Weekly newsletter: December 9, 2025
Hi everyone!
This week’s photo is from the Christmas “explosion” at the Heart and Crown Barrhaven’s patio.
Last night, I put out my garbage and recycling in shorts. There was a lot of regret.
Beatrice/Queensbury bus shelter
The stupidity behind why the bus shelter won’t be back this winter.
Towards the end of December 2024, I learned of the untimely demise of the shelter at bus stop 3345, Beatrice/Queensbury (southeast corner) from some understandably unhappy transit passengers. What followed was, plainly, stupid.
My first outreach to staff was Christmas Eve 2024, asking for some general information on the shelter’s removal and if there are plans to replace it.
OC Transpo noted the removal was necessary as the shelter’s wooden floor had rotted out and there were accessibility considerations as the shelter sat on a concrete slab on top of the ground, rather than in the ground flush with the sidewalk.
I responded asking which part of the shelter’s floor was made of wood, as old Streetview imagery showed the shelter sitting on a fully concrete slab. Additionally, I asked why the former shelter could not remain until it was replaced, if there was no wood on the floor to rot.
Staff responded by saying it was actually the composite panels between the concrete and the glass that were weak and unsafe, but offered a reassurance that the shelter would be replaced as part of their 2025 life-cycle programme “first thing this spring.”
Five months later, on May 31, 2025, I reached out to OC Transpo asking for an updated timeline. Four weeks after that, staff responded stating they were waiting for more information from their concrete pad vendor and had no definitive timeline, though it is “very likely” to be installed this year.
Two months later, on August 25, 2025, I requested another timeline update, to which staff responded with concrete pad construction mid-September and shelter installation by the end of September.
Around that time, I began taking more detours when driving home to hopefully catch some progress. Unfortunately, the only progress I saw were utility locate flags and spray painted lines added in the middle of September.
Early in October, I reached out to OC Transpo again for an update. Staff shared there were issues with the concrete pad vendor, but that they were resolved, and construction would happen that month. The shelter would be installed one to two weeks after the concrete pad fully cures.
With the previous missed timelines, I was getting restless, considering another winter was approaching. It got worse when no progress was made by the end of October.
Staff noted the concrete pad installation was scheduled for the last week of October, but was delayed by a week by the rain (you may recall it rained a lot around Halloween).
Two weeks later, the concrete pad was finally installed, and I began counting down the two weeks until I should expect to see a new shelter. I continued taking detours or deliberately driving by the location, but each drive by was just another disappointment.
Last week, I reached out to staff again about the progress of the bus stop shelter.
“Unfortunately, we are unable to install a shelter on the [new] concrete pad, as it would obstruct the stop sign even with a potential relocation of the stop bar. Facilities management has advised that they can construct a new concrete pad, offset from the current one, during the Spring/Summer 2026 season.”
I don’t know if I was more annoyed at the absurd situation or the fact the information was not shared proactively, but how absurd is it that staff suddenly realised the shelter would obstruct a stop that’s been there unchanged since 2002?
I asked how that could have happened. Were existing conditions, including sightlines, not part of the design process for the new concrete pad and shelter? I also noted the previous shelter was deliberately set back a few metres for that reason. That was last Friday, so I’m still waiting to hear back.
I don’t like airing laundry publicly like this, and I usually wouldn’t, but how this played out was frustrating, almost angering, and there’s no other way to explain it.
The worst part is the residents who excitedly and eagerly awaited the shelter’s return, but were instead just strung along by me for more than a year. Now, it’s going to be a second winter without a shelter at that stop. Sincerely, I am sorry.
More information about the bus shelter replacement will be shared as it becomes available.
Pre-authorised debit (PAD) administrative fee
Effective January 1, 2026, for property tax and water utility accounts using PAD.
Back in April, City Council approved a new administrative fee of 55 cents per transaction for residents who use PAD payments for their property tax and water utility bills. The fee is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026.
Staff recommended the new fee, as the costs of administering PAD are disproportionately high compared to administering other payment methods. The new fee would recover most of the extra cost to reduce the burden on the general tax base (commonly known as the “benefiter pays” principle).
However, I know there are many residents who use PAD as a preference for more stable cash flow throughout the year, out of necessity as they may be unable to afford larger installment payments (in the case of property taxes only), or as a tool to not miss payment deadlines.
Shifting the cost onto those account holders punishes them for being in a situation they might not have a choice in, even though they want to and do diligently pay their taxes and bills otherwise
In 2025, 114,396 property tax accounts and 96,322 water utility accounts were registered on a PAD plan, representing 32 per cent of all property tax and 36 per cent of all water utility accounts. Though that is a minority, it’s by no means an insignificant number of accounts.
