I just read on the CBC Ottawa website that the O-train should be running onMonday (Feb 2) but busses will not be in service for a further week (Feb 9)! Give us a break, surely OC Transpo can do better than this?
At least get transit moving along the main corridors from Orleans, Barrhaven, Kanata. This would help make many peoples lives easier again; surely a hundred or mor busses can be put into service by mid week?
The city should also be flexible and forgiving with parking tickets if park & rides overflow until full service levels are restored. A much better idea than several weeks more of the high level of downtown congestion we have experience over the past 51 days.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Lansdown Park Options
According to Councillor Peter Hume his planning and environment committee will not be evaluating the best place for the city to invest (Lansdowne Park or Kanata) until it's April 14, 2009 meeting (Ottawa Citizen: Council won't discuss proposals until April, Hume says; January 29, 2009).
Apparently they will only evaluate the "Lansdowne Live" plan and Eugene Melnyk's soccer stadium proposal in Kanata. There is no mention of the Lansdowne Design competition that was put on hold when the Lansdowne Live proposal came in. This is particularly surprising as Councillor Hume, along with Councillor Clive Doucet, were both promoters of the design competition.
There are many alternatives that should be evaluated in public before a decision is made to move forward on this file. Why the hurry and why the apparent change of heart by Councillor Hume?
Apparently they will only evaluate the "Lansdowne Live" plan and Eugene Melnyk's soccer stadium proposal in Kanata. There is no mention of the Lansdowne Design competition that was put on hold when the Lansdowne Live proposal came in. This is particularly surprising as Councillor Hume, along with Councillor Clive Doucet, were both promoters of the design competition.
There are many alternatives that should be evaluated in public before a decision is made to move forward on this file. Why the hurry and why the apparent change of heart by Councillor Hume?
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
An "inconvenient" strike
Here is an excellent letter from today's Ottawa Citizen http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/todays-paper/Inconvenient+strike+disaster/1221003/story.html. I agree entirely with the views expressed.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Some musings on the OC Transpo strike
The transit strike is now into its 46th day with no apparent settlement on the horizon. There is no doubt fault to be found on both sides but I am particularly concerned about the city's side of the debate and the poor leadership being provided by mayor Larry O'Brien. Council appear to be united behind him; something that would normally be considered laudable, but in this case is an unfortunate mistake.
Only one councillor, Clive Doucet, has taken any initiative to stand up to the mayor and even he was made (forced) to withdraw his comments, apologize and get back in line.
Because all council deliberations on the strike are being held in camera it is not possible to learn the positions of individual councillors. Contacting my own ward councillor (Peter Hume) revealed that "..City Council by unanimous resolution has designated spokes persons with respect to various aspects of the dispute and I am not one the spokespersons and I will abide by the unanimous will of Council" - wonderful!
The federal government has indicated it will not force strikers back to work at this time and that the two sides should come together and negotiate an agreement. What I don't understand is why this is so different from the last Toronto transit strike when the provincial government made transit an essential service and had transit workers back at work in short order.
I hope we all remember this come election time in 2010, "its time for change" - a mantra that is very popular nowadays!
Only one councillor, Clive Doucet, has taken any initiative to stand up to the mayor and even he was made (forced) to withdraw his comments, apologize and get back in line.
Because all council deliberations on the strike are being held in camera it is not possible to learn the positions of individual councillors. Contacting my own ward councillor (Peter Hume) revealed that "..City Council by unanimous resolution has designated spokes persons with respect to various aspects of the dispute and I am not one the spokespersons and I will abide by the unanimous will of Council" - wonderful!
The federal government has indicated it will not force strikers back to work at this time and that the two sides should come together and negotiate an agreement. What I don't understand is why this is so different from the last Toronto transit strike when the provincial government made transit an essential service and had transit workers back at work in short order.
I hope we all remember this come election time in 2010, "its time for change" - a mantra that is very popular nowadays!
Federal Budget - Jan 27, 2009 edition
Peter Simpson provides some interesting commentary on the upcoming budget (Short-term stimulus will just repeat errors of the past - Globe & Mail Sat. Jan 24, 2009). He suggests that if Bank of Canada projections are correct, then Canadian governments are about to make a series of mistakes.
Commenting on infrastructure funding he notes that money for these projects (even "shovel ready ones) cannot really start flowing until mid-2009. He is particularly scathing about "shovel ready" projects on the City of Ottawa's wish list because they are largely of the wrong kind. Most of Ottawa's big ticket items are road enlargements and paving projects in the suburbs - exactly the wrong kind for an urban area that needs to intensify growth in the inner city and build even one rapid transit system.
"Not all municipalities, thank heaven, are as lacking in imagination" he opines. Still, too many of the municipal projects are either the wrong kind or will inject additional spending into the economy at the wrong time.
