Note:        Only one extract of draft Minutes 12 is being provided for the following two items, as they were considered simultaneously at the Transportation Committee meeting of October 3, 2007.

 

Technical Evaluation of Albion Road at Lester Road THROUGH Movements PROHIBITIONS

ÉVALUATION TECHNIQUE DES INTERDICTIONS DE CIRCULATION DE TRANSIT À L’INTERSECTION DES CHEMINS ALBION ET LESTER

ACS2007-PWS-TRF-0017 Gloucester-Southgate (10)      

 

and / et

 

ALBION ROAD CLOSURE AT LESTER ROAD TO NORTH/SOUTH THROUGH TRAFFIC

FERMETURE DU CHEMIN ALBION À LA HAUTEUR DU CHEMIN LESTER À LA CIRCULATION DE TRANSIT EN DIRECTION NORD ET SUD

ACS2007-CCS-TRC-0006      osgoode (20)  

 

Michael Flainek, Director of Traffic and Parking Operations, Public Works and Services (PWS) began his presentation by introducing the following City Staff and Members of the Ottawa Police Services (OPS) in attendance:

·        East Division Superintendent Charles Bordeleau, OPS

·        Staff Sergeant Rick Lavigne, OPS

·        Bob Streicher, Acting Manager, Mobility and Area Traffic Management, PWS

·        Mohammad Tayyaran, Acting Program Manager, Area Traffic Management, PWS.

 

Staff provided an extensive PowerPoint Presentation, copy of which is on file with the City Clerk, to demonstrate why a straight through prohibitions on Albion Road and Lester Road were implemented and to indicate why staff believes that they should remain.

 

For the information of the Committee, Mr. Flainek also distributed a copy of Schedule XXVII of the Traffic and Parking By-law, which lists all current turning movement prohibitions in the City of Ottawa.  (Copy on file with the City Clerk.)  He noted that this List contains over 400 turn prohibitions and that it proves that the solution being discussed here is used everywhere in the City of Ottawa to reduce cut through traffic volumes in the community and to make traffic level more consistent with the intending function of Albion Road as a residential collector.

 

At the request of Committee Members, staff provided the following clarifications on their presentation:

·        Traffic volume is not increasing in the majority of residential collectors that are built up, but is certainly increasing on arterials, major collectors, and where new development takes place adjacent to minor residential collectors.

·        With respect to Slide 19, traffic volumes on Bridle Path Drive, south of Hunt Club, there may have been a slight reduction when the prohibitions went it but it basically stayed the same.

·        It is the same amount of through trips traffic at both the north and south ends during peak hours.  The difference is the total traffic volumes at the south end are lower, thus the higher percentage.

·        With respect to Slide 28, the increased collisions after the prohibitions are because of background growth and it is not a complete inventory of the road network.  Collisions have gone up on the arterial network.

·        Bowesville should currently be functioning as an arterial roadway like Albion south of Lester and others, but will change its configuration with respect to the way Riverside South is developing.

·        300 vehicles per hour are what the Area Traffic Management (ATM) Guidelines consider volume to be an issue in this type of roadway.

·        In terms of roadway classifications, D’Aoust is a collector street; Rosebella, Kingsdale, and Queensdale are local streets.

 

Councillor Thompson distributed a binder to all Committee Members and Staff, copy of which is on file with the City Clerk.  He provided his presentation to re-open Albion Road based on information contained in the binder and showed a short video clip as part of his presentation.  He also distributed a large map showing an overview of the area between Mitch Owens on the south, Walkley Road on the north; Hawthorne Road on the east, and the Rideau River on the west.

 

Following comments received suggesting that he mislead people with contaminated facts, he noted that the City Clerk has investigated and will be bringing forward his report on this issue at the next City Council Meeting.  He concluded his presentation by urging the Committee to support his motion to remove the restrictions on Albion Road and to add traffic stop signs between Queensdale and D’Aoust.

 

In response to questions from Councillors Cullen, Doucet, Deans, Thompson and Acting Chair Leadman, staff provided the following clarifications:

·        In reviewing information with City Staff, the OPS have no concern with respect to any safety issues as a result of the measures Council put into place in 2004.

·        One of the major contributory factors to the increase in collisions at this intersection could be the significant growth in traffic along Bank Street in recent years.

·        While the number of collisions has increased over the past 2.5 years, given there is no identified collision pattern, no further evaluation is deemed to be warranted.

·        The complete 2007 statistics to substantiate any accidents would not be available until the end of the year.

·        The Albion and Lester Intersection has not been part of the list of the top ten accident locations throughout the City.

·                    Under the Highway Traffic Act (HTA), OPS are required to submit a police report to the Ministry of Transportation for any accident with injury or damage that is over a $1,000.  The numbers of collisions, referred to in the Report, are strictly those that are reportable accidents, which are then fed to the City.

·        The OPS role is to support new traffic measures put into place by the City in order to gain compliance for the purpose of achieving the objectives set out by the new measures.

·        It is normal to see high numbers with respect to enforcement and tickets being issued when new measures are put in place.  It is also normal to see those numbers decline, which from the OPS perspective demonstrates compliance towards the new initiative.  That has also been supported by the analysis that City Staff has done with respect to its compliance analysis.

·        OPS do not keep track of the actual amount of hours spent at any particular location with respect to enforcement, however it is believed that as time went by and with increased compliance, there were fewer tickets issued and fewer hours spent at that intersection.

·        In 2004, there were 427 tickets issued at that intersection, 186 of which were related specifically to the new measures being implemented.

·        There are four types of tickets or offences that relate to these charges, two of which relating to By-law infractions – By-law 86 for disobeying an official sign and By-law 56 for prohibited straight movement.  Under the HTA, there is also a disobey offence or a green arrow fail to proceed as directed.  Charges are laid in accordance with the above options.

·        In 2004, 186 of the tickets issued relate specifically to the above four types of offences.  The balance is relating to providing no licence, no insurance, or speeding, and they are ancillary to having the officer conducting a traffic stop.

