580 CFRA News Talk Radio :: Councillors seek federal funding for more sidewalks and bike lanes :: News - Article

By CFRA News, March 25, 2016

A group of city councillors want to build more sidewalks and bike lanes sooner than later, and they want the federal government to help.

Kitchissippi Ward Councillor Jeff Leiper says they want to use money offered to municipalities in the new federal budget to help push up the city's multi-million dollar plan.

“Right now what we have is a plan to spend about 70-million dollars of city money by 2031” said Leiper. “That’s to start connecting some of the projects with better cycling and pedestrian connections” he added.

UberAssist to compete with Para Transpo
Metro News

By Emma Jackson, Ottawa Metro News, March 24, 2016

No mobility? No problem, according to Uber, which launched its UberAssist service in Ottawa Wednesday.

The controversial ride-sharing app is taking on Para Transpo in its latest bid to become the taxi company of choice in Ottawa, despite being technically illegal.

According to the company, UberAssist will offer door-to-door service for customers with mobility issues for the same price as a regular UberX cab. The service will allow seniors, people with disabilities and others to get some extra assistance in and out of the car, the company said.

Seniors residence thrilled as city tweaks Stage 2 LRT alignment
Ottawa Citizen

By Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen, March 24, 2016

Christina O’Neil returned to Unitarian House Thursday to make a major announcement after meeting with LRT officials at city hall.

“It will no longer be in our front yard,” she proclaimed through the public address system.

“Everybody was cheering,” O’Neil, executive director of Unitarian House, said later in a phone interview. “We met down in the dining room and there was applause.”

Urban councillors want federal cash for cycling, pedestrian infrastructure
Ottawa Citizen

By Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen, March 24, 2016

A group of downtown councillors wants the city to speed up its multimillion-dollar plans to build more bike lanes and sidewalks by tapping into new federal infrastructure dollars announced in Tuesday’s budget.

The federal budget sees the government spending roughly $11.9 billion over the next five years on public transit, green infrastructure and social infrastructure, such as public housing and money for First Nations, Inuit and northern communities.

New bike plan makes room for cyclists

By Michelle Nash, Ottawa Community News, March 23, 2016

This year changes are finally coming to Beechwood Avenue.

They might be small and short term, but the impact could be significant for cyclists using the busy road.

One hundred and fifty people came out to a March 9 open house to discuss the future of transportation along Beechwood, between the Vanier Parkway and Ste. Cecile Street. The councillors who have been working together to create a better plan said they couldn’t be happier with the results.

Uber launches Uber Assist
Ottawa & Region
News
Ottawa Sun

By Chris Lowrey, Ottawa Sun, March 23, 2016

Uber launched a new service in Ottawa on Wednesday called Uber Assist, which will provide door-to-door pickup and drop off services for people with disabilities.

The ride sharing service allows customers to request a ride by using a smartphone app.

Council refers photo-radar debate to transportation committee
Ottawa Citizen

By Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen, March 23, 2016

Ottawa city council has punted a much-anticipated debate on photo radar to its transportation committee.

River Coun. Riley Brockington wanted councillors to formally request that the provincial government allow municipalities the option of using photo radar on local streets. It would follow similar requests from councils in Toronto, Hamilton and York Region.

But motions that go directly to council don’t allow for public delegations and that rubbed some councillors the wrong way.

NCC could slice two lanes from Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway for linear park
Ottawa Citizen

By Don Butler, Ottawa Citizen, March 23, 2016

The National Capital Commission has developed an option for the proposed Sir John A. Macdonald Riverfront Linear Park that would reduce the heavily used parkway to just two lanes for part of its length.

The proposal was presented publicly for the first time Wednesday night at a workshop on the proposed linear park, which would extend from the Canadian War Museum to Britannia Park.

Volunteer Roundup
Ottawa Citizen

By Ottawa Citizen, March 23, 2016

Looking for volunteer work? Check out these and other Ottawa-area opportunities at www.volunteerottawa.ca or call 613-736-5270 to find out more.

Federal transit funding jump could be major boon for City of Ottawa - Ottawa - CBC News

By Joanne Chianello, CBC News Ottawa, March 23, 2016

Mayor Jim Watson called the budget "good news" for Ottawa and it's easy to see why — at least from a city perspective.

That the Liberal government delivered on its election promise to increase infrastructure spending by $60 billion over the next 10 years isn't that surprising. The fact that the government hasn't quite yet figured out the framework for doling out the money out past the next couple of years did set a few eyeballs rolling, but chances are it'll get worked out.

The big news on the city front are the changes to transit funding: the Liberal government is both expanding the scope of what it will pay for and promising to shell out for up to half the costs of transit projects instead of the traditional third.

Boil water advisory issued for Carlsbad Springs residents - Ottawa - CBC News

By CBC News Ottawa, March 22, 2016

A precautionary boil water advisory has been issued for more than 650 water users near Carlsbad Springs.

Ottawa Public Health is urging people on the Carlsbad Trickle-Feed system to bring their water to a rolling boil for at least one minute before using it to drink or in food preparation.

The advisory has been issued because of a loss of water pressure due to a watermain break, Ottawa Public Health said.

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