Understanding all that, I will be moving a motion at Wednesday’s City Council meeting directing City staff to identify options for eliminating the service fee upon reaching 50 per cent of property tax or water utility accounts (whichever occurs first) using PAD.
Basically, a service that is adopted by the majority should no longer be considered specialised or subject to the benefiter pays principle.
Seeking your feedback – Waterbridge Drive
Evening out the lane widths between Crestway and Brookstone.
Since before 2009 (the oldest Streetview imagery available), parking has been banned on the south side of Waterbridge Drive from Crestway to Brookstone, except for a 100-metre stretch on the approach to the roundabout at Cresthaven.
Unfortunately, there’s no corporate memory as to why the ban was implemented, so I’d be grateful if any residents know and can share that with me.
Anyway, City staff and I have been discussing shifting that section of street’s centre line to the south by a metre or two to even out the lane width for both directions of travel.
Currently, with the parking prohibition on the south side and the centre line painted in the middle of the street, the eastbound lane (towards Prince of Wales) is disproportionately wide compared to the westbound lane (towards Crestway).
The situation becomes challenging at bell times at Farley Mowat, with vehicles waiting along the north side, narrowing the westbound lane, which is further narrowed by the flex stakes from May to October.
Shifting the centre line south would convert Waterbridge between Crestway and Brookstone into a three-lane cross section with two travel lanes of the same width and a parking lane alongside the northern curb.
The existing south side parking restriction would be extended slightly to cover the 100-metre section of the eastbound lane approaching the roundabout at Cresthaven. While the section east of Brookstone will remain unchanged, we can use the opportunity to also delineate a left turn lane on Waterbridge at Prince of Wales.
Please share your feedback about this idea by replying to this newsletter or emailing Wilson.Lo@ottawa.ca. I’m interested to know what you think! A rough, not-to-scale sketch of the proposal is above.
If there’s support from the public, I will ask City staff to consider the changes outlined above for proper design and future implementation.
Bite-sized updates
Sorted alphabetically!
Beatrice/Queensbury bus shelter – See update above.
Clearbrook/Bissett-Highpointe – Construction to improve safety and accessibility at the school crossing is complete. The turning radius of the curbs has been tightened to slow down turning vehicles and the crossing distance across Clearbrook has been reduced.
Development application – The City has received a rezoning and site plan application↗ for 320 Bren-Maur Road West (near Longfields/Jockvale) to construct a three-storey apartment building with 35 units and underground parking. The lot is currently zoned “development reserve” and the applicant is seeking rezoning to residential.
Grovehurst Drive – A new winter parking restriction has been implemented on the south side of Grovehurst from Crestway to Oldfield, effective each year from December 1 to March 31.
Pedestrian crossover construction – Construction and hydro connection works at the new pedestrian crossovers at Paul Métivier/Beatrice and Stoneway/Forest Gate east are complete. However, they cannot be activated until road markings are added to make the crossovers legal. Crews are waiting for a stretch without snow in the forecast. More information will follow as it becomes available.
Winter parking restrictions – Where there is appropriate signage, seasonal parking restrictions are now in effect until March 31. Vehicles parked illegally may be reported to by-law by calling 3-1-1 or through webform↗. Residents may also let me know about persistent problem areas at Wilson.Lo@ottawa.ca.
Woodroffe/Deerfox-Stoneway - The construction contractor has provided a new completion timeline of December 12, including proper remediation of the road cuts on Stoneway, Deerfox, and across Woodroffe. The remaining works will mostly take place on the west side of the intersection and on Deerfox.
Lastly, this Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm is the 41st annual OC Transpo/Loblaw food drive↗! Bring non-perishable foods, diapers, feminine hygiene products, and more to the OC Transpo buses outside the Loblaws and the Independent to help support the Barrhaven Food Cupboard. The stores may also have prepackaged donation bags with high-demand items available for purchase.
I will be floating around the two locations with Councillor Hill for part of the day, so come by and say hi!
If you’re unable to drop by or if you’re (like me) Saturday grocery shopping avoidant, please consider supporting the Barrhaven Food Cupboard↗ directly with a food or money donation.
The same food drive will take place at other Loblaws and Loblaw subsidiary locations across Ottawa. See OCTranspo.com↗ for more information about the food drive or to find participating locations.
Have a great week ahead!
-Wilson