Report to / Rapport au :
Mobility Issues Advisory Committee
10 April 2003 / le 10 avril 2003
Submitted by / Présenté par : David Bell, Chair / Président
Contact /
Personne-ressource : Robbie
Tremblay, Advisory Committee Coordinator Coordonnateur de comité consultatif
580-2424, ext. / poste 28135, Rob.Tremblay@ottawa.ca
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SUBJECT: DISCUSSION: RING ROAD FOR OTTAWA
OBJET: Discussion : Une route de contournement pour Ottawa
That the Mobility Issues Advisory Committee approve the revised position
paper outlined in Document 1.
RECOMMANDATION
DU RAPPORT
Que le Comité consultatif sur les questions de mobilité
approuve l’exposé de principe revisé énoncé dans le document 1.
Discussion
At the 16 May 2002 meeting the Committee agreed to a process of
developing a general philosophy on major issues by dealing with them one at a
time. Chair D. Bell undertook to write
up an item for discussion and decision for each meeting.
The Chair selected “A ring Road for Ottawa” as the topic for the March
2003 meeting and a draft position paper is attached as Document 1 for
discussion and approval. The provincial
government recently announced a study for an outer ring road.
Adoption of the position paper was deferred at the March 2003 meeting
and the Chair has submitted a revised position paper for approval.
Document 1
RING ROAD FOR OTTAWA
The issue of a ring road around the urban (downtown portions of a city often arises when a city reaches a significant size. This is because the level of traffic congestion on the main arterial road or urban highways has reached a point where expansion of the urban highway is being considered to accommodate the increased traffic. Ottawa is approaching this point and there have been some initial discussions on a Ring Road around the south part of the city to connect 417 with 416 and eventually to Hwy 7. In some cities these roadways are called bypasses because they allow through traffic, especially truck traffic to bypass the downtown core.
There are a number of arguments in favour of a ring road. They reduce congestion on the downtown roads by having through traffic on the ring road. This contributes to reduced pollution, as trucks are not sitting in congested slow moving traffic lines. Vehicle operators especially truck drivers like the increased efficiency and speed. Planners indicate that ring roads open new areas for development as accessibility is enhanced. They add to the primary road network, provide additional river crossings etc. They also delay the requirement to expand the urban road system.
The arguments against ring roads are also many and varied. They use up valuable land in the rural area and create negative environmental impacts (noise, vibrations, air pollution, visual pollution etc.) Naturalists will identify impacts to local flora and fauna especially if a rare plant or animal is indigenous to the area. Ring roads often cut off existing roads creating dead end or cumbersome rerouting of roadways. This can create an inconvenience for vehicles pedestrians and cyclists. The ring road may require the acquisition of land and the demolition of buildings. They may also split communities, as they become a barrier to local traffic with the region served by the community. Some will say that a ring road will impact property values depending on the proximity to the roadway. Some also say that the industrial development that is often the first development in a ring road area may not be the best development and create further barriers to natural development.
In the Ottawa context there are concerns from the Orleans area that a ring road will do little for commuter traffic relief. The feeling is that any funding should be spent on better transit to relieve the current Highway 174/Queensway congestion issues. If a bypass type route is essential then an inner ring route that would connect Hunt club Road to 417 and Innes Road is more desirable.
A ring road for Ottawa is a
potential option to relieve traffic, especially through traffic from the urban
core. This should only be considered
after considerable review of other options to relieve congestion and after a
significant environmental assessment of the proposed route. The Committee believes transportation funds
should be spent on improving public transportation links from the east and west
end before a ring road is funded.