Transportation Committee

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Transportation Committee


Minutes 14

Wednesday, 04 May 2016
9:30 am

Champlain Room

 

Notes:             1.         Underlining indicates a new or amended recommendation approved by committee.

                        2.         Except where otherwise indicated, reports requiring Council consideration will be presented to Council on 11 May 2016 in Transportation Committee Report 14.

 

Present:

Chair:  Councillor K. Egli
Vice-Chair:  Councillor C. McKenney
Members:  Councillors D. Chernushenko, G. Darouze, M. Fleury, J. Mitic, S. Moffatt, B. Monette, S. Qadri, M. Qaqish

Absent:

D. Deans

 

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

See specific Agenda Item for declaration:  Item 3 of the Transportation Committee Agenda (Veteran Parking on Remembrance Day).

 

CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

Minutes 13 - 6 April 2016

 

 

CONFIRMED

 

 

 

CITY OPERATIONS

PUBLIC WORKS

 

1.

USE OF PHOTO RADAR IN CANADIAN MUNICIPALITIES

 

ACS2016-COS-PWS-0021

CITY WIDE

 

REPORT RECOMMENDATION
That Transportation Committee recommend that Council receive this report for information.

           The Committee received correspondence from Chris Klimek in response to the staff report.  A copy of his email dated 29 April is held on file.

           The Committee considered Items 1 and 2 together as one.

           Phil Landry, Manager, Traffic Services together with Rob Wilkinson, Coordinator, Safer Roads Ottawa Program provided a brief overview of the item.  A copy of their PowerPoint presentation is held on file.  Also in attendance to answer questions was Superintendent Scott Nystedt of the Ottawa Police Service.

           Following discussion and consideration of Item 2, the report recommendation was RECEIVED, as presented.

 


 

REFERRALS

 

2.

PHOTO RADAR ON LOCAL STREETS

 

ACS2016-CMR-TRC-0009

CITY WIDE

 

Referred by City Council at its meeting of 23 March 2016.

 

COUNCIL MOTION No. 28/10

 

RECOMMENDATION
WHEREAS, despite the fact that the City of Ottawa uses multiple initiatives to calm traffic and reduce the speed of traffic, residents continue to identify that speeding on local streets is an on-going problem and a significant safety issue in Ottawa; and
WHEREAS the Ottawa Police Chief has identified traffic enforcement as one of his top three priorities and he has confirmed that he supports the use of technology to help keep our roads safe, including speed monitoring devices like photo radar; and
WHEREAS the Province of Ontario initiated the use of photo radar on provincial highways in 1994, but this was discontinued following the change of government less than one year later for what was considered by many to be political rather than safety reasons; and
WHEREAS a number of municipalities in Ontario have asked the provincial government to allow local governments to use photo radar and/or other technology to address speeding on local streets and there is a benefit to Ottawa residents to adding this ability to the City’s current toolkit to address traffic and speeding in our neighbourhoods;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that City Council, through the Mayor, formally request that the Province of Ontario allow municipalities the option of using photo radar on local streets; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this request be forwarded to all local Members of Provincial Parliament.

The following correspondence in support of photo radar was received:

 

1.    Citizens for Safe Cycling letter dated 20 March 2016

2.    Paul Reid email comments dated 23 March 2016

3.    Fred Hostetter email comments dated 23 March 2016

4.    Lesley Pellerin email comments dated 29 March 2016

5.    Joan C. Stooke web comments dated 30 March 2016

6.    John Murray email comments dated 31 March 2016

7.    Lynette Chubb, Ottawa Safety Council email comments dated 31 March 2016 and supporting documentation

8.    Patrick Fuller email comments dated 31 March 2016

9.    Val Jensen email comments dated 1 April 2016

10. Mike Shaw email comments dated 1 April 2016

11. Deana Maric email comments dated 2 April 2016

12. Donald Clarke email comments dated 4 April 2016

13. Michael Kologie email comments dated 5 April 2016

14. Peter Kennedy email comments dated 5 April 2016

15. Sheridan Schwartz email comments dated 13 April 2016

16. John Groves email comments dated 25 April 2016

17. Blackburn Community Association letter dated 26 April 2016

18. Wayne Jenkinson email comments dated 2 May 2016

19. Bel-Air Community Association letter dated 2 May 2016

20. Active and Safe Routes to School letter dated 3 May 2016

21. Gareth Davies email comments dated 3 May 2016

22. Alayne McGregor email comments dated 3 May 2016

23. Action Sandy Hill letter dated 3 May 2016

24. Ottawa Centre Ecodistrict letter dated 3 May 2016

 

Committee members also received a petition containing 390 names in support of photo radar.

