The transit commission met this morning and in the post-meeting scrum reporters asked Transpo GM John Manconi how his department might be affected by council’s direction to keep 2014 budget increases below 2%.

OC Transpo customer Greg Guilderson sent me this picture of a Presto machine on a Route 97 bus at 6:35 a.m. today.

Guilderson reports that the screen was in this constant state; that is, his card didn’t cause the scribbly screen. It’s not clear if the Presto machine was reading people’s cards as they tapped, he says.

OC Transpo and Metrolinx must sort out these problems before the big card blowout later this month…

PRESTO cards will be available online at prestocard.ca on May 18 & in person starting May 27: ow.ly/kBDy0

— OC Transpo (@OC_Transpo) May 1, 2013

Sent this morning…

Dear Council colleague,

The City of Ottawa has initiated a public process aimed at considering Western LRT routes that would allow the City to eventually extend the Confederation Line west of Tunney’s Pasture.

As part of this process, the City has been working with the National Capital Commission and made a presentation to the NCC board yesterday. The NCC has issued a press release outlining their current position on the City’s environmental assessment work to date.

The purpose of this memo is to provide additional context to the position taken by the NCC in their press release while updating members of Council on the City Manager’s most recent discussion with the NCC.

The City of Ottawa’s Transportation Committee will consider six (6) corridor options at its June 5th meeting with a view to retaining one or more corridors for inclusion in the City’s long-range Transportation Master Plan for future refinement.

Although City staff has identified a preferred route for Western LRT, final recommendations will take into account further input received from residents and organizations.

The preferred route, the Richmond Underground, responds directly to the concerns expressed by residents by protecting the Byron Linear Park and not making use of any part of the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway. This route, as well as the other options, will be refined and improved as part of the City’s public consultation process.

A community open house is being held this evening (Thursday, April 25) as part of the City’s ongoing process to engage residents on this issue.

The Richmond Underground proposal requires the use of a small strip of green space equivalent to less than one half of one per cent of the total land area of the parkway lands.

The parkway lands currently serve as a major public transit corridor, with the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway carrying upwards of 440,000 bus trips annually. As the City’s population and transportation needs increase, the number of buses will only increase. It is important to find a favourable LRT route to address these future transportation challenges.

The proposed Richmond Underground would dramatically reduce the environmental impact on the parkway lands by permanently removing bus rapid transit from the parkway. Under the City’s long-standing agreement with the NCC, the City can continue to operate OC Transpo buses on the parkway until 2031. Using light rail instead of buses would lead to a significant reduction in noise, visual intrusion and emissions along this green corridor.

With the addition of stations between Dominion and Lincoln Fields, light rail would improve, not impede, access to the waterfront for residents and visitors alike. Significant access points and walking paths would be maintained.

Further, City Manager Kent Kirkpatrick informed me this morning that he has had direct discussions with the NCC to clarify their position on the potential use of the former CPR rail line. As a result of this exchange, Kent has informed me that the City will continue to work with NCC staff on all proposed corridors, including the potential use of the CPR corridor for Western LRT. The City will be providing additional information and concepts on how any negative impacts such a corridor might have on the current parkway experience could be mitigated.

Further, the NCC has acknowledged the City’s position that Carling is not a feasible corridor for rapid transit.

In closing, the City will continue to discuss with residents, the NCC and other interested stakeholders on how to best serve the growing transportation needs of the city.

The purpose of these consultations is to receive more feedback from anyone who would like to contribute thoughts on solutions that are responsible, cost-effective and reduce the long-term environmental impact of the Western transit corridor.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank Councillor Egli, Chair of the Transportation Committee, and the area councillors most impacted by these proposals, Councillors Katherine Hobbs and Mark Taylor, for their ongoing work on this issue.

Jim Watson, Mayor

City of Ottawa

Here’s the presentation from today’s technical briefing for councillors, staff and reporters.

OC Transpo 2012 Customer Satisfaction Survey

You know the city loves pilot programs.

It’ll throw pilots at anything.

Including putting small stickers on bus shelters.

Coun. Diane Deans announced that a pilot program will involve putting Crime Stoppers stickers on the glass of shelters. Here’s a sample she showed at transit commission today.

Crime Stoppers stickers for bus shelters: The latest city pilot project.

Deans and Coun. Allan Hubley have been concerned about vandalism at bus shelters. She even looked into taking the glass out of shelters each spring and putting it back in the fall because vandals have been breaking the glass.

Hubley sent out a press release during the commission meeting

Councillor Hubley Stands up to Bus Shelter Vandalism
 
Kanata – Councillor Allan Hubley of Kanata South is teaming up with Crime Stoppers to put an end to bus shelter vandalism in his ward.
 
“I have heard from many residents who are tired of the disrespect being shown to public and private property,” says Hubley. “This has become a concern for the community and an unnecessary cost to tax payers.”
 
The Councillor has contributed $500 towards a reward for information leading to the arrest of an individual or individuals who are responsible for damaging OC Transpo bus shelters in the community.
 
If you have information that will help police solve a crime, you can call, text or type your tip to Crime Stoppers. Please visit www.crimestoppers.ca for more information.

Why this is a pilot project, I’m not sure. Is there some kind of bureaucratic controversy over having stickers on bus shelters? Maybe it’s a good access to information request.