Weekly newsletter: August 20, 2024
Hi everyone!
It’s quite a busy week, but for a slight change of pace, it’s something different.
The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) is hosting their annual conference in Ottawa this year. The conference is a valuable opportunity to connect with municipal leaders from across Ontario to discuss common issues, initiatives to address them, and share ideas for our future.
My favourite part is the “bear pit,” where the entire cabinet (the provincial government cabinet, not the convention centre’s furniture) is up on a stage to answer questions from municipal councillors from across the province.
Like last year, I am participating in the conference—attending workshops and seminars, networking with service providers, and listening to speeches.
The conference continues until tomorrow afternoon, so emails might be a bit slower this week. I will provide some thoughts about the conference in next week’s newsletter.
Greenbank/Highbury Park
New traffic count to be completed in October to try and justify a turning arrow for southbound traffic.
Last Friday, another collision happened at Greenbank/Highbury Park, which renewed requests from residents for a left-turning arrow to be added to the traffic signals for southbound traffic on Greenbank.
The collision was regrettable and unfortunate, considering I have been requesting either an advance or protected left at that location since I became Councillor.
An advance left still permits vehicles to turn left during the main green cycle, while a protected left restricts all left-turning movements except during the turn cycle.
Coincidentally, in last week’s newsletter, I briefly mentioned those signals while sharing an update about protected left turn signals being added along Strandherd at Beatrice and at Riocan.
To warrant an advance or protected left signal at an intersection, the following criteria must all be met/exceeded (an advance left requires just the first three to be met/exceeded, protected left needs all four):
An average of two or more vehicles turning left per signal cycle.
More than half the vehicles turning left wait through more than one cycle to complete their turn.
There is enough capacity at the intersection for the traffic waiting to turn left.
Number of reported collisions involving left-turning vehicles as a percentage of total collisions at the intersection and compared to the number of left-turn collisions at other intersections across the city.
The warrant process is prescribed by the MTO with no local flexibility. Though there are considerations for sightlines, the hill south of Highbury Park does not create enough of a visual barrier, per guidelines.
While a purely data-driven process has its merits, it also comes with many downfalls, including the assumption that every motorist behaves and reacts the same. It throws out considerations of human behaviour, unreported collisions, and close calls. At Greenbank/Highbury Park, it also assumes every motorist stops at the same position to wait to turn left and that they have the same sightline over the slight hill.
Staff completed a traffic count at Greenbank/Highbury Park last year, but points two and four were not met, so a turning arrow was not justified.
However, as that traffic count was completed the last week before Christmas, and as the school boundary at St. Mother Teresa High School are changing to include west of Greenbank starting this school year, staff have agreed to my request for a new assessment to be completed in October.
Failing that, I will work with Councillor Hill (since the intersection is on our boundary) to find a way around the warrant process.
I know many residents won’t feel assured until I have something to show for it, but the Greenbank/Highbury Park signals are high on my priority list. Updates will be shared as they become available.
Sidewalk inspections
Contractor to complete sidewalk inspections on foot citywide over the next 10 to 12 weeks.
Following the success of last year’s sidewalk inspection pilot in Barrhaven, city staff have formalised the programme and expanded it citywide.
Unlike last year, where a golf cart was used, this year’s inspections will return to being completed on foot, as it was determined there was no time savings or difference in data quality when last year’s data and previous data were compared.
Like last year, the inspections will be completed by a contractor so city crews can focus on repairs.
Last year’s data improved the identification and prioritisation of sidewalks (or sections thereof) requiring repair in a select area, but the citywide view this year’s data will provide will allow staff to better plan for staffing and work requirements in the future. Staff and Council will also decide if we should make the inspection regime permanent after this year.
The contractor began their inspections across the city yesterday, August 19, and will take about 10 to 12 weeks to survey the city’s 2,600 kilometres of sidewalks.
The province requires sidewalks to be inspected a minimum of once per year.
O-Train partial closure
Service on O-Train Line 1 between St-Laurent and Blair stations will be suspended all day Sunday August 25 to accommodate Stage 2 tie-in work for the eastern extension. The existing train control systems will be connected to the new extension.
R1 replacement bus service will operate every 10 minutes between St-Laurent and Blair stations, with a special shuttle for Cyrville Station every 15 minutes.
Train service between Tunney’s Pasture and St-Laurent stations is unaffected.
Integration of U-Passes and student cards
U-Passes at Carleton University, the University of Ottawa, and Algonquin College will be integrated into student cards starting this school year.
Students may need to visit their school's student office to convert their student card. Alternatively, students may receive an entirely new student card. More information is available through each school’s website:
Please note there are no changes to the St. Paul University U-Pass for now.
Woodroffe/Deerfox-Stoneway construction
Lastly, some minor construction started at the intersection of Woodroffe/Deerfox-Stoneway last week and will continue until mid-September. The work will connect the commercial lots on the west side of the intersection with water and sewer infrastructure.
The substantive work will happen off-peak, including during the overnight hours, to minimise impacts to traffic on Woodroffe, Deerfox, and Stoneway. During those hours, periodic land closures may be required.
An exemption for overnight work was granted through by-law.
I am aware the road cut got quite bumpy over the weekend due to the rain, especially going northbound. I have asked city staff supervising the project for more proactive monitoring and repairs, especially after heavy rainfalls.
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Have a great week!
-Wilson