 

The following correspondence in opposition to photo radar was received:

 

1.    John Goodin email comments dated 3 March 2016

2.    Ross Turek email comments dated 22 March 2016

3.    Catrina O’Leary email comments dated 23 March 2016

4.    Peter Hobday email comments dated 26 March 2016

5.    Chris Furman email comments dated 26 March 2016

6.    James Brunet email comments dated 26 March 2016

7.    Mark Riley email comments dated 28 March 2016

8.    John Halliday email comments dated 28 March 2016

9.    Doug Rochow email comments dated 29 March 2016

10. Shannon Smith email comments dated 29 March 2016

11. Neera Huckvale email comments dated 29 March 2016

12. Justin Vezina email comments dated 29 March 2016

13. Bob McMullin email comments dated 29 March 2016

14. Ashley Harrison email comments dated 29 March 2016

15. Dr. R. Sean Pemberton email comments dated 30 March 2016

16. Geertje Vanderwal email comments dated 30 March 2016

17. A. Rehman email comments dated 7 April 2016

18. Christian Lambiri email comments dated 13 April 2016

19. Jean Pelletier email comments dated 16 April 2016

20. Chris Klimek email comments dated 19 April and 3 May 2016

21. Joseph Aziz email comments dated 22 April 2016

22. Marian Buzdugan email comments dated 28 April 2016 and written submission, undated (also submitted a report entitled “Speed or Greed:  Does Automated Traffic Enforcement Improve Safety or Generate Revenue?” by Hiroko Shimizu and Pierre Desrochers dated December 2015)

23. The Family Anghel email comments dated 28 April 2016

24. Stephen Budzinski email comments dated 29 April 2016

 

Correspondence of a generic nature was also received from the following:

1.    Nelson Millar email comments dated 11 April 2016

2.    Graham and Millie Patterson email comments dated 1 May 2016

A copy of all correspondence and presentations are held on file:

 

            The Chair asked the Vice Chair to introduce a Motion which would replace the Motion originally referred by Council.  He explained that this new Motion is an attempt to respond to concerns raised by the public.


Moved by Councillor C. McKenney

MOTION

WHEREAS the City of Ottawa manages multiple road safety programs that support the City’s overall goal of zero serious injuries and deaths due to traffic related incidents, including the Safer Roads Ottawa Program and the Temporary Traffic Calming Program; and

WHEREAS despite the City of Ottawa’s initiatives to calm traffic and reduce the speed of traffic, residents continue to identify that speeding on local streets is an on-going problem and a significant safety issue in Ottawa; and

WHEREAS the Ottawa Police Chief has identified traffic enforcement as one of his top three priorities and he has confirmed that he supports the use of technology to help keep our roads safe, including speed monitoring devices like photo radar; and

WHEREAS the World Health Organization has conducted research which indicates that slower vehicle speeds cause less injury to vulnerable road users; and

WHEREAS a number of municipalities in Ontario are considering the use of photo radar and/or other technology to address speeding on local streets and there is a benefit to Ottawa residents to adding this ability to the City’s current toolkit to address traffic and speeding in our neighbourhoods; and

WHEREAS in recognition that there is value to establishing parameters for such a program that would ensure that safety on local streets, where there is less enforcement, is the priority rather than on arterials, which tend to have a higher police presence;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Transportation Committee recommends that City Council, through the Mayor, formally request that the Province of Ontario allow the City of Ottawa the option of conducting a pilot project to use photo radar in school zones with the concurrence of and/or at the request of the Ward Councillor; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Transportation Committee recommends that City Council, through the Mayor, formally request that the Province of Ontario allow the City of Ottawa the option of conducting a pilot project that would reduce speed from the current default of 50 km to 40 km on residential streets and would forego the current requirement for sign installation with the concurrence of and/or at the request of the Ward Councillor; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of these requests be forwarded to all local Members of Provincial Parliament; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, should the Province permit the City of Ottawa any options to conduct pilot projects for the use of photo radar and/or speed reduction pilot, staff be directed to provide a report to Committee and Council with options on implementation, including the use of photo radar revenue to further road safety and traffic calming initiatives at the earliest practicable opportunity.

            Clarification was requested on portions of the Motion and the Chair advised that staff could speak to the specifics of the text during their presentation and as required, amendments can be made to make it clearer.

Following the staff presentation for Item 1, the Committee received the following delegations who spoke in support of photo radar:

Dr. Gerald Halpern*

Michael Powell*

Heather Shearer, Citizens for Safe Cycling

Charles Akben-Marchand

Kevin O’Donnell

Ward Vanlaar, Ph. D., Traffic Injury Research Foundation*

Chelsey Wynne, Blackburn Community Association

Wallace Beaton, Ottawa & Eastern ON Green Communities Canada

Etienne Grall

Julianne Vogt, Ottawa Safety Council

Dianne Breton, The Council on Aging of Ottawa*

Douglas Kirkland*

Klaus Beltzner, Manotick Village and Community Association

Chris Bradshaw

The Committee received the following delegation who spoke in opposition to photo radar:

Alan Gullon

[  *  Individuals / groups marked with an asterisk above either provided comments in writing or by e-mail; all submissions are held on file with the City Clerk.]

