"I thought it was fairly inappropriate for city staff to have had two years of deliberations, ostensibly with community groups, and to come back with a report this past winter that says we're going to kill the program," said College ward Coun. Laine Johnson.
Full story: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/community-association-insurance-cost-ottawa-change-plan-1.7105303
Dear Neighbours,
When I was campaigning to be your City Councillor for College Ward, I said I’d address the issues that you said were important to you. Here’s a list of those promises and an update on what we have accomplished so far.
I believe in accountability and transparency. I hope this Progress Report lets you know what we’ve done, what’s underway, and what we still need to tackle.
Warm regards,
Laine
College ward Coun. Laine Johnson said police have to do more to build bridges with communities that are worried about gun violence but don't trust police.
"These racialized communities want to help," she said. "But they don't feel that they have the protection when they call a hotline. They don't feel they have the follow-through.... They don't feel safe."
Budget 2024 investments in College Ward infrastructure
We need your input!
Proposed Permanent Traffic Calming Measures on Moodie Drive between Old Richmond Road and West Hunt Club Road
The City has put together a proposed design which includes four speedhumps to address speeding concerns raised by residents on this section of Moodie Drive. To proceed, we would like to ensure that the project is supported by the majority of neighbouring residents. Please take a moment to complete the online survey prior to December 15th, don’t delay!
Background
Since 2019, Moodie Drive between Old Richmond Road and West Hunt Club Road has been on the City’s Neighbourhood Traffic Calming (NTC) list. This program addresses requests for permanent, engineered, traffic calming on local and collector streets. Under this program, permanent traffic calming measures on Moodie Drive are unlikely to be implemented for several years due to the council approved prioritization/process.
We understand that waiting years for a permanent traffic calming is not an acceptable solution for most residents. We deserve action. This is why I’ve been working collaboratively with staff across City departments to develop an accelerated traffic calming plan which could possibly be implemented as early as fall 2024.
Current situation
Currently, Moodie Drive has a posted speed limit of 70km/h in the southern section, decreasing to 40km/h approaching D.A. Moodie Intermediate School located near Songbird Private. Other features of the street include the Jami Omar Mosque and residential properties (single family homes and a small condo development) that are located between Songbird Private and Old Richmond Road
Data collected by city staff shows that there is a speeding concern on this section of Moodie Drive. In fact, the operating speed (speed at which 85% of drivers are travelling at or below) on Moodie Drive between Arnold Drive and Songbird Private, is nearly 20km/h over the posted speed limit! These speeds are dangerous as there are no sidewalks or pedestrian crossings, and the school site continues to be used as needed by the Ottawa Carleton District School Board.
Proposed Plan
Staff have advised that the posted speed limit on Moodie Drive, near West Hunt Club Road will be lowered from 70km/h to 60km/h. This change will be made regardless of resident support for the following traffic calming plan; this work is scheduled to be completed prior to the end of November.
Staff are seeking input on the installation of 4 speed humps on Moodie Drive between the school site and Anwatin Street. Additional measures between the school and West Hunt Club Road would include the relocation of a speed display board (further south towards West Hunt Club) and dashed pavement markings which are intended to provide a visual queue for drivers to decelerate prior to entering the 40km/h zone and approaching the first speed hump when travelling northbound.
Data collected by City staff shows that speed humps lower the typical operating speed by 10km/h.
Visit https://s-ca.chkmkt.com/?e=362411&d=l&h=F14604ABEFDCF5D to see the proposed plan and complete the online survey.
Next Steps
Your feedback is important to us. An online survey is available for residents who live near the proposed study area and will be open for residents to complete until December 15, 2023. The survey results will help project stakeholders determine the level of interest within the community for the proposed plan.
We are seeking your feedback on the proposed plan. If there is not enough community support for this project, this street will remain on the Neighbourhood Traffic Calming program prioritization list awaiting a detailed study of alternatives (it may take several years for this project to be prioritized against other locations).
Visit: https://s-ca.chkmkt.com/?e=362411&d=l&h=F14604ABEFDCF5D to complete the survey today. You can also call my office to share your feedback directly at 613-580-2478.
I look forward to working together with you and your neighbours on this project.
Best,
Laine
OC Transpo has completed its most recent Bus Route Review and their recommendations were approved at this week’s Transit Commission. OC Transpo completes a bus service review every few years to update the transit plan. Given the fluctuations in ridership and the significant changes to work patterns, it’s important to reinvest transit’s limited funds to routes that will serve current travel patterns. The largest change overall was the elimination of most of the 200 series, which was a specific series to support commuters to downtown. I think this is a necessary decision, given the pressures facing OC Transpo. But what we will see closer to home is some adjustments to the distance people are expected to walk. People may be walking a little further to access a more frequent route. We are also seeing a continuance of routes converging on the OTrain line, and as Line 2 comes on in 2024, we will see further adjustments so that bus routes lead to both trains. The train spines ask people to make more transfers for what is supposed to be a quicker trip, but we know in practice this doesn’t always come to pass.
The ceremony saw the attendance of numerous guests, including the president of the 593 Royal Canadian Legion branch, Shawn Taillon, and College ward city councillor Laine Johnson.
Johnson placed a wreath at the base of the cenotaph.
“I think it means something a little closer to home this year because my 96-year-old grandfather is in the hospital right now in Weyland, Ont.,” said Johnson. “So I’m thinking a lot about him and the lifetime he’s seen and just thinking about what he’s witnessed growing up, raising a family and the wars he’s seen.”
College ward Coun. Laine Johnson, who has previously spoken out about the unfairness of the existing program, said like Amys, she's interested in seeing how city policies can be adjusted to ease the burden.
"I don't want the City of Ottawa's risk-averse processes to choke out any good energy coming from communities," Johnson said.
She said a vibrant network of community associations representing Ottawa's neighbourhoods is vital for local democracy.
"Community organizing, in any form, is where true democracy happens," she said. "That's where neighbours are meeting neighbours and sharing their voice. Without those community groups, my job becomes a lot harder."
College ward Coun. Laine Johnson asked several rounds of questions about the viability of the plan and risks for the city.
"We are stewards and we have a fiduciary responsibility to look at the risk to the City of Ottawa. That is why we are here today," she said.
Over the past week, I invited #CollegeWard residents to let me know their thoughts about Lansdowne 2.0 via an online survey. Over 450 people responded. Here’s what I asked, and what they told me.
About 15% of residents fully support the current proposal, while 37% are completely opposed. 44% “support some aspects of the proposal but not all”.
What do these people want to see change? Primarily, less debt from the City and greater contribution to affordable housing. (We’ll dig into “other changes” over the next few days and report back).
These results strengthen my own resolve that any final deal includes affordable housing and limited financial risk for taxpayers. This plan must work for everyone.
I spoke with CTV Ottawa about the challenge for residents when Hydro services are lost.
https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/hydro-ottawa-warns-more-multi-day-outages-possible-due-to-severe-weather-1.6617269
At the October 4 Planning and Housing Committee meeting, we passed interim Zoning Amendments, until Council adoption of the new Zoning By-law, for the City of Ottawa to be compliant with Bill 23, the Provincial legislation that permits 3 units to be built on every site that has city services. This means that R1 zoning, which restricts building to one home on one lot, is effectively over for many College Ward neighbourhoods. Single units can now be three units, and semi-detached can effectively have 3 units each, for a total of 6 units on one lot. This is a big change, and one I know will be felt by many neighbours in Ottawa. I was sure to share information about the provincial bill during my campaign, and in my first communications in office, but if you missed it, you can find it here: How will Bill 23 affect residents?