·        Collisions relating to the new measures are declining rather dramatically – 186 in 2004; 74 in 2005; 66 in 2006; and 35 up to August 31st 2007.

·        A combination of marked and unmarked police vehicles were used with respect to enforcement activities at that intersection.

 

The Committee heard from the following delegations:

 

Pansy Waterman spoke in favour of maintaining the diversion for safety reasons.  She expressed concerned about speeding traffic on Albion Road.  She asked that consideration be taken for seniors and disabled living in the community.

 

Richard Mungall feels that the public consultation process was transparent.  He spoke in favour of maintaining the diversion for safety reasons and believes that the evidence to do so is in the staff report.

 

Ida Ryan showed a film that she took at 8 o’clock this morning at the Albion and Lester intersection in support of maintaining the diversion.  She expressed concern about the volume of traffic and noise.  She asked for understanding that the community cannot be the answer to this traffic situation.  She feels the residents that are travelling in are in dire need of infrastructure and transit answers, but she does not hear that coming from the Councillor putting forward the motion to re-open Albion Road.  In the interest of public safety and residential liveability, she strongly appealed to the Committee and the full Council to continue to support the Blossom Park Community in not removing this north-south traffic diversion but to improve upon it.

 

Josie Ryan concurs with the staff technical report and asked that the diversion not be removed.  She spoke in favour of maintaining the diversion.  She suggested a Park & Ride at Leitrim to get people out of their cars so that they do not have to come through the community and pollute a residential street while going downtown.

 

Janet Mismas spoke in favour of maintaining the diversion and noted that this is the fifth time since July 2002 that she came before a Committee at City Hall to speak on the subject of Albion Road.  She asked Committee to continue to protect her community.  She believes that allowing highway volume traffic through Blossom Park will not make it safer.  She feels that since the re-direction was put in place in 2004 the community has come to know the meaning of quality of life.  She also believes that the constant noise from speeding traffic and exhaust pollution has been reduced.  She urged the Committee to leave the traffic re-direction at Albion and Lester Roads in place, for the safety of the neighbourhood.  Ms. Mismas’ complete presentation was distributed to all Members of Council and is on file with the City Clerk.

 

Jill Bryan spoke in favour of maintaining the diversion.  She expressed concern the same concerns as the previous delegation.  She asked that the Committee to retain the Albion Road diversion and redirect efforts to other traffic management requests.

 

Bill Janzen noted his written submission sent to all Members of Council on October 1st 2007.  Even though he was very pleased that the Technical Evaluation supported the diversion so strongly, he believes that its argument would have been even stronger if it had looked very carefully at the developments in the south and the massive increase in traffic volume that is likely to result from them.  He submits that if the diversion is lifted the traffic volume will rise not just to what it was three years ago but well above that.  He encouraged the Committee and the technical advisors to look at alternatives and solutions.  He does not believe that lifting the diversion would be helpful; he thinks that it would create far more problems than it would be solved.

 

Yolande Grenier spoke in favour of maintaining the diversion and expressed concern about traffic and noise.  She believes that less traffic makes it safer for children, who have to cross Albion Road, everyday to go and come home from school, as well as for senior citizens in the neighbourhood.  She asked the Committee to vote again to keep the traffic redirection in place.  She also believes that removing it will once again limit her freedom of movement on the neighbourhood street.

 

Jacquelyn Baumberg started her presentation by stating that she believes Council made the right decision in 2004 to place a redirection at Lester Road to prevent the north south straight through traffic on Albion Road.  Since the redirection has been in place, she noted that the road has been calmer, safer and the community enjoys an improved quality of life in the neighbourhood.  Consequently, she is in firmly in favour of maintaining the diversion.  However, in view of the fresh efforts to re-open the road, she believes that there are seriously reasons for concern.  She expressed concern about the high volume of traffic and about the safety of people frequenting the day care centre, the Buddhist house of worship, the townhouse residential areas with entrances onto Albion Road. 

 

Earl Vandahl spoke in favour of maintaining the diversion but is open to discussion for a solution to move the City forward.  He believes that the enthusiasm and motivation shown on this issue need to be harnessed in a productive manner to get on with the business of making the City a better place.  He thanked everybody for the hard work and input in this issue.  He asked that the traffic diversion be maintained.

 

Cheryl Doran, Save Our Greenspace spoke about community safety.  She believes that since the diversion was implemented there has been noticeable reduction in the number of cars on Albion Road.  She expressed concern about the volume of traffic on D’Aoust Road and briefed the Committee on an investigation that she undertook on her own to assess the situation.  She concluded that the Albion Road residents should be upset with people coming from the community on Queensdale but not from residents from Councillor Thompson’s Ward.

 

Peter Lok, President of Emerald Woods Residents Association spoke in favour of maintaining the traffic diversion.  He expressed concern about the safety of residents, students walking to school, and commuters walking to catch buses on Albion Road noting that several streets that assess Albion Road within Emerald Woods do not have sidewalks.  He asked the Committee if any alternative is going to be considered that Emerald Woods Residents Association be invited to participate and would like to work co-operatively with all parties to try and come up with a transportation solution that would meet everybody’s needs.  He concluded his presentation by stating that the Emerald Woods Residents Association supports the redirection until an alternative is found to address their concerns.

 

Kenneth Graham spoke in favour of maintaining the diversion and the safety of children in his neighbourhood, one of them being his eight years old daughter.  He believes that the diversion has been a tremendous success.  He noted that since 2004 his neighbourhood has experienced a significant increase in the number of housing units.  With new developments underway, he stated that even with maintaining the traffic diversion, Albion Road traffic would increase significant.  He reminded Committee of the approximate costs of $200,000 for the Albion Corridor Traffic Study and the implementation of the diversion.  He feels this has achieved its goal and therefore it was money well spent.  However, if the decision were reverse in the face of all the evidence to the contrary then the entire project would have been a colossal waste of taxpayers’ money.  He is sympathetic to the concerns of Councillor Thompson’s constituents, who lament their lengthy commute to work each day.  He thinks that it is high time this Committee and Council address their concerns and offer the citizens of Osgoode Ward viable and affordable mass transit service.  If they are in fact looking for relief from the daily stress of commuting then surely the use of extended OC Transpo services should appeal to them.  He is also sympathetic to those in his neighbourhood, who feel that the diversion has caused increased cut through traffic on Queensdale, Kingsdale, and D’Aoust Streets.  He encouraged the Committee to direct that traffic studies be conducted on these streets to determine if this is in fact the case, and if it is, he then suggests that appropriate traffic calming measures be implemented.  Further, he told Committee that the proposal to re-open Albion Road to through traffic and add two additional three-way stops between Queensdale and D’Aoust is a ridiculous idea with absolutely no expert support behind it.  It would create stop and go traffic nightmare along Albion Road especially during rush hour.

