By Jon Willing, Ottawa Sun, December 12, 2015
The Prince of Wales Bridge could have potential as a temporary busway before it becomes an interprovincial rail link.
"The idea has been floated as maybe an intermediate step before rail, but these are notional discussions we have had between the mayors and myself," National Capital Commission CEO Mark Kristmanson said.
The idea hasn't been bolstered by staff studies, but "certainly there was a sense that that could be worth exploring," he said.
By Jon Willing, Ottawa Sun, December 11, 2015
Transit commission chair Stephen Blais blames council colleague Diane Deans for the problems plaguing the $60-million upgrade to the O-Train Trillium Line, prompting her to accuse him of "bullying."
"It's rich for Diane to make the intervention she has been making when the whole process has been rushed," Blais said Friday, lambasting Deans for her attempt at a "political victory."
"I'm saying it was rushed. It was poorly planned. Because it was rushed, unrealistic expectations were set," Blais said.
By Sam Cooley, Ottawa Sun, December 12, 2015
An Ottawa man is calling for the removal or extermination of coyotes in the Greenbelt near his home after he discovered his dog was ripped apart by wild animals.
Kagie, a seven-year-old miniature pinscher, was let outside into a back yard off Shanegal Cres. by his owners at about 8 p.m. Wednesday.After a desperate search, the dog's entrails were eventually found strewn about NCC property.
By CBC News Ottawa, December 12, 2015
Earth will be treated to "arguably the best meteor shower of the year" on the weekend when it passes through the Geminids, an astronomy writer says.
The Geminids, which got their name because the meteors originate from a point in the sky near the constellation Gemini, reach their peak activity on the nights of Dec. 13 and 14.
By Joanne Laucius, Ottawa Citizen, December 11, 2015
The failed waste-to-energy company Plasco Energy is expected back in court next week seeking an extension of its protection from creditors so it can “wind up its affairs,” city solicitor Rick O’Connor says in an update memo to Mayor Jim Watson and the members of council.
An extension granted in September is due to expire on Dec. 18. However, Plasco’s demonstration facility on city-owned land across from the Trail Road dump is still on track to be fully decommissioned by the end of the year, says the memo. SNC Lavalin was on the site this week to locate and mark underground utilities and started to excavate soil for remediation.
By Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen, December 11, 2015
Basing cost-estimates on more detailed plans, talking to property experts about tricky land acquisitions and including OC Transpo as soon as possible are some of the key recommendations contained in a long-awaited “lessons learned” report that sheds light on what the city could take from the early days of its Confederation light-rail project and apply to the proposed $3-billion expansion.
Two years into construction of the $2.1-billion Confederation line, the city hired consultants to offer an assessment of the challenges faced during the planning, preparation and procurement of the largest infrastructure project in Ottawa’s history.
By Alex Robinson, Ottawa Community News, December 10, 2015
Design work has started on a long-anticipated footbridge that will connect Old Ottawa East to the Glebe.
Now that Adàwe Crossing has opened, Capital Ward Coun. David Chernushenko has been assuring residents that the bridge, which was first proposed in 2011, is next on the city’s to do list.
The bridge will be built over the Rideau Canal and will link Clegg Street in Old Ottawa East to Fifth Avenue in the Glebe.
By Sam Cooley, Ottawa Sun, December 10, 2015
It's fifteen days before Christmas and the thermometer is breaking a record high that was set in 1946.
On that heady day, 69 years ago, the temperature was 10 degrees Celcius, according to historical Environment Canada data. But today it's 10.5 degrees Celcius and the temperature could still inch a bit higher.
By Jon Willing, Ottawa Sun, December 11, 2015
The O-Train Trillium Line upgrade hasn't delivered on the train frequency that was pitched to council when it approved the $60-million expansion.
OC Transpo assistant GM Troy Charter says the original design -- which projected trains coming every 8-10 minutes -- was "an ambitious goal for a rail system with a passing track configuration."
By Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen, December 11, 2015
Funding set aside to turn the city-owned Prince of Wales Bridge into a cycling and pedestrian link to Gatineau has been redirected to a different project — a move one city councillor describes as a “down payment” on a future bridge over the Rideau Canal to connect the Glebe and Old Ottawa East.
The 2016 budget, approved Thursday, will now see $2.7 million previously intended for the multi-use pathway project on the Prince of Wales Bridge be reallocated to a proposed pedestrian and cycling bridge between Fifth Avenue and Clegg Street.
By Alex Quesnel, Stittsville Central, December 10, 2015
Conflicting views on the proposed Energy East pipeline were on full display in Carp Wednesday night.
Trans Canada, the pipeline developers, held a safety information session at Carp Agricultural Hall, while members of environmental group Ecology Ottawa handed out pamphlets outside warning about the dangers of oil spills.The event featured kiosks, iPads and scale models of the proposed pipeline. Dozens of community residents attended, though they were largely outnumbered by Trans Canada volunteers and employees.
By Emma Jackson, Ottawa Metro News, December 9, 2015
Coun. Tobi Nussbaum says he will push for an overhaul of how the city pays for transit during a fare review next spring.
OC Transpo plans to reconfigure the fare system next year to take the light rail transition into account in time for 2018.But Nussbaum wants to go a step further and revisit the city’s goal to have fares cover 55 per cent of OC Transpo’s annual operational costs.