Ottawa aims to close cycling 'missing links' in new transportation plan

Ottawa's transportation committee approved the first part of the city's new transportation master planon Monday, laying out a visionto see fewer people relying on cars over the coming decades.

"This is just going to set the path for the next 25 years that we want safer cycling.We want safer walking," transportation committeechairCoun. Tim Tierney said.

"Overall I was very happy with the outcome today."

The planis the blueprint forplanning, developingand operating the city's walking, cycling, transit and car networks until 2046.

Ithad to bedivided into two partsbecause COVID-19 had such a profound effect on travel patterns it delayed city staff's abilityto collect the necessary data,program manager with the city Jennifer Armstrongtold the committee Monday.

As a result, Monday's plan only coverstransportation policies, frameworks to decide how to prioritize future projects and a priority list of active transportation projects.

Ten of thetransportation committee's 12 members voted in favour of the first part of the plan. The two dissenters both represent wards in Ottawa's east end Orlans East-Cumberland Coun. Matthew Luloff and Orlans South-Navan Coun. Catherine Kitts.

Those opposed

The opposing councillors raisedconcerns about a lack of sidewalks and cycling routes in east Ottawaand underlined how fast their communities are growing.

"I often talk about the lack of transit, the lack of cycling, the lack of walkability in OrlansSouth-Navan, and I was really hoping that the [plan]would be an opportunity to correct some of that," Kitts said."Unfortunately, I wasn't seeing it reflected in the document."

Luloffsaid suburban Ottawans will chose to take their car if no other alternative is available to them.

Kitts said she'soptimistic she will be able to support the plan once it reaches council later this month.

She said she would likeassurances fromstaff thatthe major infrastructureprojects she wants to come to fruition in Orlans, such asbus rapid transit, will be includedin the second part of the plandue in 2025.

Changes since 2013

According to Tierney, who served as a councillor when the last transportation master plan was approved in 2013, the biggest departure in the new version is a greater emphasis on active transportation and safer streets.

The document is also designed, he said, to be re-examined every five years to ensure it takes into account future new technologies and city needs.

Much has changed since the 2013 plan, includinge-scooters, ride-hailing apps andthe introduction of the new official planlast year.

The official plansets thegoal of ensuring themajority of trips made in Ottawa will be doneusing low-carbon modes of transportation, such aswalking, transit, carpooling or cycling.

The city plans to increase cycling routes by 50 per cent by 2046, which will add dozens of routes across the city.

The focus will be on addressing "critical missing links," the plansaid, which means adding or upgrading roads, sidewalks and paths to ensure cyclists aren't left stranded trying to connect betweenroutes.

Some of the missing links set to be bridged include a stretchsouth of Fitzgerald Road,Crestway Driveand sections ofCampeau Drive and Kanata Avenue.

Staff want to createan expanded cross-town bikeway network and apavedshoulder network to connect smallcommunitieslike North Gower, Richmond, Kars and Manotick.

City council is set to vote on the first part of the new transportation master plan at its meeting scheduled April 26.