1. ROADS AND CYCLING ADVISORY COMMITTEE 2007 ANNUAL REPORT AND 2008 WORKPLAN

ComitÉ consultatif sur les routes et le cyclisme – rapport annuel de 2007 et plan de travail 2008

Committee recommendations

That Council:

1. Receive the 2007 Annual Report of the Roads and Cycling Advisory Committee as detailed in Document 1; and

2. Approve the objectives contained in the 2008 Workplan, as detailed in Document 2.

recommandations du comité

Que le Conseil :

1. reçoive le Rapport annuel de 2007 du Comité consultatif sur les routes et le cyclisme, tel que décrit dans le Document 1; et

2. approuve les objectifs qui sont présentés dans le Plan de travail 2008, tel que décrit dans le Document 2.

Documentation

1. Roads and Cycling Advisory Committee report dated 16 April 2008 (ACS2008-CCV-RCA-0002).

2. Extract of Draft Minutes, 16 April 2008.

Report to/Rapport au :

Transportation Committee

Comité des transports

and Council / et au Conseil

16 April 2008/ le 16 avril 2008

Submitted by/Soumis par : Roads and Cycling Advisory Committee/Comité consultatif sur les routes et cyclisme

Contact Person/Personne ressource : Stephanie Brown Bellefeuille, Advisory Committee Coordinator

City Clerk’s Branch/Direction du greffe

(613) 580-2424 x 16760, stephanie.brown@ottawa.ca

City Wide/Toute la ville

Ref N°: ACS2008-CCV-RCA-0002

SUBJECT:	ROADS AND CYCLING ADVISORY COMMITTEE 2007 ANNUAL REPORT AND 2008 WORKPLAN

OBJET :	Comite consultatif sur les routes et le cyclisme – rapport annuel de 2007 et plan de travail 2008

REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS

That the Roads and Cycling Advisory Committee recommend that the Transportation Committee recommend Council:

1. Receive the 2007 Annual Report of the Roads and Cycling Advisory Committee as detailed in Document 1; and

2. Approve the objectives contained in the 2008 Workplan, as detailed in Document 2.

RECOMMANDATIONS DU RAPPORT

Que le Comité consultatif sur les routes et le cyclisme recommande au Comité des transports de recommander à son tour au Conseil:

1. de recevoir le Rapport annuel de 2007 du Comité consultatif sur les routes et le cyclisme, tel que décrit dans le Document 1; et

2. d’approuver les objectifs qui sont présentés dans le Plan de travail 2008, tel que décrit dans le Document 2.

BACKGROUND

City Council, on 6 December 2006, reconfirmed its governance structure. This included the advisory committees, and the requirement for each to complete a workplan outlining proposed projects and activities for the upcoming year. The workplan is to identify each and every activity the Committee plans to undertake in the upcoming year, whether they have a budgetary impact or not. Each item should be identified with a brief description of the project or activity.

The Lead Department Representatives are to provide the Committee with information on the departmental workplan and priorities, where the workplans of the Committees tie into that workplan, and where the Committee can assist the Department. The Lead Department Representative will also advise on what staff and/or financial resources are available as part of departmental priorities.

There was no funding approved for the advisory committee 2008 workplans.

DISCUSSION

The attached 2007 Annual Report, prepared by the RCAC’s Vice-Chair, reviews the Committee’s 2007 activities and accomplishments. It was approved by the Committee at their March 18 meeting.

The attached 2008 Workplan is a reflection of the Committee’s on-going goals and some newer initiatives planned for 2008. It was approved at their February 26 meeting.

CONSULTATION

PUBLIC WORKS AND SERVICES

The Department concurs with the 2008 Workplan and 2007 Annual Report, prepared by the Roads and Cycling Advisory Committee, and acknowledges the value to the Department in terms of providing comment and advice from the citizen's perspective on various projects. Some additional items, over and above those indicated in the 2008 Workplan, may be brought forward to Committee, as they arise throughout the year. A potential example would be in regard to the current update of the City’s Official Plan and Transportation Master Plan, if details on these updates become available during this year. Of note, staff already undertake some of the activities listed in the workplan, such as the Safe Rides to School, and Bicycle Parking. In such cases staff will coordinate these activities with Committee, as much as possible, to avoid any unnecessary duplications of effort.

FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

The City’s 2008 Operating Budget does not provide funding for advisory committee work plans. This includes the RCAC’s 2008 Work Plan items.

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

Document 1 – Roads and Cycling 2007 Annual Report

Document 2 – Roads and Cycling 2008 Proposed Workplan

Document 3 – Roads and Cycling Terms of Reference (on file with the City Clerk)

DISPOSITION

City Clerk’s Branch staff will forward the recommendations approved by the Transportation Committee to City Council for ratification.

Document 1

RCAC Annual Report 2007

This is an overview of the Roads and Cycling Advisory Committee’s (RCAC) activities for 2007.

Our page on the City of Ottawa’s web site is

http://ottawa.ca/city_hall/mayor_council/advisory_committees/cycling/index_en.html

The mandate of the Roads and Cycling Advisory Committee is to provide advice and guidance to Ottawa City Council and its Departments, on issues, policies and programs, which reflect the City's commitment to a variety of travel modes, and that achieve the appropriate balance in a way that contributes to our City's overall quality of life, and that have an impact on a citizen's ability to travel in Ottawa. The goal of the Committee is to give advice to provide a liveable and environmentally friendly city that is accessible and safe to commute by bicycle, motor vehicle and other methods of road transportation, and where such means is an integral part of a publicly supported and balanced transportation system. The Committee will specifically advise on transportation issues related to cycling, traffic safety (including education, area and neighbourhood traffic management including traffic-calming) and other transportation-related policies and programs.