 

Terence Scheltema spoke in favour of maintaining the diversion.  He spoke about the overnight casino traffic, the heavy volume and speed of traffic, as well as the noise from motorcycles before the diversion.  He emphasized the fact that the new housing developments are already going to contribute to the traffic volume.  He believes removing the diversion would be mounting on to what is likely to become a problem in the community.  He does not see additional stop signs as a viable alternative.  While supporting the City’s master transit plan, he feels that it is important that the City abide by it.  He asked the Committee to vote based on the evidence and not be influenced by some of the emotional presentations both for and against the diversion.

 

George Elbeyrouti spoke in favour of maintaining the diversion.  He spoke about the increased weekend traffic since the opening of the casino before the diversion.  He expressed concern about the high-speed traffic and noise.  He asked Committee to keep the diversion for safety reasons.

 

Harry Allen, Former Mayor of former City of Gloucester began his presentation by stating that he is grieved to see the Community of Blossom Park divided like this.  He told Committee that he was very much involved with the Lester Road west going to the airport.  He negotiated on the transfer of land from the former City of Gloucester to the National Capital Commission (NCC) in return for land at Blackburn Hamlet, and at Albion Road & Lester Road in order to get a direct road access into the airport; to divert traffic in that direction; and to provide an alternative for people going towards Bronson Avenue.  He questioned Council’s decision to block such a significant collector road with the diversion.  He believes, before making that decision, the City should have negotiated for land from the NCC to build a road from Albion Road over to Bank Street.  This road should be built ingeniously so that motorists would be encouraged to use it.  He noted, in the staff report, the number of accidents at Lester Road and Bank Street have gone up significantly.  He told Committee that recently, while visiting a friend in south Gloucester, he was appalled to see what was happening on Albion Road.  Where he felt that he was involved with improvements in that area, now he sees and hears from the community that is quite the opposite.  He suggested Committee and Council’s task is not easy but carrying on with the no-through traffic is causing problems on residential streets that are not built to carry the volume of traffic, and with no sidewalks.  He reiterated that to divert traffic from a significant collector on to residential streets is not good.  He believes that Committee and Council have a difficult decision but he thinks that there should have been something preparatory by way of a new road from Albion Road over to Bank Street with proper signalization in order to avoid accidents, and also so efficient that it would be attractive for the travelling community.

 

In reply to Councillor Deans, Mr. Allen confirmed that he was present and heard staff presentation on the impact of traffic on the side streets.  He heard conflicting information in that respect and noted his disappointment when staff showed the flow of traffic on the road that were not taken on site, i.e. on Albion Road but was taken somewhere else.

 

In addition, in response to Councillor Deans, Mr. Allen advised that he lives in Kanata Lakes and prior to that he lived in Beacon Hill North when he represented the area of all of Gloucester from Manotick up to including Orleans for 13 years, and was never a ward councillor or alderman.  Hence, his thinking on these matters is not “what’s good for a particular ward” but “what’s good for the total community”.

 

Councillor El-Chantiry asked Mr. Allen if he was on Council in Gloucester when improvements were being conducted on Albion Road.  Mr. Allen advised that he left the Gloucester Council in 1991, but is not certain of the exact dates of improvements on Albion Road.  However, he noted that he was a supporter of the OC Transpo Transitway and public transit, and questioned why the transitway was not extended to Leitrim, for example, to provide an alternative.  He believes that the solution for this problem before Committee is not an easy one, and is going to cost a lot of money to correct it.

 

In response to Councillor Thompson’s question, Mr. Allen told Members of the Committee that the traffic problem in question is all over the City and is not unique to that part of the City.  The solution is to wisely select the priorities in providing alternatives – transitway being one and a new road from Albion Road up to Bank Street another one.

 

For the benefit of those who are not aware, Councillor Legendre noted that Mr. Allen was a politician, who was not afraid to make difficult and controversial decisions, and summarized in a very tongue in cheek way that his presentation at the meeting was to take the blame for the problem with Albion Road today.  Mr. Allen noted seriously that he was here to say that he is sorry to see the division in the community and confirmed that he took some difficult decisions.

 

Eugene Gorgichuk spoke in favour of re-opening Albion Road.  He questioned how a small group of residents in Blossom Park virtually despise the idea of Greely; Osgoode or Manotick residents driving down their street yet insist that they drive through the streets of their neighbours within the same community.  He said that small group of people, who do not want the pollution of heavy traffic encroaching on their air space yet they insist that additional pollution caused by cars travelling a greater distance is thrust upon their neighbours.  He noted that Lester and Bank accidents went from 2 to 16 in a two and a half year period, which points out the results of driver frustration because of the detour.  He also noted that with amalgamation Greely, Osgoode and Manotick residents are forced to pay for infrastructure and improvements to that infrastructure and maintenance throughout the City’s boundaries.  He believes their tax dollars make them partners with all City of Ottawa taxpayers in their responsibilities as well as in the enjoyment of the City in a common sense way.  He asked that, with the projected and continuing growth in the south end of the City, to re-open Albion Road and slow the traffic through the Lester to the Bank area to keep it safe and have the Councillor for the Blossom Park represent hopefully all of the wishes of the taxpayers in that ward.  He believes that many people, regardless where they live share the expression he made to Committee.  He also believes that it is fair to say unless you drive that route on a regular basis daily or several times a week during the heavy traffic times, during winter and summer months, you cannot really assess the situation.  He questioned when and how some of the City’s information provided was compiled, and he asked for a more common sense approach to this entire topic.

