CAMPEAU DRIVE (DIDSBURY ROAD TO MARCH ROAD) ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

Rapid Transit Environmental Assessments – Response to 27 June 2007 Motion of Council

Évaluations environnementales du transport en commun rapide – réponse à la motion du Conseil adoptée le 27 juin 2007

ACS2007-PTE-POL-0048 CITY WIDE / À L'ÉCHELLE DE LA VILLE

In her opening comments, the Deputy City Manager, Planning, Transit and the Environment (PTE), Nancy Schepers described a number of initiatives that show that Council is moving forward with a number of transit related activities. These initiatives include:

· Reviewing the status of the Environmental Assessments (EAs) processes in January 2007;

· Approving the scope and timing of the 2008 Transportation Master Plan (TMP) in April;

· Creating a downtown operating strategy through 2010 in May;

· Directing staff to undertake the detailed design of the Strandherd/Armstrong Bridge;

· Reviewing the Report of the Mayor’s Task Force on Transportation in June;

· Approving the Transit Fleet Acquisition Strategy.

Ms. Schepers said this illustrated that Council wants to continue its investment strategy as confirmed during the Priority Setting exercise. She noted that the reports before the Committee address this desire and recognize the importance of the work initiated to update the transit Vision and the TMP. Ms. Schepers also spoke about the fact that the public is now more engaged in these processes, and she expressed the hope that staff would be able to tap in to the public’s engagement.

Ms. Schepers then highlighted a number of initiatives staff would be undertaking to link into the Official Plan review. These include:

· New population projections being presented to the Planning and Environment Committee in three weeks;

· A number of White Papers forthcoming;

· The approval of a new transit vision for Ottawa rooted in firm principles by the end of this year.

She added that, by Spring 2008, staff would want to put transit network recommendations before the Committee for consideration, in order to be able to proceed with some investments and move forward with downtown initiatives even before the completion of the 2008 TMP by the end of 2008.

Ms. Schepers then briefly outlined the contents of the two reports that are before the Committee, the first of which deals with the EAs currently underway and makes recommendations on their status, and the second that deals with the required investments that go hand in glove with the first report. She called this a strategic package of projects that will allow Council to make and continue its investment in transit by the year 2013. Ms. Schepers stated that, in preparing these recommendations, staff had gone through the Task Force Report and the Rapid Transit Expansion Study (RTES). She expressed the belief that the recommendations in both of these reports did not compromise Council’s ability to implement a new vision for the Downtown. This concept was front and centre in staff’s minds. Council must also continue its investment in the transit plan for this community, to grow its transit numbers and to meet the goal of a 30% transit modal share.

Ms. Schepers then introduced Mr. Peter Steacy, Program Manager, Transportation - Environmental Assessments, who gave a detailed PowerPoint presentation on the reports. He was accompanied by Mr. John Moser, Director, Planning Branch and City Planner, PTE. A copy of the presentation is held on file with the City Clerk.

Ms. Schepers noted that the Provincial and Federal Government have indicated that the current funding programs do not permit partner funding on road projects. They are willing to entertain those roads that have an explicit transit connection, e.g. those that service the Strandherd-Armstrong bridge, but as a result of this, staff will no longer be recommending the Riverside Dr. and Limebank Rd. widenings, and the Riverside Drive to Hospital Lands connection. Because of this development, staff has substituted this funding capacity with the construction of the new bus garage on Industrial Rd. ($60M) and the 2009 transit fleet replacement procurement ($46M for 57 hybrid buses).

Councillor Cullen asked about the timing of the downtown tunnel option, suggesting that it would be appropriate to do the downtown tunnel EA first to determine which technology to use. For example, a bus-only tunnel requires much more ventilation. Therefore, should we not proceed with the tunnel EA as soon as possible so we can choose the right technology option? Ms. Schepers responded that it was staff’s belief that the tunnel EA should follow the TMP review where these issues would be dealt with.

