Implementation of ‘complete streets’ policy a matter of steady baby steps, panel of councillors say

By Shaamini Yogaretnam, Ottawa Citizen, March 29, 2014

OTTAWA — The idea of a “complete street,” designed to benefit all users from autos to bikes to walkers, is part of the Transportation Master Plan (TMP) approved by the city last year, but it needs to be more than just policy and put into wider practice, says a city councillor.

“If you look at the Transportation Master Plan, you will see there is this great policy discussion on complete streets and then there are six pages of road-widenings, 12 roads per page, so 70 roads to be widened from two to four and four to six (lanes) and we have this nice pleasant policy discussion on complete streets,” Coun. Diane Holmes said Saturday.

“It’s a big improvement and we are getting somewhere,” she said, but there is still work to be done to make more streets more things for all variety of road-users in Ottawa, thus making it a complete street.

School bus authority to promote walking as alternative ahead of bell time changes
Metro

By Joe Lofaro, Ottawa Metro News, March 28, 2014

The Ottawa Student Transportation Authority is going to try to sell parents the idea of having their kids walk to school if they are affected by proposed changes to the school bus eligibility zones and school bell times. It’s one of the transportation authority’s suggested alternatives as it gears up for a major transformation to the way it operates next year. Under the agenda to promote healthy and active lifestyles in Ottawa schools, OSTA will suggest organizing so-called “volunteer walking school buses” so students in the same neighbourhood would walk as a group accompanied by an adult. via School bus authority to promote walking as alternative ahead of bell time changes | Metro.

No extra training needed for Safe Stop program, OC Transpo says

By Carys Mills, Ottawa Citizen, March 27, 2014

OTTAWA — Despite 15 complaints about OC Transpo’s Safe Stop program since last December, an official says the option for passengers who feel unsafe to get off between stops at night works well and no extra driver training is needed.

Safe Stop is supposed to be available where it’s safe to stop between 7 p.m. and sunrise. But this week, on the heels of a transit survey showing many women feel don’t feel safe using transit late at night, Carleton University master’s student Sarah Douglas went public with her complaint that a driver allegedly belittled her Safe Stop request.

Ottawa under freezing rain warning

By Megan Hurley, Ottawa Citizen, March 28, 2014

OTTAWA — Environment Canada has issued a freezing rain warning for Ottawa and Gatineau.

The warning issued at 6:35 a.m. Friday said a low pressure system tracking toward Georgian Bay will continue until midmorning over the Ottawa River Valley and eastern Ontario.

Butterfly count in Mexico reveals bleak winter for monarchs

By Tom Spears, Ottawa Citizen, March 27, 2014

OTTAWA — This is the worst year on record for the monarch butterfly, with North America’s entire population of the orange insects now squeezed into less than one hectare in Mexico.

The monarchs spend winter packed together in a remote forest of the Mexican mountains, and researchers have been measuring how much land they occupy each year since 1994. A bigger area means more monarchs.

Riders want more safety, security measures, transit survey finds

By Brier Dodge, Ottawa Community News, March 27, 2014

A recent survey done by OC Transpo showed the public's opinion of the transit provider has returned to pre-strike satisfaction, the transit commission heard on March 19.

Of the just over 1,500 people surveyed, 80 per cent ranked the service as good, or very good.

Spring migrants moving in to region

By Bruce Di Labio, Ottawa Citizen, March 27, 2014

There has been a recent influx of Purple Finches in our region, with this one seen in Carp. Watch for this species at your feeders, they enjoy sunflower seeds.Photograph by: Bruce Di LabioThough temperatures continue to be below normal for late March, we are now seeing a small number of spring migrants in the Ottawa-Gatineau district. The first Red-winged Blackbirds were reported on March 18 followed by Common Grackles, Brown-headed Cowbirds and Song Sparrows.

Two Great Blue Herons were observed flying over Ottawa south on March 23 by Gord Belyea and a Northern Flicker was at a suet feeder in the Crystal Bay area on March 19. Ring-billed Gull numbers at Deschenes Rapids have been fluctuating due to the recent cold weather. On March 26 a small flock of eight were seen compared to 150+ last week.

Uranium safe, secure

By Michael Binder, Ottawa Citizen Letter to the Editor, March 27, 2014

Re: U.S. delays armed nuclear waste convoys, March 21.

Canadians should rest assured that highly enriched uranium (HEU) on site at Chalk River Laboratories is currently safely and securely managed in accordance with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission's (CNSC) regulatory requirements.

580 CFRA News Talk Radio :: Rideau Carleton Raceway to participate in Earth Hour :: News - Article

By Alison Sandor, CFRA News, March 26, 2014

The OLG Slots at the Rideau Carleton Raceway will go dark for one hour Saturday.

They're shutting off exterior signage and dimming unnecessary lights from 8:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. as part of Eart Hour.

The OLG has encouraged all employees who aren't working tonight to participate in Earth Hour at home by turning off the lights and unplugging non-essential electronics.

580 CFRA News Talk Radio :: City Auditor General: No green bin audit until arbitration complete :: News - Article

By Stephanie Kinsella, CFRA News, March 26, 2014

The city is fending off questions from residents demanding to know when the audit of the green bin contract will finally see the light of day.

At Wednesday's council meeting, Councillor Maria McRae called on Ken Hughes, the auditor general, to state what response is being sent to people inquiring about the long-delayed report.

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