Diane Holmes Sidewalk Summit

Tuesday, November 8, 2011 7-9pm, City Hall

Sidewalk Summit: Agenda

1. Welcome and Introductions 2. Ottawa: A pedestrians paradise? The planning platitudes 3. The pedestrian realities 4. Break-out sessions to discuss Problems and Solutions (30 minutes) 5. Report on working group findings 6. NEXT STEPS
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Sidewalk Summit

Ottawa: a pedestrians paradise? The planning platitudes

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City of Ottawa Official Plan

The Guiding Principles: A Green and Environmentally Sensitive City A Focus on Walking, Cycling and Transit Ottawa implements policies that favour walking, cycling and public transit over the use of private motor vehicles, thereby facilitating the use of modes of transportation that are socially acceptable and environmentally healthy Strategic Directions Providing Infrastructure A transportation system that emphasizes transit, walking, and cycling Managing Growth Development that supports transit, cycling and walking as viable and attractive alternatives to the private automobile
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City of Ottawa Official Plan (contd)

Transportation Walking The City will support walking through promotion and education initiatives that address issues such as personal security; safe behaviour by vehicle drivers, cyclists and pedestrians; and an appreciation of the health and environmental benefits of walking and costs of the private and public travel choices. The Pedestrian Plan will guide the City in the development and implementation of new programs and facilities to encourage people to walk and reduce their dependence on the automobile.
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Ottawa Transportation Master Plan

Modal choice for shorter trips:

Walking trips made up 75% of trips in the Ottawa central core, 54% within the Ottawa inner area (bounded by the Rideau River and O-Train line) and lesser amounts with increasing distance from downtown.

Ottawa Transportation Master Plan

Active Transportation Walking, cycling and other forms of human-powered travel are key to Ottawas vibrancy and sustainability. They have multiple social, environmental and economic benefits, and collectively represent a priority of this plan.

Ottawa Transportation Master Plan

Walking facilities.
The City will emphasize the primary role of pedestrian facilities in building more walkable environments. To this end, the Ottawa Pedestrian Plan (under development) will identify an integrated pedestrian network and implementation strategy. The City will also require walking facilities to provide pedestrian access to transit nodes and between neighbourhoods, and along new and reconstructed roads. Proper design and maintenance are also a priority.
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Ottawa Transportation Master Plan

Transportation Vision: Make walking and cycling more attractive than driving for short trips Give priority to public transit, walking and cycling over cars when conflicts arise Build walkable communities Foster a vibrant downtown by improving transit, walking and cycling access Promote safe walking, cycling and driving through education, engineering and enforcement
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Ottawa Official Plan (2009) Transportation Master Plan (2008) Ottawa Pedestrian Plan (2008) Various Community Design Plans (CDPs) Escarpment Area District Plan (2008) Rights-of-Way Lighting Policy (2007) Pedestrians Downtown (1983) Linkages Strategy (1990s) Underground Wiring Policy Study Canadas Capital Core Area Sector Plan Downtown Ottawa Urban Design Strategy Rideau/ Colonel By Node Mobility Study and Design Rideau Sussex Mackenzie Intersection Node Rideau Area Transportation Network Study Update Regional road corridor design guidelines Urban Design Guidelines for Development along Arterial Mainstreets

Other City plans...

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Sidewalk Summit

The Pedestrian REALITY

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The Pedestrian Reality

Many plans and consultations to say what the City should be doing But the transportation engineers and planners who work on the actual projects ignore them
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1. Staff

There is no full-time person dedicated to pedestrian issues. The city employs one person to implement the Ottawa Pedestrian Plan, as part of her responsibilities. This work involves reviewing the pedestrian component of all roadwork, and finding opportunities to fill missing links

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2. Capital budgets

Pedestrians make up a significant share of Ottawa trips, as high as 75% in some areas The Ottawa Pedestrian Plan calls for nearly 1000km of new sidewalks The draft 2012 budget has less than $1M for new sidewalks

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3. Operating budgets

The Citys operating budget must cover maintenance of pedestrian infrastructure, e.g. snow and debris clearing

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Sidewalk Summit

Break-out sessions (30 minutes)

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Sidewalk Summit

Break-out sessions: report back 7:50pm...

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Sidewalk Summit

NEXT STEPS:
If you are interested in a pedestrian group, put a check mark next to your name in the sign-in book.
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