Here is a brief update I received on the STO issue.
Good Evening Everyone:
The King Edward Avenue Task Force will be meeting at the Routhier Community Centre this Thursday, September 4th, at 7:00 pm The agenda has been attached. The following is a brief update on issues.
Victories at City Council: As you all know, we had two victories at the Transportation Committee two weeks ago. Since then, there have been 22 articles and letters in the local newspapers as well as television news reports.
The committee ordered that both short and long-term solutions be found by city staff for removing bus lay-bys on King Edward, George and York by the end of October 2008. The task force has been fighting this battle for the bus lay-bys off and on since the 1980's. In addition, after chastising city staff, the committee also demanded that city staff put together terms of reference for the study of lane reductions on King Edward Avenue by October 2008. This past week, City Council supported the recommendations of the Transportation Committee and gave final approve for there implementation.
Air Quality: City staff report that an air quality monitor will be installed on King Edward Avenue some time soon soon near the corner of York in front of the Champagne Bath. It will be there anywhere from a few weeks to several months.
Cathcart Crosswalk: City staff in Traffic and Operations at the city seem to be trying to stop this crosswalk at all costs. They refuse to discuss it. This issue will come to Transportation Committee sometime this fall, and I sense we will have quite a lively debate, especially given all the secrecy surrounding this. It has been a very challenging process.
Interprovincial Bridge: The first phase of the environmental assessment for future interprovincial crossings is nearing its end. The preferred bridge locations will be revealed soon. Our concern as the task force is not necessarily the location, but the amount of time it takes to finish all the phases of the studying and to build the bridge. Our efforts need to continue to be focused on speeding these things up.
Marc Aubin, King Edward Avenue Task Force
King Edward Avenue Task Force AGENDA:
1. Sign-in and Introductions (5 min.)
2. Outlook for the following 6-12 months (Marc Aubin) (10 min.)
3. Interprovincial Bridge (Michel Vallée, Bruce Baker) (20 min.) a. Letter of response from Steve Taylor b. Upcoming consultation sessions c. Strategy (speeding up the study and bridge construction)
4. Bus lay-bys and Air Quality (Barbara Myers, Graeme Weeks) (15 min.) a. Bus ban results b. Next steps
5. Cathcart Crosswalk (Michel, Angela Rickman) (20 min.) a. City staff opposing it this fall in a report b. Strategy
6. 4-lane Option (Marc Aubin) (10 min.) a. Terms of Reference to come b. Updated bridge count statistics
7. Other items/issues (20 min.) a. Expert advice (i.e. lawyers, planners) b. Media strategy c. Membership drive (ie condo associations, others?) (Louyse?) d. Fall forum (consider including Safer Ottawa) e. Other ideas f. Photos of Task Force members – Individuals and group shot (Bruce?)
8. Next meeting - (Thursday, October 2nd, 2008?)
