Weekly newsletter - April 15, 2025
Hi, everyone!
I really hope it’s finally safe to change over to summer tires…
Don’t forget advance voting for the federal election is open from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, April 18 to 21! Please check your voter information card for location information.
If you did not receive (or lost) your voter information card, please check Elections Canada’s website↗ for voting information.
Seeking your feedback for Fallowfield/Greenbank
For discussion only—nothing is being done right now.
Many motorists and transit passengers may be familiar with the long queues for the left turn signal from westbound Fallowfield to southbound Greenbank.
At its busiest times, the queue spills into the travel lane, while some vehicles are forced to wait an extra cycle to make the turn. It also contributes to some of the cut-through traffic using Foxfield, Holitman, and Wolfgang.
The westbound-to-southbound protected left cycle is already among the longest in the city, so it cannot be extended any longer, while any work to construct a second left turn lane would be expensive.
Left turn capacity at Fallowfield/Greenbank has been on my mind for a few weeks, and I think I may have a relatively inexpensive and quick solution to the issue, shown in the image above.
My idea involves changing the centre lane (currently the westbound left lane) into a second left turn lane. That doubles the overall left turn capacity, assuming the signal cycle maximums remain unchanged.
That means the westbound left lane changes into a left turn lane 150 metres or so before the intersection, like the arrangement on westbound Carling/Maitland and eastbound Baseline/Woodroffe. Appropriate signage would be installed.
That also means westbound traffic continuing past Greenbank would be reduced to one lane, which is the same capacity as after the intersection. It does take away the passing opportunity through the intersection for motorists going straight.
Expenses involved with implementation would be line painting, sign installation, and the relocation of one or two traffic signal heads.
As with any change, I imagine there will be confusion at first, but I’m hoping it could be a good measure until a proper intersection upgrade can be funded in the future.
As shared earlier, nothing is being implemented right now, as I’m still discussing this informally with traffic services staff.
However, I am only one motorist (irregularly at this intersection, at that), so your feedback would be valuable! Please do so by replying to the newsletter or by emailing Wilson.Lo@ottawa.ca.
City services – Easter weekend
Long weekend for some, longer weekend for others.
Good Friday is April 18 and Easter Monday is April 21, which means City services will be closed or operate on adjusted schedules.
Starting with waste collection, black bin and green bin collection in Barrhaven East will be delayed by one day to Wednesday, April 23.
The 3-1-1 contact centre will be open, but client service centres (eg. Ben Franklin, City Hall) will be closed on Friday and Monday.
OC Transpo will operate a Sunday schedule on Friday and a regular weekday schedule on Monday (reduced frequency on Line 1). The day pass can be used as a family pass on Good Friday.
Recurring bookings with Para Transpo will be cancelled on Friday and Monday, so passengers should make separate bookings for trips on those days.
Recreation centres will have adjusted hours:
Walter Baker Sports Centre↗ (note: rinks closed for annual maintenance until May 25)
All library branches, Ottawa Public Health clinics, social services offices, and municipal childcare centres will also be closed.
Please see Ottawa.ca↗ for more information.
Spring tree planting
Ottawa’s spring 2025 tree planting programme begins April 29. Through the programme, 54 new trees will be planted across Barrhaven East this spring, 32 for streetscape and 22 trees-in-trust.
Residents who have signed up for a tree in the right-of-way through trees-in-trust will receive a notification and utility locates before planting occurs. Please do not remove utility location flags until the tree has been planted.
A tree may be dropped off at its planting location up to three days before it is planted. Tree deliveries and plantings may happen as early as April 29 and as late as the end of June.
Trees-in-trust are planted by the City free of charge in the right-of-way in front of, beside, or behind residential addresses, like a front or side yard. The resident pledges to maintain the tree for the first three years of its life.
Interested residents may learn more about the trees-in-trust programme at Ottawa.ca↗.
In addition to season planting, regular maintenance, inspection, and inventory will continue to be done by urban forestry crews.
Enjoy the week ahead! Wishing you a restful long weekend.
-Wilson