June 25, 2015

Councillor Keith Egli

Chair, Transportation Committee
City of Ottawa
Via e-mail: keith.egli@ottawa.ca
Subject: Term of Council Strategic Priorities Transportation
Dear Keith,
Green Communities Canada has been implementing the Ottawa School Travel Planning
Program on behalf of the City of Ottawa and other stakeholders since 2010. In 2013 our
organization awarded Ottawa its Walk Friendly Community designation (Silver level), and in
2014 we initiated the Ottawa Walking School Bus pilot project in partnership with Ottawa
Public Health and the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority.
We are pleased to provide the following brief comments on the draft Term of Council
Strategic Priorities which will be discussed at Transportation Committee on June 30th.
1. Community Pathways & Connections Program (TM3-9, p. 118 of Appendix A):
We applaud and fully support this new $11.6 million investment in active transportation
infrastructure to improve walking (and cycling) access to transit and other community
facilities. This is certainly in keeping with Ottawas Walk and Bike-Friendly Community
designations.
2. TMP Phase 1 Pedestrian & Cycling Projects (TM2-7 & TM2-8, p. 126):
We are disappointed that implementation of the Ottawa Pedestrian and Cycling plans is being
funded as Strategic Initiatives. Both are part of the Council-approved Transportation Master
Plan and, in our opinion, should be paid for through the regular capital budget, not as part of
discretionary Term of Council funding. Likes roads and transit, active transportation
infrastructure must be seen as part of the Citys core transportation business, not a nice to
have. We urge you and your committee to direct staff to ensure this will not be repeated in
the future.
3. Cycling Safety Improvement Program (TM4-12, p.120)
We fully support this investment to improve cycling safety at 10 locations per year. However
we are disappointed that funding for the equivalent program for pedestrians will address just
one location per year (see Traffic, Pedestrian & Road Safety Enhancements, p. 121) which
does not recognize walkings higher modal share or the backlog of locations requiring safety
improvements. We would suggest that additional funding be re-allocated to this item from a
non-active transportation envelope (ex. Light Rail Transit Stage 2 - $258 million or TMP Phase
1 Road Projects - $7 million).
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4. Winter Improvement for Cyclists (TM4-14, p. 121): We fully support this investment.
However, we are disappointed that no new funding is proposed to improve winter sidewalk
maintenance although this was the most frequent need identified during public consultation
on the current Pedestrian Plan. Again we suggest that additional funding be re-allocated to
this from a non-active transportation envelope (ex. Light Rail Transit Stage 2 - $258 million or
TMP Phase 1 Road Projects - $7 million).
Sincerely,

Wallace Beaton
Active & Safe Routes to School Program Ottawa
Green Communities Canada
wbeaton@greencommunitiescanada.org / 613.314.3551
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Mayor Jim Watson

Councillor Catherine McKenney
Councillor Bob Monette
Councillor Jody Mitic
Councillor Shad Quadri
Councillor Diane Deans
Councillor Mathieu Fleury
Councillor David Chernushenko
Councillor George Darouze
Councillor Scott Moffat
Councillor Michael Quaqish

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