By Carling Avenue On-Ramp Opening
The Highway 417 Westbound Carling Avenue on-ramp reopened on March 13, 2012 following a week-long closure. This closure was necessary to facilitate the final connections of a new large diameter water main serving over 400,000 residents.
The work was completed as part of a joint project with the Ministry of Transportation in support of Highway 417 rapid bridge replacement projects at Carling Avenue and Kirkwood Avenue.
Merivale Road Closure
Merivale Road between Island Park Drive and approximately 100 metres south of the Highway 417 overpass is currently closed to allow for the construction of the Cave Creek Collector and the reconstruction of Merivale Road under the overpass structure. There will be two lanes of traffic open in each direction on Merivale Road for the duration of construction. The Island Park Drive right turn lane to Merivale Road is closed.
Traffic disruptions are kept to a minimum and access to all shopping malls and businesses in the area continues to be maintained. Through lanes and turning lanes at the Carling Avenue and Merivale Road intersection are also maintained.
Shillington Avenue Site Plan Open House
On March 6, 2012, my office hosted an open house for interested residents to learn more about the applications for proposed developments at 1245 and 1251 Shillington Avenue. City of Ottawa Planning staff were in attendance to make a presentation, and then answered questions regarding the plans. Thank you to all those who came out to learn more about these applications.
Spring Cleaning the Capital Campaign
Registration for the City of Ottawa’s Spring Cleaning the Capital campaign began on March 15, 2012. Interested participants can now register online at ottawa.ca/clean or by calling 3-1-1, and will receive a litter pickup or graffiti removal starter kit upon sign-up. By registering your cleanup project before April 15 or filling out the online cleanup report, you have the chance to win a great prize!
The campaign runs from April 15 to May 15.
Spring and Summer Recreation Programs
A schedule has now been released for the thousands of classes the City of Ottawa has to offer in the 2012 Spring-Summer Recreation eGuide. From boot camps to sports, drawing to pottery, and aquafitness to yoga, the City has spring classes that will keep you active, creative and healthy. Water fun, sports, neighbourhood, arts and specialty day camps offer kid-sized adventures during the summer months.
Registration for spring classes and summer camps has already begun. Please browse the Recreation eGuide at ottawa.ca/recreationguide.
April 2012 OC Transpo Service Changes
Regularly scheduled adjustments to OC Transpo schedules will begin on April 22 and April 23, 2012. These service improvements are the result of feedback from customers, Councillors and staff, combined with a detailed operational assessment. They are financed from the $5.5 million in new OC Transpo funding that was included in Budget 2012.
To improve reliability on many routes, the scheduled running time for every trip has been calibrated based on measurements taken since the route network was changed in September 2011. This work has been completed for route 14 in the Central Park community.
2012 Paint It Up! Mural Program
The Paint It Up! program is a partnership between the City of Ottawa and Crime Prevention Ottawa which provides $50,000 annually to fund projects that promote graffiti prevention and neighbourhood beautification through engaging community groups and at-risk youth in the development of murals in areas experiencing a high incidence of graffiti vandalism.
Applications now are available at www.crimepreventionottawa.ca or by calling 613-580-2424, extension 22454. The deadline for submission is April 4, 2012 at 4 p.m.
Ottawa Police Service Youth Advisory Committee
The Ottawa Police Service is launching a Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) and is now accepting applications. Young people under 24 years of age can apply online
at ottawapolice.ca/yac until March 23, 2012.
The YAC will bring a youth voice to policing and give youth a chance to share ideas and work with police on decisions and projects that matter to Ottawa youth. YAC members will also meet new friends, build skills and resumes, and be provided with food, bus tickets and other perks.
City of Ottawa Water Rate
The City of Ottawa’s Environment Committee approved the 2012 Water and Wastewater Rate Budget and the Long Range Financial Plan for Water and Sewer Rate Supported Programs on February 21, 2012. The budget was subsequently passed by City Council on February 22, 2012, and sees the combined rate increasing by 6% this year. This increase will assist in the funding of Ottawa on the Move, the Ottawa River Action Plan and several Integrated Road-Water-Sewer projects, and to ensure that Ottawa’s drinking water remains of exceptional quality.
Expanded Strategy for a Smoke-Free Ottawa
On February 22, 2012, City Council expanded the City’s smoke-free regulations, which are part of a long-term strategy designed to protect children and non-smokers from second-hand smoke, while reducing smoking rates. The City of Ottawa’s smoke-free regulations are being broadened to include municipal properties, including parks and beaches, and all bar and restaurant patios. An awareness and warning phase will begin April 2, 2012, and enforcement will begin July 2, 2012.
These changes follow a comprehensive three-month public consultation that involved residents and businesses. A public awareness campaign will be launched in the coming weeks to ensure residents, businesses and community partners have a clear understanding of the new regulations.
Lansdowne Plan Approved
City Council approved detailed reports for the Lansdowne Park redevelopment on February 22, 2012. The approval covered everything from the programming at the large new urban park to the updated financial information and awarding of air rights for the residential-commercial portion of the project.
The final approval for Lansdowne will be sought this spring, following which construction will begin in June 2012. The Lansdowne redevelopment is a partnership between the City of Ottawa and the Ottawa Sport and Entertainment Group. To view images of the new Lansdowne, please visit ottawa.ca/lansdownepartnership.
City of Ottawa Organizational Change
In October 2008, the City implemented an organization restructuring to advance the change agendas of Service Excellence and Community Sustainability. These initiatives have now been incorporated into the day-to-day practices of City operations. A recently-implemented reorganization changes the alignment of the City’s organizational and leadership structure to provide a consistent approach to City operations and maximize the benefits to residents while enabling the delivery of the Term of Council planning and infrastructure priorities.
Details on the reorganization can be found in the newsroom section on ottawa.ca.
Safer Roads Ottawa Program
January Results
The City of Ottawa’s Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) now operates under the umbrella of the new Safer Roads Ottawa Program. In January 2012, 72 charges were laid for following too closely and 229 drivers were fined for stop sign violations.
February Results
February’s STEP program saw 1,688 drivers charged for speeding and 370 fines laid for running a red light.