Following the PowerPoint Presentation, Committee Members posed questions to staff.

Councillor Bloess referred to Recommendation 5 and wanted to make sure that he had the chronology straight. Mr. Steacy cautioned that the project is long and costly. On Recommendation 6, Mr. Steacy concurred that it is about a different tunnel with its own feasibility and study, at a lower level and therefore easier to do. When asked for a report back, Mr. Steacy advised the Councillor that it would be clear in the report as to what the project would be.

Councillor Doucet questioned the distance in kilometres between green and brown stripes of the Carling Avenue route on Slide 3 regarding suspended EA Studies. Not having the answer, Mr. Steacy agreed to provide this information later. Councillor Doucet sought to know why this EA was rejected. Mr. Steacy responded that there are some questions as to whether this will be in the future RTES network. Councillor Doucet inquired on how this would be done. Mr. Steacy responded that City Staff would conduct the study. Councillor Doucet opined that there is only one possible east-west corridor – Carling Avenue. Mr. Steacy replied that it would be up to the TMP Review.

Councillor Wilkinson expressed concern about Recommendation 4, believing that it should be done at the same time as the TMP Review. Mr. Steacy reiterated that Council asked to get a handle on the downtown. This would involve dialogue with the Société de transport de l’Outaouais (STO).

With regard to Recommendation 6, Councillor Wilkinson would like to see other alternatives; look at the EA and then do something cost effectively. As well, she would like to see this move forward more quickly.

Chair Cullen expressed concern about the proposed timeline for EA studies, and felt that the cart is being put before the horse. He questioned why we could not proceed with the tunnel EA as soon as possible. Mr. Steacy responded that analysis and choices would need to be looked at; there will have to be a class EA documented and then proceed with the EA and consultation. Staff will look at this and will bring forward recommendations for City Council’s approval. Chair Cullen suggested that alternatives need to be costed out, to which Mr. Steacy responded that costing of all projects is a very important part and the main component of a project.

Councillor Leadman felt that the report does not provide enough information, particularly regarding the downtown core, to make a decision today. Ms. Schepers reminded Committee that the reports before Committee today are not the long-term options for rapid transit and cautioned Committee to look at the proposed options as short term. Ms. Schepers noted that a report would be going to Committee in the spring on various downtown options. She reiterated that the Federal and Provincial Government committed funds would only be available until 2013.

Councillor Legendre expressed concern about the process of deciding what to put in the tunnel before deciding on the tunnel option. He then spoke in favour of going forward with the Rideau-Montreal Corridor LRT EA Study, based on the need to proceed with the CFB Rockcliffe Community Design Plan. While recognizing the Councillor’s concern, Ms. Schepers stood by staff recommendation to cancel this EA study. She reassured the Councillor that staff would not lose the opportunity to participate in the development of the CFB Rockcliffe Lands because staff is at the table with Canada Lands Company.

Councillor Bédard commented that this proposal looks at the old situation through the TMP Review and then does the necessary EAs based on the outcome. He asked how many years would it take doing it the other way around. Mr. Steacy responded that this could take up to two and a half years. Councillor Bédard thought this approach was illogical, that a global approach was needed first before doing the EAs. Mr. Steacy confirmed that a downtown RTES plan would be brought forward in the spring.

The Committee then heard from the following delegations:

David Jeanes, Transport 2000 expressed concern about this report not having any public consultation.

Councillor Legendre advised the delegation of a motion that he would be proposing for committee’s consideration on the City to approach the City of Gatineau with a view of establishing a joint decision making body of elected officials to deal with integration issues of the interprovincial transit services.

Hume Rogers, Downtown Coalition spoke on behalf of the newly formed Downtown Coalition. He noted that over the last few years, he has addressed Committee a number of times as the spokesperson for the Albert Slater Coalition, which has recently been expanded to represent the entire downtown core.

