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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2012
2446 Bank St. Next to Wendy’s at Bank & Hunt Club
613-733-3888
Safe Inside cycling NEWS a priority: Deans Biking forum held at Greenboro Community Centre The little things are bringing Ottawa residents together for a miniature enthusiasts group. – Page 23
CITY HALL NEWS
Carleton University fraternity participates in vigil honouring victims of Montreal massacre. – Page 29
COMMUNITY NEWS
Ottawa residents are divided over issue of opening laneways for driveways. – Page 37
Eddie Rwema Eddie.rwema@metroland.com
EMC news - More people in Gloucester-Southgate would use their bikes if cycling was made safer and improved infrastructure was provided, said the ward’s councillor Diane Deans. Deans hosted a Better Biking forum at the Greenboro Community Centre on Dec. 4. Issues identified as major barriers to cycling discussed at the forum included: a lack of proper signage, dangerous motorists especially on Hunt Club Road, and a lack of sufficient bike parking spots. Deans held the forum to provide an opportunity for residents to share their ideas to improve cycling in her ward and in key destinations throughout the city. “What I have heard over and over again from residents in my ward is that they want to cycle more, but they need a better network and they need cycling to be safe,” said Deans. She said her ultimate goal is to make sure sufficient cycling infrastructure is in her ward and throughout the city. “Cycling is a very exciting and growing initiative, not just for commuter cyclists but also for leisure cyclists,” said Deans. Prior to the Dec. 4 meeting, Deans held a meeting with a few avid cyclists to tap relevant local knowledge and to scope out the issues and determine from a safety and ward perspective where the missing cycling links were. See FORUM, page 3
EDDIE RWEMA/METROLAND
Lighting up the night Brett Fairholm, left, Brady Fairholm, Mila Bassi and Martina Bassi braved the cold to take part in this year’s Christmas lighting at the Southway Hotel on Dec. 5. For story see page 4.
The changing face of transit Council to vote on Rideau Transit Group construction proposal Laura Mueller laura.mueller@metroland.com
EMC news - A vision for Ottawa’s light-rail line is becoming clearer after the city revealed its preferred builder on Dec. 5. While city council still has to vote to accept the deal on Dec. 19, station concepts have been fleshed out and are now available for people to view online at ottawalightrail.ca and at showcases around the city. Rideau Transit Group’s proposal shows a cohesive se-
ries of neutral-looking wood and concrete stations with modern, modular entrances. Much of the wood will come from ash trees felled by the emerald ash borer. Simple yet attractive design, intuitive passenger flow and integration with cycling and pedestrian facilities are key principles in the station design, according to Rideau Transit Group. There will also be 300 bicycle parking spaces provided along Confederation Line, 80 per cent of which will be weather-protected.
Stairway bicycle “runnels,” or tire ramps will allow cyclists to wheel their bikes up and down stairs and into the trains. Escalators are listed for most of the stations, except Lees Station, which is one level, and Campus, Hurdman, Train and Cyrville stations, which will only have stairs and elevators. Public art displays will be incorporated into the stations. CONSTRUCTION IMPACT
While construction will get underway in 2013, most significantly with the expansion of Highway 417 between Nicholas and the split, most of the light-rail construction
impact won’t be felt until 2015. That’s when the Transitway between Lebreton and Tunney’s Pasture will close so tracks can be laid down. Transitway buses would move onto Scott and Albert streets in dedicated bus lanes from Holland Avenue east. Construction of the east entrance of the 2.5-kilometre downtown tunnel will close the Transitway south of Laurier Avenue to where the Transitway parallels Nicholas Street. Transitway buses will be detoured to the east side of this section of Nicholas Street and along Laurier Avenue to Laurier Station. See LRT, page 33
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