Weekly newsletter: November 14, 2023

Hello!

Just like that, it’s mid-November and we’re staring down Christmas decorations in stores.

Last week, I joined Chief Stubbs, Police Services Board Chair Dr. Beck, and Mayor Sutcliffe to break ground on the future Barrhaven police station (aptly named the South Facility...for now).

Following a decade of tremendous growth, the southern suburbs now boast a population rivalling that of Kingston’s, with no signs of slowing down.

I am grateful for the Ottawa Police Service’s recognition of the need for improved police presence, public safety, and police services located in the community through their commitment to the project and their upcoming shift to district-based policing to cater to the needs of the southern suburbs and rural areas.

The South Facility has had an interesting history. Shelved twice — once to wait for the completion of the Vimy Memorial Bridge, the second due to a changing social environment and the pandemic, the project has taken on multiple iterations, initially as a police detachment to what it is now.

Not only will it improve local police presence and the proximity of services, but 200 well-paying in-demand jobs will be shifted Barrhaven East when the facility is operational, which I’m sure is welcome news for local businesses.

Although it’s just one part of a wider solution to improve community safety in Barrhaven, it is a major step in service of that goal.

Substantial construction is expected to begin later this month, lasting just about three years until 2026.

All heavy construction vehicles are to access the site using a site entrance on Prince of Wales, and no heavy construction vehicles will be permitted to use residential streets on the other side of Prince of Wales (eg. Grovemont, Rocky Hill) or Lodge Road to access the site.

Though road closures are not expected as part of the project, there may be periodic lane reductions on Prince of Wales throughout the construction.

OC Transpo bus route review – staff proposed changes

Last week, I shared an overview of the results of OC Transpo’s route review.

The route review is an ongoing exercise at Council’s request to better match transit service to the travel patterns that have changed over the last few years and stabilised only recently.

This includes putting a higher emphasis on local travel, easier trips to destinations outside downtown (like employment nodes, shopping areas, and Carleton University), and introducing service to new communities.

Across Canada, transit systems that have achieved close to or exceeded pre-pandemic ridership are systems that don’t centralise services around a downtown core, responded dynamically to changes in commuter behaviour, and increased service availability.

Most of the staff proposed route changes place a stronger emphasis on community travel while taking advantage of a new Line 2 opening next year. Some communities are losing duplicate express services, but improved connections to Line 2 provides that delicate balance between service, fares, and the transit levy.

Councillor Hill and I are taking a whole-of-Barrhaven approach to these changes. A few gaps have been identified by residents and by our offices so far, and we will be working with OC Transpo to resolve them before the changes take effect in the spring or summer of 2024 after Line 2 opens, including:

• A lack of daytime service west of Woodroffe, north of Longfields (including at Saint Mother Teresa High School)

• Poor connections to Baseline Station/Algonquin College

• No connection between communities in Old Barrhaven and Marketplace, and

Beyond service coverage and where routes will go, details about frequency and span of service are not yet available, but Councillor Hill and I will be making a concerted push for better frequency, especially during peak hours to avoid a repeat of Tunney’s Pasture.

We are currently organising a transit virtual town hall for the end of November to solicit more community feedback to guide further discussions with staff.

Let’s dive into what the current staff proposals include.

Route 73

Residents in communities along Cresthaven and Leikin will finally gain a full-time transit connection to Fallowfield Station with the proposed route 73. The other terminus at Limebank Station provides a connection to O-Train Line 2, which will serve destinations including South Keys, Carleton University, and Bayview Station.

During peak periods, route 73 is proposed to also operate to Tunney’s Pasture in both directions, replacing peak period service on route 278 while retaining existing peak period service into the city from the South Merivale Business Park.

Commuters heading towards downtown will have two options with the proposed route 73.

Upon the future completion and opening of Line 1 at Baseline Station, staff are proposing the route will operate between Baseline and Limebank at all times, with no trips terminating at Fallowfield Station.

Route 74

Route 74 is proposed to remain unchanged with the exception of a eastward extension to Limebank Station to connect with O-Train Line 2, providing passengers in communities along the route with easier connections to South Keys, Carleton University, and Bayview Station.