He passed around a list of members (on file with the City Clerk), and pointed out that the group’s direct membership comprises 33 downtown property owners representing approximately 60 office buildings and 10 hotels. This group also has the support of the Ottawa Gatineau Hotel Association and the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce. The direct membership represents over 12 million square feet of office space, 2500 hotel rooms and contributes approximately 10% of the total amount of property tax collected by the City of Ottawa.

He noted that before Committee are staff recommendations, which principally address transit issues in the suburban areas. It is beyond the scope of this group to comment on these plans and each one must be evaluated upon its merits. However, the Downtown Coalition thinks that it is worth pointing out that only $5 million of the $612 million (or less than 1%) in proposed spending is to be spent in the downtown core which is the bottleneck of our existing transit system.

While the Downtown Coalition acknowledges that some of these recommendations will have a beneficial effect upon some areas of the downtown core, they will do so at the expense of other parts of the downtown. The issue should not be to move the problem within the downtown but to resolve the existing transit problems in the downtown as a whole.

As many of the plans being recommended will presumably lead to increased ridership, and as OC Transpo has decided to improve its level of service on many of the routes that go through the downtown, what committee members have before them today will in fact lead to an increase in the number of buses crowding the downtown core. Once again, he feels that we are building our transit system from the outside in, and it is clear that the downtown core must now become the priority for City Council. To this end, the Downtown Coalition would ask that resolving the downtown and paying for the construction of a downtown tunnel be clearly identified as the next transit priority of this Council.

The Coalition strongly believes in, and requires, a viable transit system in the City. The Coalition also believes that a resolution to the transit problems in the downtown core must be the priority both in planning and financially for this Council. As such they would like Committee to ensure that the EA on a Downtown Transit Tunnel be commenced as soon as possible. They would also like Committee to assure them that they will have a place at the table and can play a useful participatory role in the development of the “Downtown Rapid Transit Network”, the drafting of the Terms of Reference for the Downtown Ottawa Transit Tunnel EA, and full participation through all stages of the EA study itself.

In response to Chair Cullen’s question, Deputy City Manager Schepers confirmed that there would be opportunity for public consultation.

Rick Hughes, Canada Lands Company spoke to Committee on the status of the CFB Rockcliffe Lands development. He also spoke in favour of resuming the Rideau-Montreal Corridor LRT EA immediately rather than cancelling it, which was followed by questions from Councillor Legendre.

David Gladstone Founder, Friends of the O-Train asked that no decisions be taken until City engineering staff prepare and circulate for stakeholder comments a proper engineering report describing options for increasing the modal share for transit use in Ottawa. He believes that without such a report, it would be highly imprudent to make costly decisions affecting the economic and environmental health of the City. He noted his experience that the Ontario and Federal Governments expect to see engineering reports in support of requests for infrastructure funding.

Jane Brammer, Chair of the Community Action for Rockcliffe Airbase Development (CARAD), advised that CARAD is an umbrella community group consisting of representatives from community associations from the Rideau River on the west to the Greenbelt on the east. This means that various community groups provide representation for most residents in Wards 11, 12 (east of the river), and 13.

CARAD is opposed to the cancellation of Environmental Assessment studies for the Rideau-Montreal Corridor. She noted the plans for a new community at the Rockcliffe Airbase site as the main reason. She referred to Rick Hughes of Canada Lands Company’s description of this community, which would provide housing for up to 15,000 people, and would be a very large infill project. She envisioned the proposed development for the Committee. Employment on the Airbase site is being projected at 1500 jobs. However, workforce participation is typically 70%, which translates to a possible 10,000 residents who will be employed. Because the projected number of jobs on site is so small, many thousands of residents can be expected to travel to work, contributing to increased demand for transit and adding to road traffic.

She also pointed out that the Rockcliffe Airbase site is not the only sizeable infill project planned for this area (the near east end). Sizeable infill developments are also planned for 100 Landry in Vanier, Karen Way in Manor Park, the Forintek site on Montreal Road, and others are sure to follow. They have also heard rumours of infill development occurring on under-developed land of the National Research Council (NRC) south campus.