 

Wilfrid Côté spoke in favour of maintaining the diversion, recommended by Delcan, a firm specialized in traffic study, as the best method to control the traffic volume to the benefit of the population of Blossom Park.  He believes that the staff technical evaluation report confirms the diversion is appropriate and is efficient.  He asked Committee to vote against the removal of the existing diversion.

 

Robert Cameron, representing the members of the Gloucester South Senior Centre spoke against the closure of Albion Road.  He expressed concern about the traffic and the safety of seniors navigating through the area with the diversion.  He wondered why the City allowed housing developments to occur in the south end yet not providing them with suitable access roads to get downtown.

 

In response to Councillor Thompson’s question, Mr. Cameron advised that there were 42 members at the Gloucester South Senior Centre June Annual General Meeting and the vote to pass the motion to support through traffic was unanimous.

 

Councillor Legendre, in response to the delegation’s question on building suitable access roads, wondered whether the delegation could afford the taxes to build all necessary roads for developing communities.  Mr. Cameron replied by noting that 40 years ago, the Alta Vista Corridor was put through, which would have resolved many of the current problems.

 

Councillor Deans offered to attend a Gloucester South Senior Centre Meeting and bring some of the Traffic Area Management Staff to answer questions.

 

Wade Wallace, Blossom Park  / Sawmill Community Association gave a brief history of his involvement in working towards re-opening Albion Road with solutions that would solve the problem.  He noted that he had 511 signatures from only the Blossom Park area residents, who had enough with the closure and who feel they are getting extra traffic.  Regardless of all the statistics, he believes that there is only one bottom line and one real expert - that is the residents, who say one way or the other whether they want it open or close.  With respect to the current division in the neighbourhood, he thinks there has to be a compromise, which is to put in traffic calming measures on a road that could handle the of volume, not on the side streets.  He also thinks that working together as a community on this kind of project would make a huge difference.

 

With respect to traffic calming measures, Councillor Cullen pointed out, for the benefit of the delegation, that the City has a huge backlog of studies from communities who want traffic calming, a theme found across the City, to ensure that cut through traffic is not threatening their streets.  He noted that this is something to think about when going through the 2008 Budget in November.

 

In response to Councillor Thompson’s question, Mr. Wallace stated that people, who are aware of the Airport Parkway improvement, would prefer using the Parkway instead of driving through a neighbourhood that has traffic measures.

 

In response to Councillor Deans’ question with respect to traffic calming measure backlog, Mr. Wallace suggested that stop signs is the answer in the interim, which would allow pedestrians to cross; break up of traffic and residents living on Albion Road to be able to pull in and out of their laneway, and they are inexpensive.

 

At the request of Councillor El-Chantiry, Mr. Wallace provided Committee with a copy of the 511-Signature Petition, a copy of which is on file with the City Clerk.

 

In response to Acting Chair Leadman, Mr. Wallace clarified that timed diversions could be an option amongst many.

 

Ron Stewart, President of the Board of Directors of Atrium I, a building of 200 condominiums, with the majority of residents being seniors, a number of working professionals, and a small amount of residents with children.  He told Committee of a petition to re-open Albion Road was circulated in his building and the vast majority of the residents contacted signed in favour of the re-opening.  It is his understanding that the majority of residents in the sister condominium, Atrium II, also with 200 condominiums share the same view.  They care about their neighbours and their children, and they also care about the children and the seniors who reside in Atriums I & II.  They have always felt that the concerns of those fighting to keep Albion Road closed could be balanced with the concerns of those who are fighting to open it again with some traffic control measures.  Many of the Atriums I & II residents want the open access to go to the Gloucester Seniors Centre, St. James Anglican Church and other churches, businesses on Albion Road as well as to the Golf Courses and the Casino.  He believes cutting across side streets is a problem for them and it creates traffic flow on the side streets.  He advised that a number of residents and he attended nearly all of the meetings dealing with this subject including the September 26th fiasco meeting at the school.  Those who attended that meeting were shocked and he was disappointed with the way the meeting was not allowed to be conducted and the fact that it seems there is no democracy operating in the communities.  He feels sad that the matter has divided the family in immediate community not to mention the animosity created towards their neighbours to the south of Lester.  He urged the Committee to let common sense prevail and the wishes of the majority be considered.  He also urged the Committee to consider the proposal mentioned by Mr. Wallace and previous delegations to reduce and slow down the traffic flow, and above all enforce the traffic laws diligently.  He asked for some consideration be given to reducing the speed limit on Bridle Path and Albion from Lester to Bank as on the side streets that are feeders to Albion noting that Bridle Path has become quite a feeder road from Hunt Club to Albion.

 

William R. Caw stated Albion Road (Regional Road #25) is not a particularly special Regional Road that has experienced development growth, as has the entire south end of Ottawa.  It is not special in any other way, historically, ecologically, or economically other than to support the movement of citizens to their place of business or residents, and to provide a living to a number of local businesses.  He also stated that for some reasons, some residents of Albion Road see themselves as more special than other road residents.  He believes closing this road at Lester upset the traffic demographic on several other roads in the vicinity.  Although there has been increased development in the area, approved by Council without concern for traffic repercussions including the abandonment of the north-south rail link, which might have help to limit traffic flow, this could be a deemed abrogation of responsibility.  He feels all residents should have the same right for safe and peaceful existence.  He also feels if the issue is one of safety only, Albion could be made safer by lights, speed bumps and the OPS.  He noted that the bulk of traffic through this area is during commuting hours.  He said that the detour at Albion and Lester has caused drivers to find other routes or junctions to the quiet collector residential streets.  He thinks that this is a greater hazard than letting the traffic free flow, as these new routes have become learned routes making traffic hazard in the areas even outside commuter hours.  He further spoke against the closure of Albion Road and asked that elected officials to resolve this matter quickly before it gets further out of hand and to uphold the democratic values.

