Transportation Committee

Minutes

Meeting #:

14

Date:

Thursday, September 26, 2024

Time:

9:30 A.m. - 1:00 P.m.

Location:

Champlain Room, 110 Laurier Avenue West, and by electronic participation

Present:

• Chair: Councillor Tim Tierney, 
• Vice-Chair: Councillor Catherine Kitts, 
• Councillor Jessica Bradley, 
• Councillor George Darouze, 
• Councillor Steve Desroches, 
• Councillor Sean Devine, 
• Councillor Laura Dudas, 
• Councillor Glen Gower, 
• Councillor Laine Johnson, 
• Councillor Matt Luloff, 
• and Councillor Ariel Troster 

Absent:

• Councillor Wilson Lo 

Transportation Committee

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1.

Notices and meeting information for meeting participants and the public

Notices and meeting information are attached to the agenda and minutes, including: availability of simultaneous interpretation and accessibility accommodations; in camera meeting procedures; information items not subject to discussion; personal information disclaimer for correspondents and public speakers; notices regarding minutes; and hybrid participation details.

Accessible formats and communication supports are available, upon request.

Except where otherwise indicated, reports requiring Council consideration will be presented to Council on October 2, 2024 in Transportation Committee Report 14.

The deadline to register by phone to speak, or submit written comments or visual presentations is 4 pm on September 25, 2024, and the deadline to register to speak by email is 8:30 am on September 26, 2024.

These “Summary Minutes” indicate the disposition of items and actions taken at the meeting. This document does not include all of the text that will be included in the full Minutes, such as the record of written and oral submissions. Recorded votes and dissents contained in the Summary Minutes are draft until the full Minutes of the meeting are confirmed by the Committee. The draft of the full Minutes (for confirmation) will be published with the agenda for the next regular Committee meeting and, once confirmed, will replace this document.

2.

Declarations of Interest

No Declarations of Interest were filed.

3.

Confirmation of Minutes

3.1

TRC Minutes 13 – Thursday, 27 June 2024

• Carried

4.

Presentations

4.1

Public Services and Procurement Canada Presentation – South Block Project

Mr. Rocque Gameiro, Director, Director General, and Mr. Justin Tsang, Project Director, of Public Services and Procurement Canada (Government of Canada) presented a slide deck and answered questions from members of the Committee.

The following City Staff also answered questions:

• Mr. Court Curry, Manager, Right of Way, Heritage & Urban Design Services, Planning, Development & Building Department
• Ms. Vivi Chi, General Manager, Planning, Development Building Services, Planning, Development & Building Department
• Mr. Philippe Landry, Director, Traffic Services, Public Works Department

A copy of the slide presentation is filed with the Office of the City Clerk.

There were no public written submissions received.

Mr. Kevin McHale, Executive Director, Sparks Street BIA & Mall Authority, spoke and answered questions from the Committee.

Following discussion, the Committee considered the following motions:

Councillor J. Bradly dissented on Motion no. 2024-14-01.

Councillor S. Desroches dissented on the recommendations 1A and 1B of Motion no. 2024-14-02.

• Motion No. TRC 2024-14-01
  Moved by C. Kitts

  WHEREAS the federal government, through Public Services and Procurement Canada, is redeveloping the block bounded by Metcalfe Street, Wellington Street, O’Connor Street and Sparks Street, known as the future “South Block”; and

  WHEREAS PSPC has indicated that they may require the reduction of Wellington Street to only one lane of vehicular traffic for several years to facilitate the construction of this project; and

  WHEREAS traffic volumes in the downtown core are returning to pre-COVID levels and Wellington is a crucial east-west traffic spine, even more so in light of the upcoming renewal of Albert and Slater streets; and

  WHEREAS the traffic plan submitted to-date would cause a pinchpoint on Wellington;

  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Transportation Committee recommend that Council direct staff that any temporary construction encroachment permit issued related to the South Block project require that Wellington Street be open at all times to one vehicular lane in each direction and one segregated cycling lane in each direction; and

  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT if PSPC indicates that this is not possible, that staff bring forward a report to Transportation Committee prior to the issuance of any temporary construction encroachment permit for the vehicle or cycling lanes on Wellington Street;

  AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT prior to any subterranean ROW License of Occupation for Wellington Street being granted to PSPC, that staff report out on this matter to Transportation Committee and City Council.

