NEWS ARCHIVESFebruary 6, 2009 Transit implementation unacceptable Over the last few days my office has received a number of inquiries from residents ranging from the City's return-to-service protocol, fare compensation, existing mitigation strategies to a possible tax rebate. Alain Mercier, the director of OC Transpo, and the City's Transit Committee met on February 4 to discuss what has transpired since the transit strike concluded. Staff indicated many routes, including Rural Express runs and Route 163, would not be restored until April 6 due to a lack of buses. City Staff explored renting buses, having mechanical work done off-site, and requesting buses from other municipalities. Recognizing the Stittsville-Kanata West community will realize no benefits related to the resumption of service until Phase 4 (April 6), I immediately contacted Mr. Mercier, along with other senior City Staff, to discuss the issue further. Waiting another two months for service to be fully restored is completely unacceptable. I am bewildered that peak period service has not been given a higher priority; the traffic congestion within the downtown core alone should be reason enough to re-implement this service. With respect to fare compensation, Regular December passes are valid until March 31. This is only a benefit if you plan on using Route 96, which began its operation on February 7. For those of you with an Ecopass, deductions are suspended for 70 days to ensure all Ecopass subscribers are fully compensated for the service disruption and deductions will resume in May based on your payroll calendar. Lastly, the December Rural Express and Seniors' passes will be valid until April 30. For further information, please contact OC Transpo Customer Service at 613-741-4390 or visit a kiosk. The closest to our community is the one located within the Lincoln Fields transit station. Please note that all day on-street parking where one-, two-, and three-hour un-metered parking exists will still be permitted until transit service has been fully restored. As of February 6, no traffic is permitted on City bus lanes. In addition, extended no stopping zones will be removed from some downtown streets as of February 25. In an effort to ease traffic congestion around Park and Ride lots, signage has been installed on roads leading to these lots informing motorists when parking lots are full. Many residents have discussed the possibility of a tax rebate as a result of the transit strike. While the City saved money in December as a result of not having the buses running, Transit operations went into the strike already over budget as a result of the high fuel prices it paid for most of 2008. The result is that the December strike savings reduced the overall Transit deficit. In January, the savings as a result of the strike have been partially used to cover the additional measures the City put in place to help residents cope with the strike. The savings after these costs were deducted amounts to $5.2 million. Council must now look at a plan to bring back riders and at the overall Transit budget as the strike will impact many of the initiatives that were planned for 2009. I will be reviewing with Council the possibility of a tax rebate or deferral. The Ontario Ministry of Transportation has given the City an additional month to complete maintenance and safety checks of buses that had been due for safety recertification by May 1. As a result, OC Transpo expects to have between 50 and 60 additional buses back in service over the next few weeks. Information as to which routes and neighbourhoods will receive bus service has not been released at this time. I encourage everyone to still use their current systems of transportation in order to avoid disappointments with limited availability of seats on buses and limited parking at Park and Rides. I recognize this is a difficult time for our community and I am equally frustrated with the process. Please visit my website at
www.shadqadri.com for updated
information. New approach to Official Plan The City of Ottawa is taking a new approach to intensification, following the tabling of revisions to the 2003 Official Plan. At a joint meeting of the Planning and Environment Committee (PEC) and the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee (ARAC) on February 2, Staff released its revisions to the Master Plan, which provides a vision of how and where the City should grow through to 2031. The key amendments to the Official Plan that will have an impact on our community include the expansion of the urban boundary, introducing new policies to ensure that intensification is compatible with the surrounding community, and the protection of wetlands. The biggest change proposed by the draft amendment is the provision of an intensification target that must be met before City Council considers future urban expansions. In order to justify light rail service, it is being recommended that communities develop in an intensified manner and are centered around transit hubs. Staff is recommending the City add 850 hectares to the urban boundary in a variety of locations. The lands are subject to change following further analysis. With the inclusion of 850 hectares, the City’s gross hectare size would be 36,115. There is a set criteria that must be met for lands to be included in the urban boundary. I have requested staff to review the criteria to avoid possible challenges in the future. The PEC meeting on March 31 is open to the public, and all interested parties have the opportunity to make presentations with respect to the proposed amendments. The date for the adoption of the Official Plan amendment by City Council will be determined following the meeting on March 31. City Council will consider the recommendations of PEC and decide whether to accept or make changes to the proposed amendments. Once City Council adopts the Official Plan amendments, it is submitted to the Provincial Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing for approval. Staff expect a decision from the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing before the end of 2009. I encourage you to attend two open houses that have been scheduled to present the proposed changes to residents. The first open house, focusing on rural policies, will take place at Confederation High School on February 19. The second open house, scheduled for City Hall on February 24, will centre on urban policies. I am looking at holding a public meeting to discuss the Official Plan. I will have more information in an upcoming column. In October 2007, the Official Plan review began with extensive consultation from community groups, businesses, government agencies and other key stakeholders. The Official Plan must be reviewed every five years as per the Planning Act. Further information on the Official
Plan can be found on the City’s website at
www.ottawa.ca/beyondottawa2020. Tax due date delayed by four weeks In response to the transit strike and in effort to give residents some financial relief, the City has concluded that interim property taxes will not be due until April 16. Please note this change will only impact those who pay in monthly instalments. Interim taxes would normally have been due on March 19. The delay will cost the City $1.3
million in lost interest revenue, which Council decided would be partly offset
by any savings from the transit strike. Coffee Chat to feature Mayor O’Brien Please join myself and Mayor O’Brien at my ward office on February 14 from 11am until noon for an informal discussion. The Mayor is conducting coffee chats across the city in an effort to reach out to residents and gauge what is important to you and your family. This is a great opportunity to come and
discuss your community concerns with the Mayor. I hope you and your family can
participate in this fantastic event. Always listening and acting on your concerns As your Councillor, I always welcome your keen input and ideas on how we can sustain and improve Stittsville. Please contact our office anytime by phone at 613-580-2476 or by e-mail at Shad.Qadri@ottawa.ca. My ward office is located in the Goulbourn Recreation Complex, located at 1500 Shea Road. The hours of operation are Mondays 9-2pm, Wednesdays 3-8pm, Fridays 9-5pm, and Saturday 9-1pm. Please do not hesitate to pay us a visit. Sincerely, |