Downtown commuters will have two options with the proposed extension of route 74.

Upon the future completion and opening of Line 1 at Baseline Station, staff propose route 74 will operate full time between Baseline and Limebank stations, bringing an end to the much-loathed weekend late-evening trips that begin/end at Fallowfield Station.

Route 75

Though the route will remain unchanged through Barrhaven East, commuters who take advantage of the route’s peak extensions to and from Gatineau should note the staff proposal to replace those extensions with a wholly separate proposed route 13.

As crossing into Gatineau has been a source of delays (including when buses head to/from Gatineau out of service), staff believe the proposed change will improve reliability on the route.

Route 80

Route 80 is proposed to remain mostly unchanged with the exception of a slight rerouting between Nepean Woods and Marketplace stations.

Instead of travelling via Chapman Mills and Beatrice, the route is proposed to remain on Strandherd between Longfields and Woodroffe to provide a faster trip as well as bring service closer to some residents along Strandherd.

Route 110

Slated to become a new major east-west route in Barrhaven, route 110 is proposed to be removed from Fallowfield Road and extended via Strandherd, Chapman Mills, and Earl Armstrong to Limebank Station.

The proposed changes will improve connections for residents along Chapman Mills to O-Train Line 2 at Limebank Station, the Citigate shopping/employment area, as well as retaining the connection between Barrhaven and Kanata.

Route 117

Perhaps the most major proposed change along a corridor with existing service is route 117.

This new east-west local route will provide connections between Limebank Station, Riocan Marketplace, and Citigate with residents along Woodroffe, Stoneway, Queensbury, and Berrigan.

West of Marketplace Station in Barrhaven West, the route travels along Tartan Drive before terminating at the Citigate shopping/employment area.

The proposed route replaces the 171 and 271, and connects to South Keys, Carleton University, and downtown (via Bayview Station) via Line 2 at Limebank Station.

School trips for Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School will be planned separately as routes become finalised.

Route 119

Intended as a connection for residents in Riverside South between Limebank Station and the Riocan Marketplace, residents along Strandherd near the Vimy Bridge and along Chapman Mills will benefit from additional service on the route.

Residents along Chapman Mills heading towards Limebank Station should note the proposed route 119 travels along Borbridge and Spratt in Riverside South, adding approximately 10 minutes of travel time in that area compared to route 110.

Routes 170 and 173

Though unchanged through Barrhaven East, longstanding routes 170 and 173 are proposed to be shortened and adjusted through Barrhaven West, including terminating at the Citigate shopping/employment area.

Residents who usually use either route to get to Fallowfield are not expected to experience any change to their routes, though routes 270 and 272 will be cancelled.

Routes 275 and 276

Intended as express routes for new communities in Half Moon Bay and Manotick, these routes will supplement peak period service along the Transitway at Fallowfield, Longfields, and Strandherd stations.

The two routes will retain the current operating structure of express routes—non-stop between Hunt Club and Baseline, then off-only to Tunney’s Pasture in the morning, and non-stop from Tunney’s Pasture to Fallowfield in the afternoon.

Route 277

Other than starting and ending the route at Cresthaven/Strandherd instead of Nepean Woods Station, route 277 is proposed to be unchanged, providing peak period service to residents in communities along the eastern half of Paul Métivier, Beatrice, and Mountshannon.

The route will retain the current operating structure — non-stop Hunt Club to Baseline then off-only to Tunney’s Pasture in the morning, and non-stop Tunney’s Pasture to Fallowfield in the afternoon.

Route 283

Intended as a peak period route to Richmond and Munster Hamlet, residents in communities along Prince of Wales south of Strandherd will benefit from new proposed transit service to Limebank Station in the morning peak and from Limebank Station in the afternoon peak.

Off-peak, alternate service will remain available on Strandherd Drive.

Please note these staff proposals are not finalised. Your feedback is very important to help guide further discussions with staff before the final versions of the proposals are implemented.

We hope to see you at the transit virtual town hall organised by Councillor Hill and me!

Take care.

-Wilson