  Carried
• Motion No. TRC 2024-14-02
  Moved by A. Troster

  WHEREAS the federal government, through Public Services and Procurement Canada, is redeveloping the block bounded by Metcalfe Street, Wellington Street, O’Connor Street and Sparks Street, known as the future “South Block”; and

  WHEREAS construction is estimated to be completed in 2034 and will significantly disrupt the public realm on these streets, as well as impair annual signature tourism events and local economic activity in the neighbourhood; and

  WHEREAS the federal government has a responsibility to ensure that as a good neighbour it must provide support to the impacted businesses and tourism sector throughout this decade of construction; and

  WHERAS City Council approved a public realm plan for Sparks Street in 2019 and formally asked PSPC to contribute financially towards its implementation with no response received; and

  WHEREAS through its approval of the Term of Council City Strategic Plan this Council has approved a strategic priority of “reimagining the downtown” and established the priority objectives of “increasing the public realm in strategic locations” and “increas(ing) economic activity, safety, and tourism”; and

  WHEREAS through its approval of the City Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan, Council approved Action Item 2.2 “Advance Downtown Redevelopment Projects” and specifically “Secure the funding required to advance significant downtown revitalization projects, including ByWard Market and Sparks Street Public Realm Plans”; and

  WHEREAS the City of Ottawa will collect modest revenues from implementation of the project;

  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT staff review the temporary construction encroachment permit revenue projections from the South Block project; and

  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT staff review the financial estimates for Council’s priority public realm projects in the affected area; and

  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that staff consider these projections and estimates as part of the Draft 2025 Operating and Capital Budget development and report back as part of the Draft 2025 Operating and Capital Budget process; and

  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT Transportation Committee recommend that City Council delegate the authority to the General Manager, Planning, Development and Building Services to negotiate and enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with PSPC such that they commit to the following before any Temporary Construction Encroachment permits are issued by the City of Ottawa after February 1, 2025 for the South Block Project:

  1. Funding for the federal portion of the Sparks Street Public Realm Plan design;
  2. Annual financial support to the Sparks Street Business Improvement Area for tourism destination development and programming;
  3. More favourable customized leasing terms for the vacant Sparks Street federal properties such that real progress can be made in finding short- and long-term small business retail tenants for the street.
  Carried

5.

Office of the City Clerk

5.1

Status Update – Transportation Committee Inquiries and Motions for the period ending September 13, 2024

File No. ACS2024-OCC-CCS-0071 - City-wide

• Report Recommendation(s)

  That the Transportation Committee receive this report for information.
• Received

6.

In Camera Items

There were no in camera items.

7.

Information Previously Distributed

7.1

Use of Delegated Authority - August 2024 Special Event Road

File No. ACS2024-PWD-TRF-0003 - Somerset (Ward 14)

8.

Notices of Motions (For Consideration at Subsequent Meeting)

There were no Notices of Motion.

9.

Inquiries

There were no Inquiries.

10.

Other Business

10.1

Trim Road Community Safety Zone

• Motion No. TRC 2024-14-03
  Moved by M. Luloff

  BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Transportation Committee approve the addition of the item “Trim Road Community Safety Zone” under “Other business” for consideration by the Committee at today’s meeting, pursuant to subsection 89(3) of the Procedure By-law (being by-law no. 2022-410) to allow for the prompt implementation of the Trim Road Community Safety Zone if approved by Council.

  Carried
• Motion No. TRC 2024-14-04
  Moved by M. Luloff

  WHEREAS Trim Road between Watters Road and Portobello Boulevard serves as a critical arterial route in Orléans; and

  WHEREAS this segment of Trim Road is a vital active transportation corridor for students, given its proximity to local schools and community parks; and

  WHEREAS recent years have seen an alarming increase in speeding and drag racing incidents along Trim Road; and

  WHEREAS the Cardinal Creek Community Association has identified significant safety concerns for vulnerable road users; and

  WHEREAS Community Safety Zones are a tool to help reduce the speed travelled along the roadway and to improve the safety of vulnerable road users in this area; and

  WHEREAS the community has repeatedly expressed concerns regarding the persistent and dangerous speeding issues on this stretch; and

  WHEREAS the Ottawa Police Services have indicated their support for implementing measures to enhance safety and address the speeding problem on Trim; and

  WHEREAS Community Safety Zones in Ottawa are established via delegated authority of the General Manager of Public Works and the Director of Traffic Services within locations that meet the Council-approved criteria  for the installation of Automated Speed Enforcement; and

  WHEREAS the segment on Trim Road between Watters Road and Portobello Boulevard does not meet the Council-approved criteria for Automated Speed Enforcement; and,

  WHEREAS based on a speed survey conducted in July 2024, Trim Road between Portobello Boulevard/Springridge Drive and Springridge Drive has an operating speed of 73 km/h and an average speed of 65 km/h;

  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Transportation Committee recommend that Council approve:

  1. Designating a Community Safety Zone at Trim Road between Watters Road and Portobello Boulevard;
  2. Installing corresponding signage as soon as practicable, and prior to the end of 2024 if feasible.
  Carried

11.

Adjournment

Next Meeting: October 24, 2024.

The meeting adjourned at 11:24 am.