NEWS ARCHIVES

January 15, 2010

City Council approves next step in light rail implementation

City Council has approved the Recommended Plan for the Downtown Ottawa Transit Tunnel (DOTT) Planning and Environment Assessment Study.

The approval represents the next major step toward the construction of a light rail transit link between Tunney’s Pasture and Blair Road, with trains passing below downtown through twin 3.2-kilometre tunnels.

City Council’s decision to accept the Recommended Plan means the functional design for the LRT corridor and the Maintenance and Storage Facility are now approved.

City Staff will now initiate the formal, expedited environmental assessment process and file the Environmental Project Report with the Ministry of the Environment. With the launch of the expedited EA process for public transit projects, provincial approval for the LRT project could be granted as early as May 2010.

Following Ministerial approval of the EA, Staff will initiate the process of acquiring property for the project.

The LRT system will cut the number of buses traveling through the City’s downtown core in half, while the number of buses running along Rideau and Wellington streets will be reduced from 2,600 per day to 600 per day.

With a virtually emissions-free LRT system in operation and fewer buses and other vehicles on the road, the city will be able to reduce fuel consumption by as much as 10 million litres a year, and cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 27 million kilograms a year. Combined with a redesigned bus system, LRT is expected to reduce transit-related operating costs by up to $100 million annually starting in 2019. Further, the proposal helps the City achieve a revenue to cost ratio of 55% by 2019, which decreases the dependency on taxation to fund public transit.

Moving towards a new Lansdowne Park

The City of Ottawa has introduced a group of distinguished urban-design experts who will lead an intensive planning and public process on what will be built at the new Lansdowne Park.

The Strategic Design Review and Advisory Panel is comprised of: George Dark, an urban designer and landscape architect whose projects include the award-winning University of Toronto Open Space Master Plan; Rick Haldenby, Director of the School of Architecture at the University of Waterloo; and Marianne McKenna, an internationally acclaimed architect and founding partner of the Toronto architectural firm, KPMB.

The panel will review the designs for the three elements of the Lansdowne redevelopment: the new green front yard next to the Rideau Canal, integrating use of the two heritage buildings at Lansdowne, the Aberdeen Pavilion and the Horticulture Building; the mixed-use building of stores, restaurants, offices, cinemas, hotel and residential units; and the reconstructed Frank Clair Stadium and Civic Centre.

Open House to view Fire Station plans

I invite you to attend an Open House on February 2 to view the site plan design for the new fire station to be located at 34 Iber Road.

The development will see a new single storey composite fire station constructed with an area of 1165.2 sq. m. and a height of 11.5m. The vegetation buffer to the rear of the property will remain and additional plantings are proposed along the rear.

You can stop by the open house at the Fringewood Community Centre located at 14 Fringewood Drive on February 2 anytime between 5-8pm.

Health Fair at the Goulbourn Recreation Complex

Since the Goulbourn Recreation Complex expansion in the fall of 2008, it has become of a hub of activity for our community, with over 1000 members participating in a wide variety of fitness and recreational programming.

In keeping with a commitment to encourage people to lead a more healthy and active lifestyle, the Goulbourn Recreation Complex will be hosting a Health Fair on January 30 from 1-4pm.

The Health Fair will welcome local health and wellness practioners who will share their knowledge and expertise through discussions and demonstrations.

There is no cost to attend, so come by yourself or bring a friend for an afternoon of education and information sharing.

If you have any questions or would like additional information about this event, please contact Natalie at 613-836-1169 ext. 238.

Door-to-door offers of hot-water tank replacements

Residents have informed my office that door-to-door salesmen have been visiting homeowners with offers of a hot-water tank replacement.

You are never obliged to let a stranger into your home to inspect any part of your house or any of your appliances, unless you have previously arranged for such a visit.

The Stittsville Neighbourhood Watch program has compiled some helpful hints which can be obtained from my website, www.shadqadri.com, under the Important Information icon.

Have your say in the future of the Greenbelt

As part of the review process of the Greenbelt Master Plan, the National Capital Commission invites you to participate in an open house and workshop to develop a vision for the future of the Greenbelt.

During the open house, thematic display panels showing information and comments gathered to date will be presented to the public. All participants will then have the opportunity to comment and make their suggestions regarding the strategic direction and management of the Greenbelt over the next 50 years and beyond.

The closest open house to our comment occurs at the Nepean Sportsplex, 1701 Woodroffe Avenue, on January 27 from 5-8pm.

The public may also send us their comments by February 19 to info@ncc-ccn.ca.

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