City issues reminder after Industrial Ave. gets bus-only lane

By Ottawa Metro News, December 31, 2015

A new bus-only lane has been installed on Industrial Avenue, west of Sandford Fleming, prompting the city to remind motorists that buses should be given priority, allowing them to merge safely.

The right curbside lane on Industrial Avenue between Sandford Fleming Avenue and Riverside Drive is now just for buses, one of many dedicated bus lanes allowing public-transit vehicles to reach Highway 417.

“Bus traffic has increased in the area around the Canada Post mail processing plant with the recent closure of the Transitway bridge between Lees and Hurdman stations,” the city said in a recent statement.

Reevely: This year, so help us, we’ll figure out what to do about Uber
Ottawa Citizen

By David Reevely, Ottawa Citizen, December 31, 2015

This year should be the year that we finally get our acts together and decide what to do about Uber — but with multiple conflicting provincial bills and city bylaws screaming toward one another, it’s anybody’s guess how we’ll do it.The grey-market car-hiring service is the pointy end of the “sharing economy.”

Uber sees notionally independent drivers sign up with an online app that links them to passengers who want cheap rides from unregulated drivers with (typically) great service and iffy insurance. It’s demolishing traditional taxis, and government regulators have tried but so far failed to stomp it out because customers, the fools, really seem to like it.

Bus driver to receive official commendation
CTV Ottawa News

By CTV News Ottawa, December 30, 2015

The OC Transpo driver who helped passengers get on his bus during Ottawa's first major snowstorm will get a reward for his good deed.

In a tweet sent Wednesday morning OC Transpo said the driver in a now viral video will receive "an official commendation.

"The recognition comes after a video was posted to Facebook on Tuesday by Ottawa’s Adriesca Julot showing a coatless driver step outside to help passengers step over a large snowbank and into his bus.

Ottawa takes storm’s measure; city fine-tunes Where Is My Plow
Ottawa Citizen

By Tom Spears, Ottawa Citizen, December 30, 2015

Note to everyone with a sore back from digging out the driveway: The storm let Ottawa off lightly, compared with many other communities across our region.

The city got 20.2 centimetres of snow, according to Environment Canada — plenty, obviously, to clog traffic and trap articulated buses. And it came on and on without a break, which made the cleanup tougher.

Ashby: Driverless cars for hotels, green power and other tech of the future
Ottawa Citizen

By Madeline Ashby, Ottawa Citizen, December 29, 2015

Fifteen years into the 21st century, it’s time to look past the tech trends that dominated 2015, and start extrapolating forward, toward the technologies that will actually change our lives over the next 15 years.

So, what does 2016 — and the years ahead — have in store on the technology front?

First, watch for driverless or self-driving cars to continue making gains in the automotive marketplace, and for them to begin appearing on roads in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and test cities all across America (think cities with wide open spaces and predictable weather, such as Phoenix). Then watch for them to appear in tourist markets such as Orlando, Las Vegas and New Orleans.

Year in review: 15 memorable moments from Ottawa City Hall
Ottawa Citizen

By Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen, December 29, 2015

A broken pelvis, a bench-buying bonanza and a budget that didn’t pass unanimously were among the highs — and lows — at Ottawa City Hall. Here are 15 memorable moments from 2015.

2. Slow train coming

11. Transitway transformation

12. CFB Rockcliffe redesign

CITY HALL MONITOR: 5 things to watch in 2016
Ottawa & Region
News
Ottawa S

By Jon Willing, Ottawa Sun, December 27, 2015

The Sun looks ahead to the biggest challenges facing City Hall in 2016.

1. Taxis and Uber

Early in 2016 council should entertain recommendations from staff on how to change the taxi bylaw. A report by KPMG suggesting tweaks will be in the city's hands by the end of 2015. The past 12 months was an odd period for the local taxi industry, which saw cabbies suffer from the growth of Uber and their own internal squabbles with the airport contract. Uber probably isn't going anywhere and the city will have to consider how it will handle a defiant company if the ride-hailing service brushes aside attempts at regulation.

2. OC Transpo prepares for LRT

Transpo is changing from primarily a bus operator to a multi-mode transit service. Even though the Confederation Line LRT won't be taking fare-paying customers until spring 2018, Transpo needs to make some big decisions well ahead of the first trip...

Ontario apple farmers hope weird winter weather won't damage 2016 crop - Ottawa - CBC News

By Amanda Pfeffer, CBC News Ottawa, December 28, 2015

Ontario Apple farmers are crossing their fingers this year's weird winter weather won't damage the province's $60-million apple crop.

A super El Nino has climatologists forecasting a delayed winter with rising and falling temperatures, which could affect many fruit tree and nut bearing tree crops.

A sudden freeze on May 23, 2015 wiped out half of Ontario's apple crop this year, affecting farmers across the province including Eastern Ontario.

Gatineau Parkway closed Sunday afternoon after oil spill - Ottawa - CBC News

By CBC News Ottawa, December 27, 2015

An oil spill has forced the closure of a stretch of the Gatineau Parkway, and it could be as long as three days until it reopens, the National Capital Commission said Sunday.

The parkway was closed Sunday between Alexandre-Taché Boulevard and Des Allumettières Boulevard, according to a statement from the NCC.

Christmas miracle! City’s refrigerated rinks finally open after balmy weather glitches
Ottawa Citizen

By Joanne Laucius, Ottawa Citizen, December 27, 2015

While people teed off at golf courses during one of the mildest Christmas Eve days since records were kept in Ottawa, the blamy climes threw warm water all over the City of Ottawa’s refrigerated outdoor rinks operation.

Only the relatively new Lansdowne Skating court was able to defy the unseasonable weather Thursday and early Christmas Day.

Major snowstorm expected to hit Ottawa region Monday
Ottawa Citizen

By Paula McCooey, Ottawa Citizen, December 27, 2015

A winter storm watch and driving advisory has been issued for most of Southern Ontario, with Ottawa’s first major snowfall expected to sweep across region within the next 24 hours.

Environment Canada says a storm from Texas will spread heavy, blowing snow into the region Monday night and into Tuesday.

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