By Liz Bernstein
Active transportation and safer streets
Here are a few numbers that all members of this community should know: about 2,600 trucks a day travel along the King Edward Ave/Rideau/Waller corridor, to and from the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge to the 417. About two-thirds of these trucks are tractor trailers. Daily, about 6,000 pedestrians use the King Edward Avenue – Rideau intersection during the busiest eight hours of the day. Of them, 67 people were struck between 2007 and 2010.
We may not know people who have been struck, but we certainly know elderly neighbours who refuse to attend activities at our community centres because they are afraid to cross the street. And we may not know that LCA residents, through the King Edward Avenue Task Force, have been advocating for 25 years to make our streets safer by removing the trucks from the downtown core. The Task Force is now integrating into the Lowertown Community Association, and our Environment and Active Transportation Committee will continue fighting for safer streets for our community.
Creating a link between the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge and Highway 417 is now the subject of a $750,000 feasibility study that is funded by the City of Ottawa and the Province of Ontario. The study is looking at options and different possible routes for a tunnel to carry trucks to and from Highway 417. A report of preliminary findings is due to be delivered to City Council’s Transportation Committee shortly. As soon as we receive it we will share it, and invite residents to meetings and whatever is deemed feasible, we will encourage ample opportunity for community consultations. Let us know if you wish to be involved.
Climate change motion to strengthen climate protection
On February 16, the city’s Environment Committee passed a climate change motion put forward by the chair of the committee, councillor David Chernushenko. Councillors discussed the motion after hearing a report on the emerging Renewable Energy Strategy for the City, which is set to begin consultations in the coming months, and an update on the implementation of the City’s climate change plan.
The motion proposed five things:
1.That the City strengthen its greenhouse gas emissions reduction target to match the more ambitious Ontario provincial target;
2. That Mayor Jim Watson join an international climate initiative called “the Compact of Mayors”;
3. That David Chernushenko work with multiple city departments and outside groups to generate an implementation plan to reach the more ambitious targets;
4. That city staff study the feasibility of setting minimum energy efficiency standards for new construction in Ottawa, and;
5. That the Environment Committee change its name to the Environment and Climate Protection Committee.
Scott Moffatt was the sole councillor on the committee who voted against the motion, while most were eager to support more ambitious target. “I would rather fail trying rather than not being as aspirational as we can,” Somerset Coun. Catherine McKenney said. The LCA sent a letter to councillors on the committee urging passage of the motion, noting that for years we have been working hard to improve walking and cycling infrastructure for residents’ safety and for us to reduce our own carbon footprint with our transportation choices. Councillor Fleury is not on the Environment Committee, but indicated support.
“If you live in Ottawa, your city government, your provincial government and your federal government all say that they care about taking action on climate change, which means now is the moment for people who care about this issue to demand they follow through on that,” said Graham Saul, Lowertown resident and Chair of Ecology Ottawa.
A week later, on February 24, the whole city council approved the motion with a vote of 21-3. Mayor Watson introduced the motion by saying “the reality is climate change will be a larger part of the municipal agenda in the years ahead, and that is simply the reality we face. The future prosperity of any city will depend on its ability to protect itself from, and adapt to, climate change.”