As residents of this area, CARAD sees the need for improved transit options through this northeastern part of the city, to help integrate these new developments into the established neighbourhoods. Ms. Brammer concluded her presentation by urging the Committee and Council to support continuing studies of the Rideau-Montreal Corridor for transit.

Robert Diotte spoke in favour of the motion being proposed by Councillor Legendre regarding interprovincial transit services and statement made by Mr. Hume Rogers of the Downtown Coalition. He also spoke on his submission entitled Two One-Way Lane Embarking & Disembarking Areas along Slater and Albert Streets addressed to All Council Members, City Staff and Other Concerned Parties, copy of which is on file with the City Clerk.

The Committee then considered the following motions:

Councillor Legendre put forward the following motion, and discussion ensued:

Whereas the Community Design Plan (CDP) for the 310-acreCFB Rockcliffesite is already well advanced and will in all likelihood resume early in 2008; and,

Whereas current planning estimates for the CFB Rockcliffe site call for a complete village (business, retail and residential units accomodating 12-15,000 people) which integrates well into the surrounding community; and,

Whereas the successful integration of what can only be described as the largest urban infill project anywhere in Ottawa will depend crucially on the best and most current transportation planning information available; and,

Whereas staff had recognized the benefit of coordinating this EA with the CDP;

Be It Resolved that Recommendation No. 2 be amended to read that the Rideau-Montreal Corridor LRT EA resume immediately using the firm already identified through a competitive process and the previously committed funds set aside for the purpose.

After discussion, the Committee considered the following amendment to the aforementioned Legendre Motion:

Moved by Councillor M. Wilkinson:

That the Rideau-Montreal Corridor LRT EA be deferred until the updated TMP is approved by Council.

LOST

YEAS (3): Councillors Bloess, Wilkinson, Chair Cullen

NAYS (4): Councillors Legendre, Doucet, Thompson, Leadman

The Committee then considered the following motion:

Moved by Councillor J. Legendre:

Whereas the Community Design Plan (CDP) for the 310-acreCFB Rockcliffesite is already well advanced and will in all likelihood resume early in 2008; and,

Whereas staff had recognized the benefit of coordinating this EA with the CDP;

CARRIED

YEAS (4): Councillors Legendre, Doucet, Thompson, Leadman

NAYS (3): Councillors Bloess, Wilkinson, Chair Cullen

The Committee also considered the following motion brought forward by Councillor Doucet:

Whereas the Carling Corridor is a logical east-west light rail connection for the City of Ottawa because of its width, direct access and number of people served under any possible master plan;

Be it resolved that the Carling Avenue Environmental Assessment proceed as was planned.

After discussion on the aforementioned motion, Councillor Doucet agreed to withdraw his motion. As an alternative, the Committee considered the following motion:

Moved by Councillor C. Leadman:

Whereas the Carling Corridor is a logical east-west light rail connection for the City of Ottawa because of its width, direct access and number of people served under any possible master plan;

Be It Resolved that the initiation of the Carling Avenue Corridor LRT Environmental Assessment Study be deferred until the completion of the updated Transportation Master Plan.

CARRIED

Councillors C. Doucet and J. Legendre dissented.

Discussion then ensued on the following motions brought forward by Councillor Wilkinson:

1. That Recommendation No. 4 of the Rapid Transit Environmental Assessments report be replaced with the following: “That the City of Ottawa immediately agree to restart the Ottawa, Gatineau, National Capital Commission Interprovincial Transit Integration Study in order that studies undertaken with respect to planning for transit in central Ottawa take into account input from the other agencies in a timely fashion and to ensure that Ottawa’s plan, when finalized, is co-ordinated with those of the other agencies.

