TO: Peter Steacy, Program Manager - Transportation Environmental Assessments
FROM: Nicole Parent, Ottawa Forests and Greenspace Advisory Committee

SUBJECT: NORTH-SOUTH LRT CORRIDOR EA STUDY

Further to the Public Consultation Group meeting of June 1, 2005 and subsequent Open House #4, June 8th , we would like to submit OFGAC's comments as follows:

1. The maintenance yard alternatives (2 key ones)
The preferred location is at the Walkley yard since the majority of this piece of land is already used for this purpose. OFGAC would not favour the other alternate area which is north of Lester Road since it would remove a large amount of existing woodlot.

2. Park and Ride
The additional park & ride lot on the west side of Riverside South community is a positive step to encourage residents from the south-west quadrant of the development to use the NS LRT. In addition, the new lot will provide other residents who live further south of this community to opt for riding the LRT.

3. Pedestrian access to the NS LRT stations
To ascertain that direct pedestrian access is provided to all LRT stations. In particular, Riverside South Community should have incorporated into their Design Plan, and the Circulation Plan, walkways that will facilitate pedestrian access to all transit stations.

4. Connectivity between Bus Stop Stations and the North South LRT Stations:
To ascertain that direct links are incorporated into the plans to allow for easy transfers from Bus-Transit mode to the LRT mode of transportation. Stations of both systems should have connections within easy walking distance. The easy and more direct access to the station stops from one mode of transportation to the other, the more apt that the systems will be used by people.

5. Noise and speed concerns:
LRT noise and speed concerns have yet to be addressed, especially at location where the LRT is passing through residential communities. What are the measures proposed to mitigate noise levels?

6. The City of Portland's Feasibility Study
Portland's study was used to illustrate and convince members that the proposed mix use of LRT, Bus, Car transportation corridor is a viable and workable solution for downtown Ottawa. However, Portland is contemplating using a 3 lane approach, whereas, the consultant team is proposing a 4 lane for Ottawa. We are concerned that the Portland model is theoretic and has not yet been proven. Furthermore, what is being proposed for Ottawa is different, wider and busier model. Can we not obtain an example of what is being proposed for Ottawa's downtown, from a project that has been implemented in North America, Europe or Australia? An existing situation would go a long way in convincing residents and merchants along Slater and Albert Street that the proposed model is an excellent solution for Ottawa's downtown. A difficulty with the proposed model is that cars in the left lane would not be able to turn right for several blocks much further down the street.

7. LRT station closer to the NAC and MacKenzie Bridge:
A station is required closer to the NAC, the Court House and to City Hall, then the currently proposed stop. Walking distances are too great to encourage residents to use the LRT to access these facilities situated close to the MacKenzie Bridge. Grade and alignment problems could be re-worked to incorporate a closer station to this intersection.

8. Slater Street was at capacity in 2004.
The proposed LRT concept is keeping Slater and Albert Streets as the main bus routes. It is suggested, by the consultant team, that with the implementation of the LRT, bus volumes will potentially be reduced by 25% to 30%, however, no documentation has been provided to support this. Also, the LRT concept includes fewer buses, but the buses that remain would be the larger articulated ones, therefore, the bus footprint will not really change. Savings to the Transit Services is implied but no documentation is provided to demonstrate where the savings would come from?

9. As part of the environmental assessment:
What are the staging options? What are the phases and estimated costs?

10. Procedure:
Although, members of the Public Consultation Group was reassured that all of the comments provided at the Open Houses have been recorded and a report was prepared by the consultants, this information was not shared with the Public Consultation Group. In addition, no minutes of meeting from the last meeting (March 9, 2005) was sent to members prior to the meeting of June 1, 2005. Members of the Public Consultation Group did not have a chance to review the minutes of meeting, nor given an opportunity to provide clarification or omissions. In terms of a public consultation and the stakeholders' process, the members of this committee have not had the opportunity to study the recommended changes and provide input prior to the meeting.

We trust that all of OFGAC's input received to date, will taken into consideration and utilized to help refine the proposed NS LRT plan, prior to seeking City Council's approval in July 2005.

Nicole Parent
OFGAC member and South Nepean Resident

Cc: OFGAC members and appropriate councillors
Members of the Public Consultation Group