Rainbows are God's paint and a poet's fancy.
They curl between the toes in bathtubs,
curve between clouds,
dance in the mist
above Hog's Back Falls.
Catch them quick
and buckle the colors around the waist
against the days
when the paint fades to grey.
he summer Olympics in Sydney remind us that the Francophone Games are coming to town next summer.
It promises to be an exciting time for the new city of Ottawa, a chance for us to show athletes and fans from around the world what a unique quality of life we enjoy here in the Nation's capital: clean air, clean streets, easy access to the country, a dynamic and prosperous city that still exists on a walking and biking scale.
This chance to show our city off to the world is also why we've put off the reconstruction of Bank Street between the bridges until 2002. An added benefit of delaying the reconstruction is that we'll have the time to do a proper streetscaping study. This way business owners and residents alike have the chance to participate in the process of revitalizing Bank Street in Old Ottawa South in a way that ensures that the reconstruction incorporates an array of business and pedestrian-friendly streetscaping elements.
These include wider sidewalks, corner bulbouts, pedestrian-level lighting and permanent crosswalk paint at Sunnyside, Glen and Cameron.
I'm often asked by constituents what the point is in committing time and energy to traffic calming and streetscaping studies when changes are needed now. When traffic on and from our ward's main arteries - Bronson, Bank, Main and Riverdale - is seriously affecting the quality of life in our neighborhoods. My reply is that studies are the key first step insolving traffic problems because a) they help create a consensus within the community as to what measures need to be taken, and, b) they help me convince my colleagues on Council, many of whose constituents use these streets to commute to and from work, that road changes are necessary and also won't unreasonably clog our regional road network.
The reality is that we share ownership of our roads with residents from across our city. As residents of a downtown ward, whose streets are being used day in and day out by commuters. This reality is particularly difficult to swallow, but it is the reality. We've got to come to the table backed up with traffic data and a series of traffic calming options fully backed by the community for whom they are intended to help.
This is why the recently completed Main Street Traffic Calming and Streetscaping Study in Ottawa East was so important. The year-long study provides a series of short, medium and long-term measures to combat traffic speeds and volumes along Main and Greenfield.
It is a template for rebalancing Main Street with the needs of all road users in mind: pedestrians, cyclists, the elderly, children; not just drivers. Notably for Old Ottawa South residents is the inclusion of a reconfigured Riverdale and Main intersection to remove the right turn flow-through lanes. This will reduce traffic speed and make the area much more pedestrian and bike-friendly.
With the Francophone Gamescoming to town we can't start tearing up the road and sewer lines, so we might as well make the most of the extra time we have to add value to the reconstruction. I have no doubt that Bank Street in Old Ottawa South would become a more community and small-business friendly place were the community to participate in a streetscaping study.
There has been considerable talk in the press recently about the need for more road infrastructure in the west end to service the high tech parks. I've seen figures like $180 million to expand western sections of the Queensway. The Alta Vista Expressway has also just received the go ahead for the environmental assessment for this urban highway.
I agree that we need to move people and vehicles around our Region quickly and conveniently. But we need to find cheaper alternatives to simply building bigger and bigger roads to meet the transportation needs of our growing city. Light rail is it, the cheaper and more community-sensitive alternative to carpeting our region with expressways, one that won't stifle growth or damage communities by increasing traffic levels.
And to note, the proposed Alta Vista Expressway, Conroy to Nicholas, is projected to cost us some $200 million. The light rail pilot project, Greenboro to Bayview, is projected at around $20 million. I think this is a wise, forward-thinking investment, one that will help preserve the quality of life that I have no doubt visitors to the Francophone games next summer will be impressed by.
We've been told time and again not to make the same road and servicing mistakes that were made in Silicon Valley, California. Decisions that have seen the area carpeted with a spaghetti of 'arterials', big box office parks and sky-rocketing housing costs. Light rail can take us down a different, more convenient, less costly, community friendly road,but your new council will have to find the political will and wisdom to make the choice to fund a system that truly serves the new city.
A word in support of John Graham's appeal to assist Old Ottawa East with their annual community membership drive.
Old Ottawa East and Old Ottawa South have a great deal in common. Both are communities of Capital Ward. Both share the banks of the Rideau River and beautiful parks along its shores. Both share the inconveniences of Lansdowne Park. Both share the pleasures of being within bicycle range of downtown and the pains of too much commuter traffic on their principal roads.
Old Ottawa East is going through something of a rejuvenation right now with much new construction along Colonel By and a more active community association. But there are many challenges ahead. Not the least of which is the threat of the Alta Vista expressway.
It is to Old Ottawa South's advantage to be flanked by strong community associations like the Glebe and Old Ottawa East. Ottawa East could use some volunteers from Old Ottawa South to help them with their membership drive. And if any readers could spare a couple of evenings, would you be kind enough to call Geoff Nimmo at 234-2702?
I will devote my next column to school closures. For the moment, suffice to say, all of your local representatives, Lynn Graham, Inez Berg, Richard Patten and myself are working very hard to convince the Board that the proposed closures of nine schools in the older communities of Ottawa is not justified either by the present student population figures or for the future of our new city. We are all convinced it would be an enormously destructive move.
Best wishes,
Clive Doucet