Transportation Committee

WHEREAS the National Capital Commission (NCC), MTO and MTQ announced that Kettle Island is the preferred location for a future Interprovincial Crossing; and WHEREAS it is anticipated that the NCC’s Environmental Assessment for the Interprovincial Crossing will be filed late 2013; and WHEREAS there was significant discussion about the Community interest including the number of lanes on the bridge, tunnelling options, impact on greenspace, impact of City infrastructure, transit connectivity, and identified truck routes; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Chair of the Transportation Committee be directed to invite the National Capital Commission and its consultant back to Transportation Committee during the preliminary design stage and ask that they ensure their presentation provides specific information regarding how the design responds to community interests and concerns, for Committee’s information and consideration within the context of the City of Ottawa’s Official Plan and the Transportation Master Plan discussions.

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Transportation Committee waive the Rules of Procedure to approve the addition of the following item for consideration by the committee at today’s meeting, pursuant to subsection 84(3) of the procedure by-law (being by-law no. 2006-462), to allow Council to send a petition to the Minister of Transportation of Ontario in advance of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario’s AGM and Annual conference in August where this issue can be brought forward for discussion.

WHEREAS the Province of Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act, is a consolidated statute governing traffic regulations that currently provides priority to pedestrians to cross the roadway only at locations controlledby traffic control signals, stop signs, yield signs or where there are adult school crossing guards; and, WHEREAS, on September 19, 2012, the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario released the Pedestrian Death Review - A Review of All Accidental Pedestrian Deaths in Ontario from January 1st 2010 to December 31st 2010, containing a series of recommendations encouraging both pedestrian-oriented policy and operational improvements intended to improve safety conditions for Ontario’s pedestrians; and, WHEREAS the Coroner’s Pedestrian Death Review report recommended that the Ministry of Transportation Ontario amend the Highway Traffic Act to permit municipalities to allow for the erection of non-signalized pedestrian crossings for mid-block crossings in residential areas; and, WHEREAS the use of non-signalized pedestrian crossings in other provinces in Canada has been in place for many years; and, WHEREAS the City of Ottawa would like the ability to erect non-signalized mid-block crossings on collector and local roads, at roundabouts pedestrian crossings and at right-turn channelized pedestrian crossings at locations where it is determined they will improve pedestrian safety; and, WHEREAS City of Ottawa staff have been working with representatives from other Municipalities an