River Ward City Councillor Maria McRae's Report to Hunt Club Community
Organization 2 June 2008
Downtown Rapid Transit Network
Last Wednesday, May 28, 2008, my council colleagues and I took the final step in developing a
new transit vision for the City of Ottawa by approving a Recommended Rapid Transit Network.
This Recommended Rapid Transit Network includes a Priority Network based on an amended
version of "Option 4", and a Citywide Network that represents a long-term transit vision for
Ottawa.
The Priority Network will form the basis of Ottawa's immediate transit plans. This network
continues to include the construction of a tunnel through the downtown core and conversion of
the existing Bus Rapid Transitway to twin-track electric-powered Light Rail Transit between
Baseline and Blair stations. The O-Train rail bed would be upgraded to accommodate twin-track
electric Light Rail Transit and extended south to Bowesville, with a direct link added to Ottawa
Macdonald-Cartier International Airport. Council further directed that the network include light
rail transit (LRT) service to Scotiabank Place, Place d'Orleans, Trim Road and in the south to the
Barrhaven Town Centre once the following criteria have been achieved: development of transit
corridors inside the Greenbelt; business case supports return on rail; achievement of minimum
density targets; and availability of funding. These extensions will ultimately fulfill Council's
long-term Citywide Network vision.
City staff will develop an implementation plan for the Rapid Transit Network as well as the
recommended secondary network. This implementation plan, spanning the project's planning
window to 2031, will be available for public consultation in fall 2008 followed by City Council
approval.
Integrated Road Safety Program (IRSP)
June Initiative:
This month, the City's Integrated Road Safety Program is focusing its attention on motorists
exceeding set speed limits in construction zones and impaired driving.
Provincial legislation allows for the doubling of fines for motorists caught exceeding posted
speed limits in construction zones when workers are present. The Ottawa Police Service will be
applying this legislation with a zero tolerance approach. In Ottawa, between 2005 and 2007, 482
collisions occurred in construction zones resulting in one death and 99 injuries, six of them
serious. Four construction workers were actually struck by motorists while on the job, leaving
one of them with life-altering injuries.
In addition to the focus on construction zone traffic safety in June, impaired driving will also
receive close attention. In 2007, 338 impaired driving-related collisions occurred on Ottawa
roads. These collisions resulted in seven deaths and 128 injuries, 23 of them serious. 79 percent
of the impaired drivers were male and 24 percent were between the ages of 16 and 25.
Maria McRae's Annual Strawberry Social for River Ward Seniors
All River Ward Seniors are cordially invited to
Maria McRae's
Annual Strawberry Social for River Ward Seniors.
Date: Friday, June 20, 2008
Time: 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Place: Hunt Club/Riverside Community Centre 3 3 20 Paul Anka Drive (corner of Paul
Anka & McCarthy)
Entertainment by Mike Fahey
Refreshments and Snacks
Door Prizes
Seniors Information Booth.
Please call 613-580-2486 to reserve your ticket(s). Space is limited.
Celebrate the Arrival of Summer at the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority
Headquarters!
I am pleased to invite the residents of Hunt Club to join me on the first day of summer for a
special event at the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) headquarters.
Date: Saturday, June 21, 2008
Time: 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Guided tour of the facility at noon.
Place: 3889 Rideau Valley Drive
(corner of Prince of Wales Drive & Rideau Valley Drive)
You and your family can learn about the RVCA, observe information displays and take a tour of
the new LEED certified building. Bring your picnic lunch and enjoy Beryl Gaffney Park with its
multitude of beautiful nature trails. Come out and enjoy a perfect summer afternoon getaway. It
will surely be a unique experience.
West Nile virus
The City of Ottawa's Public Health branch has started to implement its 2008 West Nile virus
control program.
As in previous years, the 2008 control plan consists of:
- Public education on personal protection against mosquitoes and reduction of mosquito
breeding sites on private properties
- Monitoring of mosquitoes, birds of concern and the health of humans.
- Reduction of mosquito breeding sites on City-owned properties
- Mosquito control using a biological larvicide (Bti) on surface waters (ditches, storm water
management ponds, etc.) and a chemical larvicide (Methoprene) in non-surface waters (catch
basins of roadside storm sewers) and in sewage lagoons
- Mosquito control using adulticide (Malathion) would be used only if absolutely necessary.