A number of informative presentations by city staff were made to the committee again this year. Topics included the 2006 Collision Statistics Report, an update on the Beyond 2020 plan, and a revisiting of the Rack ‘n’ Roll program with an idea to extend it to full year, which was not recommended due to the expected increase in maintenance of the racks in winter weather and likely low usage rates. A member of the public, Paul Clark, also came in to the May meeting to express his concern that no city staff had been able to guarantee that the Richmond Road/Bayshore/Queensway widening and transitway extension project will have wide curb lanes or bicycle lanes. City staff present at that meeting committed to following up on this issue.

In September, Innes Ward councillor Rainer Bloess came in to talk with us as the regular bi-monthly RCAC meeting was held away from our usual meeting place at City Hall, in Orleans. He is a fairly avid cyclist, and cycling advocate. During a very interesting and informative discussion, his advice to us regarding the best way for citizens to encourage the city to commit resources to cycling infrastructure is to get in contact with and influence their councillors. Regarding the Ottawa Cycling Plan, he suggested that one way to work towards its acceptance would be to emphasize its advantages to all road users, not just cyclists.

Regarding the OCP, RCAC has again been following its progress throughout 2007 towards being tabled and accepted by the Transportation Committee and Council. Progress has been slow again this year, but there were reasons for optimism by fall that it would happen by spring.

A half-dozen motions were brought forward at committee meetings this year, and all but one passed. In January, two motions recommending that the city continue to support cycling safety and promotion until the end of July, and change the timetable of issuing yearlong cycling safety and promotion contracts to begin in August rather than January, carried. At the May meeting, we were informed that Envirocentre would be the new vendor for cycling education in 2007. RCAC also passed a motion recommending an exemption from GST and PST on the purchase of bicycles. In November, the government of Ontario announced a PST exemption on bicycles under $1000, helmets, and other safety equipment.

Again in 2007, some RCAC members attended public consultations on road reconstruction projects to represent the committee’s interests, and reported back to the committee. Terry O’Shaughnessy went to a public seminar regarding the reconstruction of Bank Street between Billings Bridge and Walkey Road. James McLaren volunteered to represent RCAC at a Rideau Street Urban Design study.

RCAC struck an ad-hoc subcommittee to review the submissions for the annual Bruce Timmermans Award and recommend a candidate. The deserving winner for 2007 was Stella Val. However, members of this subcommittee regarding the process, significance, and profile of this award expressed concerns. RCAC passed a motion recommending that the city review the administration of this award next year.

Document 2

RCAC Proposed Workplan 2008

Infrastructure

1. Examine the progress of the capital projects outlined in the Transportation Master Plan

Activities

Continue review of Transportation Master Plan to determine progress of capital projects, with particular focus on the Ottawa Cycling Plan.

Output

Report and recommendations on the progress of Transportation Master Plan Capital Projects.

Background

In 2003, the Council approved the 20/20 Transportation Master Plan (TMP). This plan outlined a number of key capital projects that were needed in order to achieve the goals outlined in the TMP. The goal of this proposal is to examine the progress of the capital projects outline in “Annex A Required Infrastructure Projects” of the TMP, make recommendations and report to the Transportation Committee. (Ongoing)

2. Bike Bylaws (Including Harmonization of Zoning and Traffic Bylaws, with Respect to Bicycles)

Activities

Report and recommend to staff and council on the traffic and parking bylaw harmonization process, and zoning regulations, as they apply to cycling infrastructure and facilities.

Output

Reports and recommendations on by-laws and zoning regulations.

Background

This will be a new area of focus for the Committee.

3. Safe Ride To Schools

Activities

Meet with particular schools and or school boards with general recommendations for better cycling (i.e., more safety audits, more secure bicycle parking)

Output

Meeting with school officials, and where necessary and applicable, and a report with a recommendation on this particular issue, with the intent of examining other such areas of concern around the City (or ‘safety audits’).

Background

The issue was originally raised between the RCAC Vice-Chair and Councillor Gord Hunter’s office, with respect to the Greenbank Road Rail Overpass Issue. It has since raised the interest of all such areas to the members of RCAC. (Ongoing)

Safety and Education

4. Roads and Cycling Safety and Education

Activities

Maintain, assess and provide advice on all City programs relevant to roads and cycling safety and education.

Output

· Creation and examination of reports and recommendations seeking to improve cycling safety, education and promotion.

· Action plan to be developed by members Ullyatt and O’Shaughnessy.

Background

(On-going).

5. RCAC Outreach/Promotion Initiative

Activities

Build relationships with various community, resident, and other-type organizations by attending general meetings and/or speaking to community leaders with the objectives of:

Increasing awareness of RCAC and its role
Discovering residents’ opinions of roads and cycling issues in the City of Ottawa
To encourage safe cycling practices
Engage public input

Output

Meet to discuss the above with any potential relation to the mandate of RCAC.

Background

(Ongoing)