 

In response to Councillor Deans, Mr. Caw acknowledged that he was not aware of the City’s Official Plan Document and the different classifications of roads, however, he is aware of the vast increase in traffic along Highway 31 because of the massive developments in the area.  Councillor Deans suggested that he read the report to see the different classifications and that Bank Street, where he lives, is designated as an arterial intended to carry a higher volume of traffic than a local street such as Albion Street, which has a local collector designation.

 

Matthew Rankin, a resident of the community with a professional background in road safety and fuel efficiency noted that there are a number of consequences from this road closure.  He provided detailed information to justify his comments, copy of which is on file with the City Clerk.  He talked about issues of environmental, health and safety impacts from this closure to the attention of the Committee.  He suggested the City takes many small grassroots initiatives to start making changes and not to look at one big solution.  He believes that closing one road is not the solution because people will find other ways through residential streets.  He said that the City is failing in its attempt to modernize its traffic infrastructure compared to other cities.

 

Councillor Deans, referring to the list provided by City Staff of over 400 intersections in the City of Ottawa that have traffic diversion measures currently in place, asked Mr. Rankin if he would be suggesting to City Council that these diversions be lifted.  Mr. Rankin responded that the diversions would have to be assessed individually because there is a big difference between timed and permanent restrictions.

 

Further to Councillor Thompson’s question, the delegation clarified that driver behaviour is very complex.  He said that many people would prefer to keep driving as opposed to stopping.  He stated that putting in speed bumps might have a smaller emission increase because you are accelerating your car a few times to go over the speed bumps as opposed to driving a lengthy detour.

 

Deborah Moore spoke in favour of maintaining the diversion.  She expressed concern about traffic volume and noise.  She believes very strongly that the diversion is necessary to provide her community with the best possible answer.

 

Gayle Webber, a Blossom Park Community resident, said that the traffic on Albion Street and in the neighbourhood has made a huge difference.  She spoke in favour of the maintaining the diversion.  Although this diversion is inconvenient for everybody, she believes that it has to absolutely stay for the safety of the neighbourhood.

 

In response to Councillor Deans, Ms. Webber advised that the traffic is at all hours and suggested stronger enforcement.

 

In response to Councillor Thompson, Ms. Webber clarified her comments that it is safer to walk on Albion Road after the diversion because there is less volume and speed of traffic.

 

Kim Ryan spoke in favour of maintained the traffic diversion.  She expressed concern about the increased traffic volume, especially from the Casino.  She read three statements from the technical review –

 

She asked Committee and Council vote to maintain the traffic re-direction on Albion Road and she thanked Councillor Deans for standing by her community on an issue, which has unfortunately become quite contentious.

 

In response to Councillor Thompson, Ms. Ryan advised that she did not have data to support that the 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. traffic is coming anywhere other than the Casino, but she also alluded to traffic coming from fast growing south end of the community, such as Finley Creek and Riverside South.

 

Ian Rayburn, a high school teacher with the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, has always taught his students that one of the cornerstones of a democracy is the participation of the electorate accompanied by subsequent consultation with all the stakeholders.  He believes in this particular area the majority of Blossom Park residents have been let down by their elected representative.  He spoke about the lack of consultation with respect to the closing of Albion Road.  Having personally spoken with many affected residents, he suggested that their input was not sought.  He advised safety over convenience is not really the issue but the fact is that the safety of all residents on the side streets has been compromised by the overflow of traffic, which use to traverse Albion.  He thinks that for the residents of the closed portion of Albion to maintain that those desiring re-opening desire it simply for the sake of convenience over safety makes a specious and insulting argument.  He opined that safety on the side streets has been jeopardized by the increased traffic because of the closure.  He questioned whether the roughly four blocks residents of Albion, who lobbied Councillor Deans for closure, trumped those who are adversely affected.  He suggested that the result of this closure and its resulting increased danger to residents not living on Albion as a result of overflow traffic as far east as Conroy is unconscionable.  He believes that this sounds like the perfect example of the NIMBY Syndrome.  He questioned City Staff’s in its report maintaining that the decision was justified in order to reduce traffic levels and improved community safety - what community Blossom Park or just Albion Road?  He believes that it is obvious that when a street is close, traffic is going to be reduced.  He also believes that what is not demonstrated, is that traffic has moved on to the side streets and it certainly did not disappear.  He also questioned the staff report indicating that there is a 23% reduction in collisions in the area.  He thinks it is just in that portion of Albion, thus staff is stating the obvious – less traffic fewer collisions.  He further questioned whether all reported collisions were considered or just those resulting in over $1,000 damage.  Although the staff report maintains that travel times as a result of closure were not affected, he was always taught that a straight line is the shortest distance between any two given points and questioned the logic.  He questioned the statistics collected and reminded the Committee that statistics are like bikinis - what they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital.  He stated that the quality of life of side street residents has deteriorated; the volume of traffic has increased and their safety is threatened by this closure.

 

In response to Councillor Legendre’s questions, Mr. Rayburn confirmed that he is not in favour of maintaining the closure.  He has lived on Rosebella since 1991 and can never recall receiving or reading any notification about this closure going through.  Councillor Deans can attest that he is active in events of the area and as his job as a high school teacher he tries to keep up to date of what is going.  For the information of the Committee, he noted that he did take a day off work without pay.

 

Councillor Deans advised Mr. Rayburn that the meetings discussing the closure of Albion Road were advertised in the Ottawa Citizen, the Ottawa Sun, and Le Droit in accordance with the public participation policy.  Mr. Rayburn admitted not missing the advertisements, and the Councillor offered to provide him with a copy.

 

Betty Kasaboski advised that her position on this issue is for the re-opening of Albion Road for the safety of all the children of Blossom Park, who are now at a greater risk and are the biggest loser.  She expressed concern about the safety of children being jeopardized with the diversion.  She implored Committee to consider re-opening Albion Road before any child gets hurt on Queensdale, Kingsdale, and Rosebella.