2. That Recommendation No. 5 of the Rapid Transit Environmental Assessments Report be replaced with the following: “That the City of Ottawa proceed with a detailed Downtown Ottawa Transit Tunnel EA immediately.” – (Councillor Wilkinson agreed to WITHDRAW this part of her motion and opted for a motion brought forward by Councillor Legendre.)

3. That Recommendation No. 6 of the Rapid Transit Environmental Assessment Report be modified by adding: “By December 31, 2007” after study, and adding at the end “with any modification of the EA, be commenced immediately after the study is approved by Committee with a completion time frame of 6-12 months.”

After discussion, the Committee considered the following motions:

Moved by Councillor M. Wilkinson:

That Recommendation No. 4 of the Rapid Transit Environmental Assessments report be replaced with the following: “That the City of Ottawa immediately agree to restart the Ottawa, Gatineau, National Capital Commission Interprovincial Transit Integration Study in order that studies undertaken with respect to planning for transit in central Ottawa take into account input from the other agencies in a timely fashion and to ensure that Ottawa’s plan, when finalized, is co-ordinated with those of the other agencies.

CARRIED

Moved by Councillor J. Legendre:

WHEREAS the most serious bottleneck of our current Transit System is well-known; it is the downtown; and,

WHEREAS staff have acknowledged that there is no more capacity for additional buses on the surface and even the current situation is causing our system to suffer on-time performance problems;

Be It Resolved that Recommendation No. 5 be amended to direct staff to proceed with the detailed Downtown Ottawa Transit LRT (Electric) Tunnel EA as an amendment to the previously completed North-South LRT EA.

LOST

YEAS (2): Councillors Legendre, Thompson

NAYS (4): Councillors Bloess, Wilkinson, Leadman, Chair Cullen

After discussion on the aforementioned Lost motion, the Committee considered the following amendment:

Moved by Councillor J. Legendre:

Be It Resolved that Recommendation No. 5 be amended to direct staff to proceed with the detailed Downtown Ottawa Transit LRT (Electric) Tunnel EA.

CARRIED

At the request of Councillor Holmes, Councillor Legendre agreed to add the following recommendation to his motion:

That the Downtown Coalition be a stakeholder group and as such be a working member of the Technical Advisory Committee and the Public Advisory Committee for the Downtown Ottawa Transit Tunnel Environmental Assessment; and similarly be involved in the Downtown Rapid Transit Network Study.

CARRIED

Moved by Councillor M. Wilkinson:

That Recommendation No. 6 of the Rapid Transit Environmental Assessments report be modified by adding: “By December 31, 2007, to an upset value of $75,000” after study, and adding at the end “with any modification of the EA commencing immediately after the study is approved by Committee and Council with a completion time frame of 6-12 months.”

CARRIED

Councillor J. Legendre dissented.

That the Joint Transportation and Transit Committee recommend Council authorize staff to proceed with the following recommendations:

1. a) Suspend consideration of the middle portion of the East-West Corridor (Orleans-Walkley-Kanata) LRT Environmental Assessment (EA), pending the Transportation Master Plan update revisiting the need for east-west transit movements that by-pass the downtown, and

b) Re-scope the existing EA assignment and complete EAs for:

i West Transitway – Terry Fox to Fernbank, and Eagleson to Kanata North.

ii Cumberland Transitway Connection – Navan Road to Blair Station.

2. Cancel the initiation of the Rideau-Montreal Corridor LRT EA study.

3. Cancel the initiation of the Carling Avenue Corridor LRT EA study.

4. Defer the initiation of the Interprovincial Transit Integration – Core Area EA until after Council approves the downtown rapid transit network.

5. Proceed with the detailed Downtown Ottawa Transit Tunnel EA upon Council approval of a downtown rapid transit network.

6. Undertake a feasibility/Value Engineering study to determine the most cost-effective solution for the Woodroffe to Pinecrest section of the West Transitway Extension, and then amend the approved EA as appropriate.

CARRIED, as amended.