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The city needs to find millions of dollars to separate rail from roads in the southern suburb now that the Barrhaven Rail Safety Program has council’s endorsement.
The first step is to free up money in the 2018 municipal budget, possibly in the $3-million range, to order environmental assessments for the crossings at Woodroffe Avenue, the southwest Transitway, and Fallowfield, Merivale and Jockvale roads.
The next step is to convince the upper-tier governments and Via Rail to help cover the construction tabs.
Building overpasses or underpasses at five rail crossings could cost $430 million, but that estimate is highly preliminary and doesn’t take into account the complete scope of work that might be required.
Council’s vote Wednesday means the city has a general blueprint to do the work, including a priority list for the crossings.
Woodroffe Avenue and the southwest Transitway — the site of the fatal collision between an OC Transpo bus and a Via Rail train in 2013 — are at the top of the list. The city would build a road and Transitway overpass there.
Jockavale Road is last on the priority list, but the city wants to advance a study in the shorter term to build a $6-million pedestrian and cycling underpass at the intersection.
Via wants to increase the number of trains passing through Barrhaven as part of its regular service plans, but it also has dreams of running additional trains through the corridor through a high-frequency train proposal to the federal government.
Council puts more money into asset repairs, trying to close a major funding gap
Some councillors batted around the idea of a separate tax to pay for asset repairs, but there was no way an infrastructure levy was going to fly in the current political climate.
Kitchissipi Coun. Jeff Leiper brought up a staff position from 2012 that suggested an infrastructure levy might be required if there isn’t more upper-government funding for asset maintenance.
City treasurer Marian Simulik said she doesn’t support an infrastructure levy, largely based on history.
A levy was attempted during Larry O’Brien’s mayoral term but it fizzled out.
The levy “created too much pressure on your taxpayers,” Simulik told council Wednesday.
The city is short $70 million to keep the assets in good condition. It will try making up the difference over the next 10 years.
Council voted in favour of spending $10.5 million more in the 2018 budget on asset maintenance and $7.8 million annually starting in the 2019 budget for nine years. There will also be inflationary increases to the spending.
College Coun. Rick Chiarelli, who’s skeptical about the city’s approach to funding repairs, voted against the strategy.
Watson highlights ‘extraordinary’ efforts by city on drug overdose prevention, calls for sustained effort
Mayor Jim Watson promoted the “extraordinary” efforts by the city to prevent opioid drug overdoses, announcing a larger effort this summer during the festival season.
Watson said the health unit will be working with festival organizers again to distribute “party safe information.” The city ramps up its public awareness campaign about substance abuse around this time of year before the festival season begins.
Ottawa Public Health learned this week that it will receive $350,000 more in base funding from the provincial government for opioid response programs.
“We’re ready to turn this funding into support on the ground,” Watson said.
All Ottawa firetrucks now carry naloxone kits and the city is preparing to train police on administering the drug antidote.
Watson said more help from the federal and provincial governments is “badly needed.”
The city will continue to work with community agencies on public education.
“Ongoing and sustained efforts will be required,” Watson said.
Late-night patios get consideration for Canada Day weekend
Restaurant patios on city sidewalks have a shot at staying open until 4 a.m. during the Canada Day weekend.
According to the bylaw, patios on city-owned property and within 30 metres of a residential zone must close by 11 p.m. No one can be on the patio after that time.
The Fox and Feather on Elgin Street asked to extend its patio hours until 2 a.m., instead of the mandated 11 a.m. cutoff, between June 30 and July 2.
Council on Wednesday agreed to the pub’s request and it also gave the planning department the authority to assess any other requests from businesses with patios on city-owned property. The drop-dead closing time for a patio would be 4 a.m., but only for the Canada Day weekend.
Alcohol at licensed establishments can only be served until 2 a.m. under provincial law.
jwilling@postmedia.com
twitter.com/JonathanWilling
查看原文...
The first step is to free up money in the 2018 municipal budget, possibly in the $3-million range, to order environmental assessments for the crossings at Woodroffe Avenue, the southwest Transitway, and Fallowfield, Merivale and Jockvale roads.
The next step is to convince the upper-tier governments and Via Rail to help cover the construction tabs.
Building overpasses or underpasses at five rail crossings could cost $430 million, but that estimate is highly preliminary and doesn’t take into account the complete scope of work that might be required.
Council’s vote Wednesday means the city has a general blueprint to do the work, including a priority list for the crossings.
Woodroffe Avenue and the southwest Transitway — the site of the fatal collision between an OC Transpo bus and a Via Rail train in 2013 — are at the top of the list. The city would build a road and Transitway overpass there.
Jockavale Road is last on the priority list, but the city wants to advance a study in the shorter term to build a $6-million pedestrian and cycling underpass at the intersection.
Via wants to increase the number of trains passing through Barrhaven as part of its regular service plans, but it also has dreams of running additional trains through the corridor through a high-frequency train proposal to the federal government.
Council puts more money into asset repairs, trying to close a major funding gap
Some councillors batted around the idea of a separate tax to pay for asset repairs, but there was no way an infrastructure levy was going to fly in the current political climate.
Kitchissipi Coun. Jeff Leiper brought up a staff position from 2012 that suggested an infrastructure levy might be required if there isn’t more upper-government funding for asset maintenance.
City treasurer Marian Simulik said she doesn’t support an infrastructure levy, largely based on history.
A levy was attempted during Larry O’Brien’s mayoral term but it fizzled out.
The levy “created too much pressure on your taxpayers,” Simulik told council Wednesday.
The city is short $70 million to keep the assets in good condition. It will try making up the difference over the next 10 years.
Council voted in favour of spending $10.5 million more in the 2018 budget on asset maintenance and $7.8 million annually starting in the 2019 budget for nine years. There will also be inflationary increases to the spending.
College Coun. Rick Chiarelli, who’s skeptical about the city’s approach to funding repairs, voted against the strategy.
Watson highlights ‘extraordinary’ efforts by city on drug overdose prevention, calls for sustained effort
Mayor Jim Watson promoted the “extraordinary” efforts by the city to prevent opioid drug overdoses, announcing a larger effort this summer during the festival season.
Watson said the health unit will be working with festival organizers again to distribute “party safe information.” The city ramps up its public awareness campaign about substance abuse around this time of year before the festival season begins.
Ottawa Public Health learned this week that it will receive $350,000 more in base funding from the provincial government for opioid response programs.
“We’re ready to turn this funding into support on the ground,” Watson said.
All Ottawa firetrucks now carry naloxone kits and the city is preparing to train police on administering the drug antidote.
Watson said more help from the federal and provincial governments is “badly needed.”
The city will continue to work with community agencies on public education.
“Ongoing and sustained efforts will be required,” Watson said.
Late-night patios get consideration for Canada Day weekend
Restaurant patios on city sidewalks have a shot at staying open until 4 a.m. during the Canada Day weekend.
According to the bylaw, patios on city-owned property and within 30 metres of a residential zone must close by 11 p.m. No one can be on the patio after that time.
The Fox and Feather on Elgin Street asked to extend its patio hours until 2 a.m., instead of the mandated 11 a.m. cutoff, between June 30 and July 2.
Council on Wednesday agreed to the pub’s request and it also gave the planning department the authority to assess any other requests from businesses with patios on city-owned property. The drop-dead closing time for a patio would be 4 a.m., but only for the Canada Day weekend.
Alcohol at licensed establishments can only be served until 2 a.m. under provincial law.
jwilling@postmedia.com
twitter.com/JonathanWilling
查看原文...