 

            Phil Landry, Manager of Traffic Services, together with Rob Wilkinson, Coordinator, Safer Roads Ottawa Program and Superintendent Scott Nystedt of the Ottawa Police Service, responded to questions posed by Committee members and other members of Council who were present.  Subsequently, and as a direct result of concerns raised and suggestions made, the aforementioned Motion was amended.

            Councillor Darouze introduced the following Motion which the Committee agreed to consider first:

MOTION TRC 14/1

Moved by Councillor G. Darouze

WHEREAS the Province recently passed Bill 31, Transportation Statute Law Amendment Act (Making Ontario Roads Safer Act) 2015, allowing the ability of enforcement of a number of Highway Traffic Act, RSO 1990, infractions to be enforced in out of province jurisdictions including red-light camera infractions as set out in section 201.1 of the Transportation Statute Law Amendment Act, 2015;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Transportation Committee recommend that City Council, through the Mayor, formally request that the Province of Ontario provide the City of Ottawa with the ability to enforce photo radar infractions incurred by out-of-province vehicle owners, similar to the new authority for red-light camera infractions as set out in section 201.1.3 of the Transportation Statute Law Amendment Act, 2015.

 

CARRIED

 

The following Motion, as amended, replaces Motion 28/10 from the Council meeting of 23 March 2016:

MOTION TRC 14/2
Moved by Councillor C. McKenney

WHEREAS the City of Ottawa manages multiple road safety programs that support the City’s overall goal of zero serious injuries and deaths due to traffic related incidents, including the Safer Roads Ottawa Program and the Temporary Traffic Calming Program; and

WHEREAS despite the City of Ottawa’s initiatives to calm traffic and reduce the speed of traffic, residents continue to identify that speeding on local streets is an on-going problem and a significant safety issue in Ottawa; and

WHEREAS the Ottawa Police Chief has identified traffic enforcement as one of his top three priorities and he has confirmed that he supports the use of technology to help keep our roads safe, including speed monitoring devices like photo radar; and

WHEREAS the World Health Organization has conducted research which indicates that slower vehicle speeds cause less injury to vulnerable road users; and

WHEREAS a number of municipalities in Ontario are considering the use of photo radar and/or other technology to address speeding on local streets and there is a benefit to Ottawa residents to adding this ability to the City’s current toolkit to address traffic and speeding in our neighbourhoods; and

WHEREAS in recognition that there is value to establishing parameters for such a program that would ensure that safety on local streets, where there is less enforcement, is the priority rather than on arterials, which tend to have a higher police presence;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Transportation Committee recommends that City Council, through the Mayor, formally request that the Province of Ontario allow the City of Ottawa the option of conducting a pilot project to use photo radar in school zones with the concurrence of and/or at the request of the ward councillor; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Transportation Committee recommends that City Council, through the Mayor, formally request that the Province of Ontario allow the City of Ottawa the option of conducting a pilot project that would reduce speed from the current default of 50 km to 40 km on residential streets and permit the installation of gateway 40km/h speed limit signage leading into local residential streets at locations recommended by the City of Ottawa’s traffic and road safety staff and forego signing each residential street, where recommended, with the concurrence of and/or at the request of the ward councillor; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Transportation Committee recommends that Council approve that any photo radar pilot projects in the City of Ottawa be implemented on the condition that all revenues from the program (net of implementation costs) will be directed to a special account dedicated exclusively to funding road safety initiatives in the City of Ottawa, and that the Province be requested to ensure that municipalities are provided with all necessary authority to permit this use; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of these requests be forwarded to all local Members of Provincial Parliament; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, should the Province permit the City of Ottawa any options to conduct pilot projects for the use of photo radar and/or speed reduction pilot, staff be directed to provide a report to Committee and Council with options on implementation, including the use of photo radar revenue to further road safety and traffic calming initiatives at the earliest practicable opportunity.

 

CARRIED

 

DIRECTIONS TO STAFF

If the Transportation Committee recommendations are approved by Council:

That staff examine other measures in and around school zones or the ‘path’ kids take to school, to make that walk safer for them.

That as part of the report to come back, staff include how the City is going to roll it out from an educational and public awareness perspective.

 

 

CITY OPERATIONS

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

 

3.

VETERAN PARKING ON REMEMBRANCE DAY

 

ACS2016-COS-PWS-0019

SOMERSET (14)

 

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Councillor Mitic declared a potential, deemed direct pecuniary interest on Transportation Committee Agenda 14, Item 3, Veterans Parking on Remembrance Day, as his wife has Veterans licence plates on her vehicle.

