi à transporter les fruits des cambriolages d'un voleur de cigarettes et d'argent, dans des commerces de l'est de la ville, en octobre dernier.
L'Unité des introductions par effraction du Service de police d'Ottawa (SPO) enquête sur une série de cambriolages et de vols de cigarettes dans des stations-service.