 

Kimberly Day had no new information to offer the Committee other than to say that just because she does not technically live in the yellow blob, it does not mean that the closure of Albion Road does not affect her life everyday.  She is adamantly opposed to keeping Albion Road closed and suggested that another solution is needed.  She feels that the closure is just a band-aid solution and all it is doing is diverting traffic and causing problems on the other streets.  She urged Committee to find a more permanent solution.

 

Al Gullon spoke about his expertise, his research, and papers on the issue of traffic.  He noted that his research is relevant to the question before Committee and it has proven on data from 17 countries that the precipitating cause of all traffic collisions is AMPS – The Absent-Minded Professor Syndrome; in French – syndrome dans la lune.  He also noted that conclusion has been hugely corroborated by early results from a multi-million dollar NACSA (US Federal Agency) Study.  He showed graphics illustrating that the risk of accident is not linear with traffic volume or density.  It starts at zero to zero; if nobody is moving nobody dies, and then continues up proportional to the increase in volume but as the density gets heavier, the actual risk of an accident goes down again.  He advised that graph has been substantiated by several decades of traffic safety research – when the traffic is denser then the accident rate goes down.  Having reviewed the latest City’s technical report, he pointed out that taken at face value, the City data shows that closing Albion at Lester has been a lose/lose for traffic safety.  Not only has the increase through traffic on D’Aoust increased slightly the collision risk, but also Albion itself now has a slightly higher risk level.  Although the large reduction in traffic volume has reduced the total number of collisions per year with City data at face value, that reduction has been less than proportional to the volume change.  As a result the risk of the collision for each kilometre travelled, whether an adult in a car or a child on a bicycle, has gone up slightly.  This is completely consistent with his Barcelona Paper and with the results of that NACSA Study.  He proposed a solution, which would produce a win/win situation for collision risk, the environment and energy consumption, even with Albion re-opened, and specifically he proposed that throughout Blossom Park including Albion the traditional right of way priorities be reverse.  Currently, a driver starting at a residential cul-de-sac faces stop signs, under his courtesy priority proposal, that driver would have the right of way all the way to the traffic lights on the major arterial.  On Albion itself, the traffic flow would change dramatically for the better.  Instead of a noisy roaring engine followed by squealing brakes, highly polluting, stop and start, very frustrating journey from Lester to Bank, traffic would proceed smoothly steadily and safely.  Instead of a royally ignoring driver on side streets, the driver on Albion would be legally constrained by the yield sign to pay attention to drivers on those side streets in order to facilitate their entrance to Albion.  Peak speed would be lower but the average speed for the trip would be higher.  Mr. Gullon confirmed Acting Chair Leadman’s statement that he had previously submitted detailed information and a graphic from his Barcelona Paper to all Members of Council, copy of which are on file with the City Clerk.

 

In response to Councillor Bloess, Mr. Gullon advised that he lives in Councillor McRae’s Ward.

 

Stephen McDonnell, a Greely resident, presented the opinion of the bulk of commuters moving from the south to the north and back everyday.  He spoke against the diversion and the problems caused by it.  He advocates the re-opening of the Albion Road for the purposes of freeing up the traffic at that intersection.  He believes that the existing traffic lights system is exacerbating the concentration of traffic thereby motivating people to find alternate route as people of Blossom Park have discussed.  He stated that the City of Ottawa has approved major development projects but has not backed it up with infrastructure for transportation.  He encouraged Committee immediately following the resolution of this motion, one way or the other, move into the area of either light rail or the expansion of the transitway and park & ride facilities down south, which is desperately needed.

 

Colin McFarlane stated that the intersection of Albion Road at Lester Road should remain closed to through traffic.  He believes that the future quality of life and safety of this neighbourhood should not be put in jeopardy for a one-two minute commute.  A designated collector lane should not be used as an arterial road.  As a concerned citizen of Ottawa, he does not live in this neighbourhood; therefore, he thinks he has a unique perspective that he can share with Committee today.  He sold his house on a street right at Albion.  He worked with Councillor Deans and the community to get the road closed; it was not quick enough.  He could not wait and had to move because he and his family were living with a cushion in their window.  He spoke about issues at peak hours and late at night.  He also spoke in favour of this diversion for safety reason.  He urged Committee not to open Albion Road at Lester Road.  He stated that the many years of a quiet safer neighbourhood definitely has more value than a rush few minutes of an unsafe daily commute.

 

Heidi Higgins spoke in favour of re-opening Albion Road.  She believes that the closure of Albion Road has jeopardized the safety of both children and adults in her community due to the diversion of traffic caused to the residential streets that run adjacent to Albion Road.  She advised that prior to the closure her corner was quiet with minimal traffic during the day; the corner has a 4-way stop with single family homes on two corners, a condominium development on one, and the Saw Mill Creek Community Centre on the fourth.  Traffic was only noticeable immediately before and after school when buses and parents were transporting school children.  Today, the level of traffic has increased to a level that makes it dangerous to cross this residential street.  She expressed concern about the volume of traffic, speeding drivers and drivers ignoring stop signs.  She feels that it is necessary to go back to the table and find a solution for the entire community rather than pushing the problem from neighbourhood to another.  She does not believe that this needs to be the neither-or issue it has become.

 

In response to questions from Councillor Deans, Ms. Higgins questioned why her perception is not being taken as seriously as the perception as those living on Albion Road.  She is not here to debate the closure or the opening but to say that it has affected the larger community and it needs to be recognized and addressed, and something needs to be put into place.

 

Andrew Day spoke in favour of re-opening Albion Road as a solution to safety and traffic solution.

 

Lorna Weins, a Blossom Park resident for 15 years spoke in favour of re-opening Albion Road.  She advised that she was not given an opportunity to vote against the closure.  She believes that people would still use Albion Road even it is close.

 

Audrey Webster asked the Committee to reject re-opening Albion Road and that the diversion be kept.  She expressed concerns about the safety of older people.  She believes that the increase in traffic is not because of the redirection.  She asked Committee to support re-opening Albion Road.

 

Peter Lang spoke in favour of re-opening Albion Road.  He believes that the current traffic problem is only the beginning of a growing problem.  He suggested that perhaps in the future Albion Road be merged on to the highway and the Airport Parkway.  He asked Committee to support the re-opening of Albion Road.