Evidence of intense transmission in birds, and/or particular mosquito species as well as human
disease would be used to make this decision. The decision to use adulticide rests with the
Medical Officer of Health and would depend on:
- The level of risk to the public health from the mosquito-borne virus
- The risk to human health of exposure to the adulticide
I encourage you to call 613-580-2424, ext. 26138 to report dead crows, ravens and blue jays. For
additional information on the West Nile virus and the City of Ottawa's 2008 West Nile virus
control plan, please contact Ottawa Public Health at 613-580-6744, or visit
ottawa.ca/residents/health.
Spring Cleaning the Capital Results
This year, we had 869 projects, a new campaign record, and 47,394 participants registered,
including 66 graffiti removal projects! Thanks to everyone who contributed to this year's
successful Spring Cleaning campaign!
Fall Cleaning the Capital will take place between Saturday, September 15, 2008 and Monday,
October 15, 2008. Details will be available in August for fall registration.
Changes to the Taxi By-Law
Council approved a 10% increase, including a 10-cent surcharge, in the taxi meter rate effective
June 1, 2008 in order to help offset the rising costs to operate a taxicab and the installation of
cameras. All standard and accessible taxicab driver licensees are now required to provide Police
Record Check information every three years. Council also directed staff to report back on
measures available to encourage the use of more efficient vehicles and to work with the Taxi
Stakeholders Consultation group and the Taxi Industry to identify and implement a
communications and enforcement strategy to eradicate the use of illegal underground taxicab
services
Give Away Weekends
Prepare for another voyage for more hidden treasures as the new dates have been chosen for the
2008 Give Away Weekends. Also, the event has been extended from a one-day event to include
both Saturday and Sunday.
Spring Give Away Weekend will take place at the end of Environment Week - Saturday, June 7
and Sunday, June 8, 2008 while Fall Give Away Weekend will take place at the conclusion of
Waste Reduction Week - Saturday, October 25 and Sunday, October 26.
So don't cast away your unwanted household goods to the garbage. Set them out at the curb on
spring and fall Give Away Weekends with a sign or label indicating that they are free. For you
treasure hunters, chart your course through your neighbourhood, community and city to find
those hidden gems. Remember to reuse, one person's trash is another person's treasure.
Treasures could include:
- Books, CDs and DVDs.
- Old furniture and small appliances.
- Construction materials - including drywall and hardware such as nails, bolts and screws.
- Kitchen gadgets, dishes, cutlery, pots and pans.
- Unwanted gifts.
Rules for Give Away Weekend:
- Place items at the curb.
- Place stickers or signs on items with the word "FREE".
- Ensure any items that you want to keep don't get mixed up with your Give Away items at the
curb.
- At the end of each day, bring any uncollected items back to your home.
- Remember, items not picked up can be donated to charitable organizations or placed on
used-item websites.
Give Away Weekend etiquette:
- Respect other people's property, don't walk on lawns and gardens.
- Take only the items marked free.
- Don't discard previously picked-up treasures on another person's lawn.
We wish you best of luck in finding those treasures. It's another way to help the City RETHINK
GARBAGE and maximize landfill space, protecting our most precious treasure - our
environment.
Seniors Ride Free on OC Transpo on Wednesdays in July and August 2008
OC Transpo will be offering free transit on buses and the O-Train every Wednesday in June, July
and August to seniors who are 65 and older.
The "Seniors Summer Special" is designed to reach seniors who haven't taken transit lately, to
encourage them to try transit for shopping trips, to get to appointments or just visit friends. The
program will emphasize the fact that most vehicles are fully accessible, all feature priority seating
at the front, and the majority of the fleet are air-conditioned for a comfortable ride in the summer
heat.
Senior riders will not be required to show any ID unless requested by the operator or fare
inspector, in which case they must be prepared to show some form of ID indicating their age
-especially those who may be mistaken for someone younger than 65. The offer includes all bus
routes and the O-Train, but does not include Para Transpo service.
Have a Wonderful Summer
I would like to take this time to wish you and your family a happy and restful summer.