Weekly newsletter: January 21, 2025
Hi everyone!
It’s a cold start to the week, but I hope it’s been a good start regardless. Anyone else going to the Sum 41 concert on Friday?
Over the weekend, I attended an award ceremony which recognised Remembrance-themed artwork, poems, and essays created by students from local schools. The talent on display and the care put into that work was impressive and touching.
This year marks 80 years since the end of the Second World War in Europe in May, and in the Pacific in September (except for some Japanese holdouts↗ who weren’t aware or refused to believe the war had ended, including one who didn’t surrender until 29 years later — super interesting stories!).
Trillium Line update
Saturday service begins January 25. That’s not me in the photo.
Following the recommendations of the LRT public inquiry report, the Trillium Line’s phased opening continues with the introduction of Saturday service starting this weekend.
On Saturdays, the first northbound train departs Bowesville at 6:53 am and Limebank at 7:01 am, arriving at Bayview at 7:23 am and 7:35 am, respectively. The last northbound train departs Limebank at 11:59 pm, arriving at Bayview at 12:35 am.
If you’re stuck in the city after a big Friday night, the first southbound train on Saturday morning departs Bayview at 6:55 am, arriving at Limebank at 7:31 am. The last southbound train departs Bayview at 11:43 pm, arriving at Limebank at 12:19 am.
Weekday service has been operational since January 6, with weekends set aside to correct any major deficiencies that may arise during the first weeks of revenue service.
No major issues were reported in the two weeks of weekday service, though a few minor issues have been identified — some ongoing, some new, but none affecting the actual operation of the vehicles and tracks.
The ongoing issue of note is a nagging glitch that affects the next station displays and announcements aboard the trains, so please be mindful of the direction the train pulls in from at the single-platform stations.
Locally, first and last trips on route 74 still don’t align with the first and last train departures at Limebank Station, and the poor pick-up/drop-off signage issue both remain unresolved despite requests from two weeks ago. I will continue to share updates as they become available.
Regular readers will know the wait at the traffic signals to exit the Bowesville Park and Ride has been shortened from 60 to 15 seconds.
Over the next two weeks, OC Transpo staff will continue to evaluate the Trillium Line’s performance. If no major issues arise, Sunday service can be introduced as early as February 9, thus completing the phased launch.
The realigned bus network, featuring more bus route connections to Line 2, will be implemented with the April 2025 schedule changes.
Recreation
Some schedule adjustments at Minto Recreation Complex, Nepean Sportsplex, and the Walter Baker Sports Centre.
At the Walter Baker Sports Centre↗, the dive tank remains closed until January 27 for unscheduled water loss/leakage repairs. The other pools remain open.
Meanwhile, the following changes will happen at the Minto Recreation Complex↗ this week:
Tuesday, January 21 – public swim (6:45 pm to 8:45 pm) cancelled
Wednesday, January 22 – lane swim (9:00 pm to 10:00 pm) cancelled
Friday, January 24 – all pickleball sessions and the 9:00 am to 11:00 am Kindergym have been cancelled
Finally, at the Nepean Sportsplex↗, the 11:00 am to 3:00 pm lane swim will be cancelled on Saturday, January 25 and Sunday, January 26. The public swim from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm on both days are unchanged, but the diving boards will be unavailable. The preschool swim on Saturday, January 25 is unaffected.
As of this newsletter’s writing (Monday late-afternoon), I don’t know the reason behind all the programming cancellations, but my staff will insert them below if City staff respond to my email before the newsletter goes live.
Things not big enough for their own header
March Break camp registration begins tonight at 9:00 pm. Parents and guardians may browse activity offerings before registration begins at register.ottawa.ca↗. Listings can be found in the activities page, then by searching “March Break.”
City crews are making repairs to the watermain under Woodroffe Avenue near Norice Street over the next few weeks. There will be traffic disruptions southbound heading towards Barrhaven, but they will be limited to outside the afternoon peak where possible. The substantive work should be complete mid-February, with some minor completion/remediation works extending into the early spring.
The former bus shelter at Beatrice/Queensbury was due to be replaced later this year, but some of the base and panels were more corroded than expected, so it was removed early a few weeks ago. A new shelter is still scheduled to be installed around the middle or end of May.
The streetlight at Fieldgate/Grouse (north) needs to be replaced as the internal and underground wiring have failed. Unfortunately, there is no nearby usable power supply, so the light will remain out until it is replaced. Staff have prioritised this location, since there are no other streetlights on either street.
The traffic signals at Berrigan/Transitway have been cycling on their own due to a defect in one of the detection loops under the Transitway. The loop’s replacement is in staff’s work queue.
Lastly, a reminder the vacant unit tax (VUT) declaration is now active through your ServiceOttawa↗ online accounts or Ottawa.ca/VUT↗ for those without an account. Declarations may also be completed by calling 613-580-2444 or by visiting the client service centre at Ben Franklin Place or City Hall. Feel free to reach out if you need any help completing your declaration!
That’s all for this week! Stay warm, check in on those more vulnerable around you, and avoid licking metal posts.
-Wilson