 

Having heard from all the delegations, the Committee also received the following correspondences, which are on file with the City Clerk:

1.                  E-Mail received 6 September 2007 from Ian Clough asking that Albion Road be kept closed.

2.                  E-Mail received 6 September 2007 from Robert Aubé, Re-open Albion Road NOW.

3.                  E-Mail received 6 September 2007 from Harry Allen, Former Mayor of Former City of Gloucester.

4.                  E-Mail received 21 September 2007 from Irene Marushko asking that Albion Road be kept closed.

5.                  E-Mail received 21 September 2007 from Myrnah and Gerry Vullings supporting the continued closure of Albion Road.

6.                  E-Mail received 24 September 2007 from JoAnn and Gerry Crichlow supporting the continued closure of Albion Road.

7.                  E-Mail received 25 September 2007 from Wayne Moore supporting the continued closure of Albion Road.

8.                  E-Mail received 25 September 2007 from Janet Mismas on behalf of Angelo and Francesca Caminiti, asking to keep "through traffic" out of Blossom Park by leaving the traffic re-direction at Lester Rd in place.

9.                  E-Mail received 26 September 2007 from Khalil & Sylvia Hayek – Opposed to the re-opening of Albion Road.

10.              E-Mail received 26 September 2007 from Grace and Al Sontrop, asking Committee to vote against the removal of the traffic redirect at Albion and Lester.

11.              E-Mail received 27 September 2007 from Sharon Corbett, in favour of re-opening Albion Road.

12.              E-Mail received 1 October 2007 from Helen Cory, in favour of re-opening Albion Road.

13.              E-Mail received 1 October 2007 from Salvatore Guerra asking to maintain the closure.

14.              E-Mail received 1 October 2007 from Tim Bakos, re Letter to be read at Transportation Committee Meeting, October 3, 2007 - Re: Albion Road / Lester.

15.              E-Mail received 2 October 2007 from Allison Millar and Daniel Lavoie, strongly supporting keeping the re-direction in place.

16.              E-Mail received 2 October 2007 from Denise Bellingham, supporting the re-opening of Albion Road.

17.              E-Mail received 2 October 2007 from Emily MacDonald, requesting that her submission be reflected in the Minutes.

18.              Hand Delivered Letter from Mrs. M. Gertrude (Maule) Lefebvre, requesting to re-open Albion Road.

19.              E-Mail received 2 October 2007 from Eleanor Ryan, in support of maintaining diversion.

20.              E-Mail received 2 October 2007 from Bill Janzen, in support of maintaining the diversion.

21.              E-Mail received 2 October 2007 from Rothwell Hauck Gallery & Framing, in support of re-opening Albion Road.

22.              E-Mail received 2 October 2007 from Sheilagh Murray-Macdonald, in support of re-opening Albion Road.

23.              E-Mail received 2 October 2007 from Gary Macdonald, in support of re-opening Albion Road.

24.              E-Mail received 2 October 2007 from Al Gullon, providing technical solutions.

25.              E-Mail received 2 October 2007 from Yves Leduc, in support of re-opening Albion Road.

26.              E-Mail received 3 October 2007 from A. Kuraishi, Ottawa South Resident in support of re-opening Albion Road.

27.              E-Mail received 3 October 2007 from Mrs Fabienne Dassylva, Blossom Park Resident, in support of re-opening Albion Road.

28.              E-Mail received 3 October 2007 from David Gladstone.

29.              E-Mail received 3 October 2007 from Peter Everson, in support of maintaining the diversion.

30.              Janet Mismas’ complete presentation along with a copy of the relevant section of the Rideau Carleton Raceway Expansion and the Traffic Impact Study from which she quoted received following the meeting and was distributed to all Members of Council.

 

The Committee then received the staff report as follows:

 

That the Transportation Committee and Council receive the “Technical Evaluation of Albion Road and Lester Road through Movements Prohibitions Report” for information, which confirms the appropriateness of maintaining the north-south through movement prohibitions at the intersection of Albion Road and Lester Road.

 

            RECEIVED

 

After receiving the staff report, the Committee carried on with questions relating to Councillor Thompson’s report (ACS2007-CCS-TRC-0006).

 

This item was considered simultaneously with Item 3.

 

In response to questions from Councillor Thompson, staff provided the following clarifications on the Technical Report:

·        When doing the Albion Road Corridor Study, staff did ask input from the Technical Advisory Committee on which the OPS and the two School Boards were included.

·        The Emergency Services did respond to staff call for input, but do not recall receiving a response from the OPS and the School Boards.

·        As part of the review, school buses and authorized vehicles are exempt.  Staff did check with the School Boards in order to discuss their routing and impacts from the prohibited through movement.  Councillor Thompson noted that in checking with the Public School Board, they advised that they were not consulted because they would have voiced strong objection with respect to the school bus movements.

·        The consultation done in 2002 would have been as a result of notices sent for the community, and through the public open house; therefore no specific or additional consultation with businesses other than that.

·        In 2002, notices were sent to people north of Lester Road and west of Bank Street; therefore, the 90+ businesses south of Lester Road, other than seeing the notices in the newspapers, were not consulted.

·        Approximately 50% of the diverted traffic had legitimate business within Blossom Park.

·        Although as part of the process, staff projected that traffic volume may increase on some of the side streets, since then staff has been able to verify through comparison of before and after volume, there has been no change in traffic volume on those side streets.

·        Staff will provide Councillor Thompson with the times and dates of the traffic counts before the Council Meeting.

·        Staff is aware of the situation at Lester and Bank.  Currently, there are 120 intersections in the City of Ottawa that are failing.  This one is not failing and therefore there is not enough money to keep up with the current failure rate of intersections.  Certainly aware of it and has looked at any potential operational changes that can be made.  Traffic patterns have changed on these various arterials.  We dealt with that and we have been aware of that, so we have been able to accommodate traffic as best we can with respect to increasing the time at a particular signal that is phasing.  So we are aware of that and we do what we can.