Commenting on infrastructure funding he notes that money for these projects (even "shovel ready ones) cannot really start flowing until mid-2009. He is particularly scathing about "shovel ready" projects on the City of Ottawa's wish list because they are largely of the wrong kind. Most of Ottawa's big ticket items are road enlargements and paving projects in the suburbs - exactly the wrong kind for an urban area that needs to intensify growth in the inner city and build even one rapid transit system.
"Not all municipalities, thank heaven, are as lacking in imagination" he opines. Still, too many of the municipal projects are either the wrong kind or will inject additional spending into the economy at the wrong time.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Fed’s real estate plans could make stage one of Ottawa’s light rail development a white elephant
A news posting on the CBC website http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2009/01/09/ot-090109-real-estate.html indicate the possibility of Federal government departments moving out of Tunneys Pasture over the next few years – for renovations, possibly for ever? If this was to occur, the first stage of Ottawa’s light rail plan, Blair road to Tunney’s through a down-town tunnel, would be a mass-transit link to nowhere!
While government real estate plans are likely not firm and only speculative at this time, one would hope that the Feds would communicate the possibility of such a move to the municipality before it embarks on developing planned light rail links. It would indeed be unfortunate if an underutilized ($1 billion plus) light rail link was put in place while leaving areas in urgent need of light rail waiting for years to come.
Articles like this serve to highlight the need for effective and ongoing communications between all levels of government in the National Capital area.
While government real estate plans are likely not firm and only speculative at this time, one would hope that the Feds would communicate the possibility of such a move to the municipality before it embarks on developing planned light rail links. It would indeed be unfortunate if an underutilized ($1 billion plus) light rail link was put in place while leaving areas in urgent need of light rail waiting for years to come.
Articles like this serve to highlight the need for effective and ongoing communications between all levels of government in the National Capital area.
Failings of the Kettle Island Report
A letter from Étienne Grandmaître Saint-Pierre’s letter (Kettle Island report downplays our concerns, Citizen Jan 8, 2009) is one more example of consultants ignoring or trivializing legitimate concerns and views of residents. The consultant’s client, in this case the National Capital Commission I believe, also appears to be silent regarding resident’s concerns.
Similar situations occur regularly within the City of Ottawa; a good example being the Alta Vista Transportation Corridor (AVTC) environmental assessment. The AVTC assessment process went on for years and residents from many community groups raised concerns with the City and the consultants at public meetings and through face-to-face meetings with City staff.
None of these concerns was ever addressed seriously by staff or the consultant and even a well documented case presented to the Ontario Minster of the Environment failed to halt or change plans for this unneeded road. Plans for the first stage of this road remain a high priority in the Transportation Master Plan despite ongoing concerns addressed to council during recent TMP hearings.
As Étienne suggests, consultants go through the motion of consulting with the community but they fail to respect the spirit of the process. Further, they are seldom called to account for their actions by the client on behalf of residents (taxpayers).
Similar situations occur regularly within the City of Ottawa; a good example being the Alta Vista Transportation Corridor (AVTC) environmental assessment. The AVTC assessment process went on for years and residents from many community groups raised concerns with the City and the consultants at public meetings and through face-to-face meetings with City staff.
None of these concerns was ever addressed seriously by staff or the consultant and even a well documented case presented to the Ontario Minster of the Environment failed to halt or change plans for this unneeded road. Plans for the first stage of this road remain a high priority in the Transportation Master Plan despite ongoing concerns addressed to council during recent TMP hearings.
As Étienne suggests, consultants go through the motion of consulting with the community but they fail to respect the spirit of the process. Further, they are seldom called to account for their actions by the client on behalf of residents (taxpayers).
Friday, January 9, 2009
A worrisome consequence of the Ottawa transit strike
The transit strike is now into its fifth week and, given the rejection of the city’s latest offer by the driver’s union, will likely continue on for some time. We mostly have strong opinions on the strikers, the city or both and I do not intend to comment further on this, other than to suggest that reason has to return on both sides.
What concern me more are possible long term consequences of the dispute once it is settled? One of my concerns is that proponents of ongoing road development (on city council and elsewhere) will see this as an opportunity to promote and accelerate the city’s road building agenda.
Development of the transit plan must address long term staffing and labour issues as well as infrastructure and route planning. Provisions that will ensure continuity of transit services while labour negotiations are in process are essential. It is unclear to me that this can be accomplished through the current organization. City should remove itself from day-to-day issues and once again consider establishment of an arms length transit authority.
What concern me more are possible long term consequences of the dispute once it is settled? One of my concerns is that proponents of ongoing road development (on city council and elsewhere) will see this as an opportunity to promote and accelerate the city’s road building agenda.
Development of the transit plan must address long term staffing and labour issues as well as infrastructure and route planning. Provisions that will ensure continuity of transit services while labour negotiations are in process are essential. It is unclear to me that this can be accomplished through the current organization. City should remove itself from day-to-day issues and once again consider establishment of an arms length transit authority.
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