New updated content: 2021-08-23 08:57:12
The GA has submitted its comments on the extension of this roadway, opposing City staff’s preferred route on the basis that it would remove greenspace in close proximity to the Mer Bleue Bog and supporting instead a route further north that follows the existing right of way of the Blackburn Hamlet bypass.
New updated content: 2022-02-21 09:15:11
Brian Coburn extension:
The Environmental Impact Study for the extension of the Brian Coburn Boulevard, with associated Bus Rapid Transit lanes, through Greenbelt lands from Orleans to Blair Road will be tabled at Transportation Committee on March 2 2022. The GA has taken a clear and unwavering position on the file since the inception of the study in 2019, favouring what is called Option 1, a path that follows the existing corridor of the Blackburn Hamlet Bypass, rather than any other option that opens a new corridor through the Greenbelt on lands just north of the Mer Bleue area. The GA will be making a submission at this meeting.
New updated content: 2022-03-28 09:25:59
Paul reported on the submission he made on behalf of the GA to Transportation Committee on March 2 regarding the path of this new proposed corridor through the Greenbelt from Orleans South to Blair Road. Committee deferred its decision on the matter, launching instead a 100-day period of intense negotiation to achieve a compromise between Option 1 (use existing Blackburn Hamlet bypass corridor, favoured by NCC, and supported by the GA) and Option 7, a new corridor through the Greenbelt, supported by the City. The issue is complex, with strong arguments advanced for Option 7, in particular by local community associations on behalf of their residents, who are extremely poorly served by transit. Erwin suggested that rather than just stand on Option 1, we should also work to understand and refute the arguments put forward by residents for Option 7.
Action: Paul to contact Rachelle Lecours, the leading voice on the residents’ side, to open a dialogue on the matter.
New updated content: 2022-06-27 09:38:50
Brian Coburn extension:
Paul reported that had met Rachelle Lecours and another resident of the Greater Avalon community on May 11 regarding their views and perspectives on the Brian Coburn extension project. The residents support an option that would require a new transportation corridor through the Greenbelt, while we favour the option that makes use of the existing Blackburn Hamlet bypass corridor. What came from the meeting is the recognition that residents of this fast growing area face three critical transportation problems: 1) transit service is ineffective and underused; 2) cut through traffic causes major bottlenecks and safety issues in residential areas; and 3) there is no safe and efficient way to get from the area to a major employment hub in the Hunt Club/Hawthorne industrial parks. Their view is that the option they support is the only one that addresses all three issues. It creates therefore a realization for us that it is imperative that we find solutions to these problems as part of an option that uses the existing Blackburn Hamlet bypass corridor. There is an openness on both sides to consider other alternatives.
New updated content: 2024-03-18 15:38:51
Brian Coburn extension
An agreement between the NCC and the City of Ottawa on the use of Greenbelt lands has opened the door to the finalization of the Environmental Impact Study for this new roadworks. The NCC has agreed to open a corridor through agricultural Greenbelt land from Navan Road to the western segment of Renaud Road for bus rapid transit and motor vehicle lanes. In exchange, the City will cede to the NCC the eastern Renaud Road corridor, closest to the boundary of Mer Bleue, which will closed to traffic and re-naturalized. This is not the position we supported, which was to run the new rapid transit lanes through the existing Blackburn Hamlet bypass, furthest from Mer Bleue. The nature of this study leaves little recourse other than posting comments on the report. A request for a Part 2 Order can only be made if aboriginal treaty rights are somehow impinged. Members agreed that we should post a comment on the report reiterating our position and rationale. It was also agreed to reach out to Algonquins of Ontario, whose land claim includes this area, to inform them of the outcome of this study.
Action: Paul to post GA comments on this report, determine if local indigenous groups were consulted on this agreement and reach out through our contacts with Algonquins of Ontario.