·        At Bank at Lester, part of the proposal was to get people off Albion put them on Bank.  In any studies in relation to this, have we done traffic counts on Bank Street?  The TPO have a regular program of collecting traffic data on various streets, especially at signalized intersections.  We do certainly have traffic volume information; there are other sources of information – there are screen lines counts that are done in this area.

·        Staff will provide Councillor Thompson before the Council Meeting a comparison of the traffic volume on Bank Street in 2002 and 2005.

·        Staff is aware of the issues in and around the study area and will look at what is the optimal signal timing for the traffic volumes approaching the intersection.

·        The Condominium Corporation, not the City of Ottawa, initiated the closing of Aladdin Lane.  The initial evaluation, one year after the restriction went in place, found there was an increase in traffic on that street, but it was minimal.  Aladdin Villa felt that it was in its best interest to close the road and the City supported the closure.

·        Roadways are closed or chained with a weak link, familiar to emergency vehicle providers and specifically designed to allow emergency vehicles to go through.

·        Staff will investigate if the Condominium has put in place a much more secure link, like a gated situation, that would not allow emergency vehicles to go through.

·        The requirement of the Aladdin Closure was that the Condominium would provide emergency access.  Staff would investigate this closure and will provide Councillor Thompson with its dynamic when it was put in place.

 

Councillor Deans took this opportunity to thank all the presenters for their participation.  She also thanked staff for providing a thorough presentation and an excellent report.  She advised that she would hold her questions until the City Council Meeting.

 

In conclusion, she asked City Staff to provide its expert opinion on the suggestion of removing the straight through prohibition and installing stops signs at Albion and Goth, and at Albion and Kingsdale.  The response from staff was that people would stop using Albion Road thus the volume of traffic would grow in that area and the impacts would also grow significantly.

 

At that point, Councillor Bédard asked that the vote be called.  Following a brief discussion, the Committee voted on calling the question:

 

Moved by Councillor G. Bédard:

 

That the question be put.

            LOST

 

YEAS (2): Councillors R. Bloess, G. Bédard

NAYS (6):            Councillors M. Wilkinson, A. Cullen, J. Legendre, C. Doucet, D. Thompson, C. Leadman

 

The Committee then proceeded in debating the report.

 

Councillor Wilkinson advised that she would actually vote in favour of keeping the restriction in place at this time.  She thinks that we have to look at other alternatives to divert traffic around.

 

Councillor Doucet extended his sympathy to all involved in this particular mess.  He spoke in favour of protecting the quality of life of neighbourhoods and keeping Albion Road closed.

 

Councillor Cullen thanked everybody who e-mailed him with their viewpoints and apologized for not able to respond to them all.  He recognized that Councillor Thompson is well within his rights to bring forward a motion like this because he is trying to represent his community, whose particular interest is seeing Albion Road re-opened.  He also can understand Councillor Deans for stepping up to defend her community because opening Albion Road has a significant impact on her community.  He noted that the City’s policy is to protect neighbourhoods and it is the major issue in his community.  After further comments on protecting neighbourhoods from cut through traffic, he advised that he would vote against Councillor Thompson’s motion.

 

Councillor Legendre noted that quantity traffic would grow in the City for the foreseeable future.  He believes that the only hope to lessen the growth in traffic is to adopt in a serious way the smart growth and sustainable principles, which means that we have to change the kinds of decisions that we make around land use planning, zoning, etc. long before a car shows up.  Those decisions have to be made and thought through properly because these kinds of problems occur inevitably otherwise.  He also believes that traffic speed and safety is achievable in a faster timeframe than is the first problem.  He suggested that we have to get at the driver behaviour and spoke in favour of red light cameras.  He said that we need a lot of them, not to make money but to increase safety.  We also need more police enforcement and real traffic calming measures that would cost money, not just stop signs, and he would be prepared to support and put some public funds towards these kinds of measures.  He does not believe you could protect communities by shutting public roads and put emphasis on the word ‘public’ because we simply cannot build enough walls to do so or if not, we would be putting another area at hazard.  He believes that connectivity of all sorts - for pedestrians, for walkways - is important for the transportation network.  He advised that he would not be supportive of maintaining this closure, as he never did at various occasions previously.

 

In response to further questions from Acting Chair Leadman on the staff report, staff provided the following responses and clarifications:

·        At the public open house held in 2002, staff presented five or six options contained in the report for addressing the concerns.

·        A survey was not part of the process; a public open house was the opportunity for the public to come and be informed as well as to submit their points of view, which are evaluated after.

·        Growth was factored in with new development and it was part of the evaluation as specifically directed by Council.

·        Parking and Traffic Operations review all traffic impact studies.

 

Acting Chair Leadman noted that she did take the time to watch people’s behaviour.  She understands both sides of the issue but recognizes that traffic is growing everywhere.  She would like to support keeping the measures because she is not prepared to re-open the road without any alternatives.

 

Councillor Thompson thanked people from both sides of the issue, who came out to present their views.  He also thanked staff and the Councillors.  He understands that it is a very difficult decision.  As stated by the Acting Chair, he believes that the people in the community were confused; notices were only delivered to a small section; in the newspapers it stated Albion Road Corridor Study and there were no solutions to a lot of people other than it was going to be a closure.  He also believes that there was lack of public consultation, and before the next Council Meeting, he is going to clarify the matter of consultation.  He implored his colleagues to support his motion because he thinks it is imperative that the restrictions be removed so that both sides of the community can feel safe in their neighbourhood.

 

The Committee then considered the following motion:

 

That the Transportation Committee recommend that Council approve the removal of the restrictions to North/South Traffic Movement on Albion Road at Lester Road and the installation of 3-way stop signs on Albion Road at Goth Avenue and 3-way stop signs at Kingsdale Avenue on Albion Road be implemented.

 

            LOST

 

YEAS (3):            Councillors R. Bloess, J. Legendre, D. Thompson

NAYS (5):            Councillors M. Wilkinson, A. Cullen, G. Bédard, C. Doucet, C. Leadman