Project:

Highway 417, from west of Highway 416 easterly to west of Anderson Road

Agreement #4005-A-000090

G.W.P. 663-93-00

TSH No.

42-91026

Meeting Date:

Thursday May 15, 2003

Meeting Time:

7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

PUBLIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE (PAC)

Report Date:

Thursday May 22, 2003

MEETING REPORT No. 2

Recorder:

Brenda Jamieson

Page:

1 of 4

Note: If any of the contents of this meeting report differ in any respect from your own recollection of the points discussed or decisions reached, please notify us immediately. In the meantime, we will proceed in accordance with the understanding described herein.

LOCATION:

Former Council Chamber, Ben Franklin Place, 101 Centrepointe Drive, Nepean

PRESENT:

Jay Baltz

Brian Carroll

David Gladstone

Anthony Hadwen

Ida Henderson

Pierre Johnson

Trevor Lyons

Peter McNichol

David Morrow

David Pimm

Leo Paoletti

Shirley Rayes

Peter Rinfret

David Lindensmith

Dave McAvoy

Brian Ruck

Brenda Jamieson

Hintonburg Community Association

Dow’s Lake Residents Association

City Centre Coalition

Alta Vista Community Association

Dalhousie Community Association

Ottawa East Community Association

Rosebery Avenue Residents Committee

Katimavik-Hazeldean Community Association

Glabar Park Community Alliance

McNabb Neighbourhood Improvement Bunch

Qualicum-Graham Park Community Association

Civic Hospital Neighbourhood Association

Action Sandy Hill

Ministry of Transportation

Ministry of Transportation

Totten Sims Hubicki

Totten Sims Hubicki

REGRETS:

Jacquie Blyth

Wendy Cambert

George Claydon

Jacques Critchley

Susan Fisher

Don Jarvis

David Jeanes

Douglas MacDonald

Angela Prokopiak

John Purkis

Mark Seymour

Donna Silver

Vicky Smallman

Steve Thibert

Citizens for Healthy Communities

AVHA, CHC

Centretown Citizens Community Association

Island Park Community Association

Transport 2000

Ottawa Cycling Advisory Committee

Cycling Advisory Committee

OTA – Kriska Transportation

Mobility Issues Advisory Committee

OTA – Tibbs Transport Inc.

1.0

B. Ruck introduced the Project Team members in attendance and reviewed the current PAC membership to-date. It was noted that the list includes “Civic Hospital Neighbourhood Association” and “Civic Hospital Association”. TSH will follow-up with the representatives for each association to determine if they are mutually exclusive associations.

TSH

2.0

B. Ruck provided an overview of the project and an update regarding the status of the project. A copy of the presentation material is attached. The following topics were addressed:

·         Role of PAC

·         Background Information regarding the study

·         Results of the January Public Involvement Centres

·         Change in Transportation Demand Modelling

·         Update on the Alternatives

·         Project Schedule

3.0

The following comments and concerns were noted:

·         A number of attendees expressed their opposition to widening of the Queensway. Travel demands should be addressed by transit solutions not road widening projects. The City’s new Transportation Master Plan (TMP) identifies transit as the first priority to address increased travel demands. The Queensway Study should recognize the City of Ottawa’s TMP and that the improvements should be accomplished in the context of the TMP.

For the next PAC meeting, it was requested that the Project Team identify how the alternatives under consideration for the Queensway help the City achieve the City’s transit targets.

It was noted that the transportation modelling work undertaken for the Queensway study, in conjunction with the City, recognizes the City’s transit initiatives and the increased transit targets.

TSH

·         Several attendees expressed concern that the City’s transit data understates existing transit ridership and hence, future transit targets are not set high enough. Bus pass penetration needs to be accounted for.

·         Concern was expressed that the City does not attend the PAC meetings. It was noted that the City participates on the Municipal Technical Advisory Committee for the project.

·         A number of attendees expressed their opposition to any modifications to Chamberlain Avenue and Catherine Street. The community is reviewing options to reduce traffic speeds on these streets. Raised intersections are being considered. Children and cyclists are required to cross these streets on a daily basis.

It was noted that the alternatives under consideration for Chamberlain Avenue and Catherine Street are very different then the collector lanes which were considered a number of years ago for this corridor. Both roads will essentially operate as they do today, with at-grade access maintained to the adjacent properties. The alternatives would not preclude the introduction of traffic calming measures on these roads.

·         Where alternatives under consideration require modifications to municipal roadways/facilities, the alternative plans will identify the required modifications. The traffic analysis will also consider impacts to adjacent/connecting roadways.

TSH

·         TSH will clarify how induced traffic is considered in the future transportation projections.

TSH

·         The transportation analysis has been undertaken for existing conditions and will be assessed for future conditions, based on the various alternatives under consideration.

TSH

·         Several attendees expressed concern that the Queensway study is focused only on the Queensway. A City-wide study is required, which considers municipal and provincial facilities, to ensure that the best transportation solutions are developed on a City-wide basis rather than on an individual corridor basis.

·         A concern was expressed that there was no opportunity for input on the evaluation criteria and the weighting of the criteria. It was noted that the Draft Study Design Report, which includes the evaluation criteria, has been available for public review for almost a year. In addition, the evaluation criteria were presented at the first round of public consultation. The public was encouraged to provide comments. The evaluation criteria cover a broad range of transportation and environmental factors. Community impacts will be considered in the assessment and evaluation of alternatives.

The weighting of the criteria has not yet been undertaken. There will be an opportunity for the public/PAC to comment on the criteria weighting.

·         On-going co-ordination will be required between the Alta Vista Study and the Queensway Study to address the connection requirements at Nicholas Street. Several of the Alta Vista study alternatives reviewed to-date (at a conceptual stage) may not be feasible due to geometric and capacity constraints at the Nicholas Street Interchange.

·         The assessment and evaluation of alternatives will document how the alternatives under consideration address existing safety concerns.

TSH

·         A concern was expressed that the roundabout alternative under consideration for the Island Park Interchange would not be good for cyclists. This concern will be discussed with the cycling advisory committee.

TSH

·         Diversion of cars to the Western Parkway should be minimized since it is a cycling route.

·         Cycling requirements should be considered during the alternative development and assessment stage. Considerations should include the removal of channelizations at crossing roads and ensuring that connections are provided for cyclists from one side of the Queensway corridor to the other, in particular at the potential Hunt Club Road Interchange.

TSH

·         It is understood that there is a need to undertake maintenance/ reconstruction work to address aging infrastructure.

·         A reduction in the speed limit on the Queensway is still under review.

TSH/MTO

·         A number of attendees requested that provincial funding be provided for the expansion of the transit infrastructure. Tax dollars should be invested in transit not roads.

·         It was noted that the Queensway study is assessing the required improvements for the Queensway corridor. Implementation of the improvements is subject to provincial priorities and funding.

4.0

The next round of public consultation will be scheduled for the fall of 2003. The consultation program will include a PAC meeting as well as a series of Public Involvement Centres.