Weekly newsletter: September 3, 2024
Hello and welcome to September!
Friendly reminder waste collection will happen tomorrow (Wednesday) as Monday was Labour Day.
Some parents will cry, some will rejoice, but summer vacation is over for students at the English school boards.
Whether you’re a motorist, cyclist, or pedestrian, please use and cross streets safely and responsibly, as school areas may be busier and less organised than normal as parents, students, and staff settle into the new routine.
School zone speed limits
Particularly in areas where the speed limit isn’t usually 40 km/h, school zone speed limits are once again in force weekdays 7:00 am to 6:00 pm until the end of June, including holidays that fall on weekdays.
Enforcement in the following school zones is by automated speed enforcement cameras:
Adrienne Clarkson Elementary (Stoneway/Forest Gate east)
Berrigan Elementary (Berrigan/Croxley)
Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary (Longfields/Highbury Park)
Pierre-Savard (Longfields/Clearbrook)
St. Andrew (Crestway/Cresthaven)
St. Emily (Chapman Mills/Beatrice)
All automated speed enforcement cameras must have posted signage nearby showing what is being enforced and when. They are active 24/7 and enforced according to posted signage.
Some residents have shared their thoughts about the school zone speed limits and enforcement applying to hours where school is complete and on holidays.
Ottawa used to use signage that had “school days” and two or three smaller blocks of time, but those are no longer legal, and therefore unenforceable, per the MTO’s rules.
Waste collection vehicles update
More newer vehicles coming our way to address the leaks (not leeks—though I wish this were just a case of mysterious leeks) on our streets.
After a summer of continued resident feedback, the City’s residential waste collection contractor, Miller Waste, will be deploying an added 30 newer vehicles to Ottawa throughout the month.
The newer vehicles were acquired (some bought, some rented) at the contractor’s expense and will allow them to outright retire some of their oldest vehicles in the worst condition, while others can spend more time in maintenance without affecting service.
Miller has also hired an in-house welder to help speed up repairs and other maintenance.
The 30 vehicles will complement the four newer vehicles added to the fleet in response to summer 2023’s leakage issues. Some residents may have seen these white waste collection vehicles roaming their streets!
As a bit of background, the life of waste collection vehicles is tied to the life of the contract. The current contract with Miller began in 2012 and was due to end in 2022 but was extended by three years to next year.
Unfortunately, that means the current fleet of vehicles were supposed to have retired three years ago. The vehicles themselves are driveable and safe, but the more operational parts are fatigued.
The contract seems to have been extended with no provisions for additional maintenance requirements for situations like this, despite assurances to the previous Council there would be no issues with the fleet.
Either way, looking ahead, I have asked staff to include those considerations if they decide to extend any future waste collection contract.
The current waste collection contract ends in June 2025, at which point brand new vehicles will enter service with the new contract beginning in July 2025.
Barrhaven Harvest Fest
Come by and say hi!
The second annual Barrhaven Harvest Fest will be at the Nepean Woods Park and Ride, Sunday September 8 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm!
Presented by the Ottawa Farmers’ Market, the Barrhaven BIA, and local crafters, the market features the regular selection of local produce, but also other community organisations and local makers of jewellery, mugs, artwork, and more. Currently, there are a total of 60 vendors registered.
There is also an on-site fundraiser in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ottawa, who runs a mentorship programme for youth in the community.
The Barrhaven BIA will also be on site selling their Barrhaven swag (t-shirts, big cups, water bottles, and more) with all proceeds donated to Big Brother Big Sisters Ottawa.
See you there!
-Wilson