When a study was set up to look at how to
deal with congestion in the downtown, three options were considered: a bus
tunnel; a rail tunnel; and a tunnel with both buses and rail.
Construction costs for a bus tunnel were
higher than for a rail tunnel. Based on the proposal for a bus tunnel released
in 1989 by the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton, a bus tunnel would be
larger than a rail tunnel. This would mean that factors that have caused the
cost of a rail tunnel to increase would have an even greater impact on the cost
of a bus tunnel.
While a rail tunnel requires converting the
transitway to light rail, the study comparing a system using a bus tunnel and a
system using a rail tunnel found it would be offset by lower operating costs
for light rail.
A second advantage was capacity. If we
built a bus tunnel, it would be at capacity almost from the day it opened. A
light rail tunnel can meet our needs for the next few decades.
The claim that bus rapid transit can
accommodate as many people as light rail is based on systems with very
different operating conditions than Ottawa. In Bogotá, Columbia, for example, it is assumed a 62-foot
long bus can accommodate 160 people. In Ottawa,
the maximum for a similar sized bus is 86 people – and even then councillors
hear concerns about overcrowding.
A copy of the study evaluating the
different tunnel options can be found on the City of Ottawa website here.
POLICE STATION
On Saturday, Jan. 9, the Ottawa Police
Station will be hosting a building levee at the new west division patrol facility
at 211 Huntmar Dr.
to give people a chance to see the building.
The open house will run from 10 a.m. until
2 p.m.. Before this facility was built most police officers serving Kanata were based at the
Greenbank Road Police Station. The new patrol facility will mean the police are
based closer to Kanata.
BUDGET CONSULTATIONS
This year there will be two budget
consultations in Kanata
– one in the evening and one on the weekend. The consultations will be:
* Saturday, Jan. 9, 2 to 4 p.m., Mlacak
Centre (Halls C & D), 2500 Campeau Dr.
* Tuesday, Jan. 12, 7 to 9 p.m., Holy Trinity Catholic High
School, 180
Katimavik Rd.
SNOW PLOWING CONCERNS
When the first snow came I received a
higher than usual number of complaints about snow plowing, mainly from
Bridlewood and Glen Cairn. I have been working with city staff to get concerns
addressed and I want to make sure this is not the start of a trend.
Over the last three years, based on
comments I have received, there has been an improvement in snow plowing in Kanata. I want to make
sure we don’t lose the gains we have made. If you do experience problems with
snow plowing, please don’t hesitate to contact my office.
WORKING FULL-TIME FOR KANATA SOUTH
I appreciate the chance to hear from you
about issues affecting our community. You can reach me at 580-2752 (office),
580-2762 (fax), www.feltmateforkanata.com
or peggy.feltmate@ottawa.ca.