Councillor Mitic did not take part in any discussion or vote on the Item.

 

REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS
That the Transportation Committee recommend that Council approve that on Remembrance Day of each year, for vehicles bearing a Veteran licence plate issued by any province:

 

1.         Staff not take any enforcement action with respect to the following sections of By-Law 2003-530, as amended:
a.)       Section 21 (Use of Parking Payment Device); for all on-street parking pay & display machines in the geographic area bounded by the Rideau Canal to the east, Somerset Street to the south, Bank Street to the west, and the Ottawa River to the north, save and except for tour bus meters, as described in this report.
2.         All vehicles bearing a Veteran licence plate and any person wearing an armed forces uniform and/or displaying service medals also be granted free exit from the City Hall parking garage, as described in this report.

 

CARRIED

 

4.

CENTRETOWN LOCAL AREA PARKING STUDY

 

ACS2016-COS-PWS-0020

SOMERSET (14)

 

REPORT RECOMMENDATION
That the Transportation Committee receive this report for information.

 

RECEIVED

 

 


 

PLANNING AND INFRASTRUCTURE

PLANNING AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT

 

5.

LEITRIM ROAD REALIGNMENT AND WIDENING (RIVER ROAD TO BANK STREET) ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT STUDY – STATEMENT OF WORK

 

ACS2016-PAI-PGM-0088

GLOUCESTER-SOUTHGATE(10), OSGOODE (20), GLOUCESTER-SOUTH NEPEAN (22)

 

REPORT RECOMMENDATION
That the Transportation Committee approve the Statement of Work for the Leitrim Road Realignment and Widening (River Road to Bank Street) Environmental Assessment Study, as detailed in Document 1.

 

CARRIED

 

The Committee received an email dated 30 April 2016 from the Manotick Village and Community Association, a copy of which is held on file.

 

Klaus Beltzner, Manotick Village and Community Association spoke to a slide that illustrated the ultimate network for roads to be added and widened.  Using it as a reference, he asked that the Earl Armstrong extension and widening be looked at in this Environmental Assessment as one of the conditions.  A copy of his slide is held on file.

Following questions to staff as a result of the delegation’s comments and other concerns raised by Committee members, Vivi Chi, Manager, Transportation Planning confirmed that Leitrim Road and Earl Armstrong are two separate projects and one does not depend on the other in terms of alignment development.

The report recommendation was then put to the Committee and CARRIED as presented.

 

6.

FRONT-ENDING AGREEMENT FOR THE BRIAN COBURN BOULEVARD FROM MER BLEUE ROAD TO TENTH LINE ROAD - REVISED COSTS

 

ACS2016-PAI-PGM-0072

CUMBERLAND (19)

 

REPORT RECOMMENDATION
That the Transportation Committee recommend that Council authorize an amendment to the front-ending agreement with Tamarack Mer Bleue Corporation, in respect of Brian Coburn Boulevard, from Mer Bleue Road to Tenth Line Road, to permit the payment of an additional $401,986 including applicable taxes but without indexing, for a revised total upset limit of $3,426,016, including applicable taxes, subject to the execution of an amending front-ending agreement, being to the satisfaction of the Deputy City Manager, Planning and Infrastructure, and the City Clerk and Solicitor.

 

CARRIED

 

 


 

CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE

CITY CLERK AND SOLICITOR DEPARTMENT

 

7.

COMMEMORATIVE NAMING – MAX KEEPING BRIDGE

 

ACS2016-CMR-CCB-0029

RIDEAU-ROCKCLIFFE (13) ; ALTA VISTA (18)

 

REPORT RECOMMENDATION
That the Transportation Committee recommend Council approve the proposal to name the new pedestrian and cycling bridge over Highway 417 near Coventry Road, the “Max Keeping Bridge”.

 

CARRIED

 

COUNCILLORS’ ITEMS

COUNCILLOR A. HUBLEY

 

8.

MULTI-WAY STOP AT THE INTERSECTION OF MEADOWBREEZE DRIVE AT WHEATLAND AVENUE

 

ACS2016-CMR-TRC-0008

KANATA SOUTH (23)

 

REPORT RECOMMENDATION
That the Transportation Committee recommend to Council that all-way stop control be installed at the intersection of Meadowbreeze Drive and Wheatland Avenue.

 

DEFERRED

 

            The Chair advised that the Ward Councillor was seeking deferral of this matter as he was in discussions with staff to try and resolve the issue.  The Committee agreed to deferral.

 

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 1:45 p.m.

 

Original signed by                                                  Original signed by

R. Theriault                                                              Councillor K. Egli

 

_____________________________                    _____________________________

Committee Coordinator                                         Chair