Ottawa City Council Meeting: Traffic Safety, Cycling Infrastructure, and Service Improvements

Council recognized the retirement of a 40-year city employee from Ottawa's planning and transportation departments, then turned to traffic and cycling safety issues, including faded road markings, a proposed protected left-turn signal at St. Joseph Boulevard and Orléans Boulevard, and the Gladstone-Gilmore bikeway project.

Topics Discussed

1. RETIREMENT TRIBUTE: 40 years in planning and transportation

Council marked the retirement of a 40-year city employee who began as a summer student and worked in planning and transportation. Speakers pointed to work on Ottawa's first public rail transit study, the first transportation master plan, the Corktown Footbridge and the Laurier Avenue segregated bike lane. Councillor Marty Carr said, "To spend four decades helping shape this fantastic city and leave such a lasting remark, uh, this is something to been enormously proud of."

2. ROAD MARKINGS: Questions on faded paint and service levels

Councillor Riley Brockington raised concerns about worn pavement markings in his ward, saying, "road paint markings, stop sign bars, multi-use pathway lines, train track Xs on approach, traffic calming messaging are all faded or non-existent." He asked staff what would be needed to improve repainting timelines and what resources might be required in the 2027 budget.

Staff said the problem involves materials, equipment and weather. Allan Hubley said, "we're always working on three fronts," identifying "the quality of the material," "the reliability of the equipment," and "mother nature" as the main constraints.

3. ST. JOSEPH AND ORLÉANS: Protected left-turn signal

Council considered a traffic safety change at St. Joseph Boulevard and Orléans Boulevard. The proposal would add fully protected left-turn signal phasing at the intersection after staff identified collision concerns and recommended the change as a safety improvement. Councillors also asked broader questions about whether advanced left-turn signals could be incorporated more often when intersections are first built, rather than added later at extra cost.

4. GLADSTONE-GILMORE BIKEWAY: Design, safety and parking changes

Council discussed the Gladstone-Gilmore bikeway project, including protected or buffered bike lanes, protected intersections at Rochester and Booth, and a westbound contraflow bike lane on Gilmore. Staff said the project would also include accessibility upgrades at intersections and bus stops. The estimated cost is $5.9 million, to be considered through future budget cycles.

Delegates and councillors argued the project should move ahead even with limitations. Councillor Ariel Troster said, "The urgency of this project cannot be overstated." Councillor Jeff Leiper said the city was "very lucky in many ways that this project comes in just under the line of bill 60 restrictions," adding that other cycling projects are now "on hold indefinitely because provincial legislation is making it illegal to build them."

Supporters also pressed for stronger connections and safer design details. A delegate identified as Giam said, "The lack of secure infrastructure connecting this bikeway to the Trillium Path and to Parkdale" remained a concern, especially with "thousands of residents" expected to move into the area. Another delegate, Andrew Douglas, warned, "We're severely compromising on the safety of pedestrians and cyclists" in part of the design "just so that trucks can have an easier option to get to the highway."

Parking changes were revised from the original proposal. Staff said 11 parking spaces on Gladstone would be removed and about 30 replacement spaces identified within one block, with no net loss of parking on Gilmore. Isabelle Skalski said staff also heard concerns from businesses about parking removal and whether the corridor would be winter maintained. Theresa Kavanagh said, "our intent is to have both Gladstone and Gilmore added to the winter cycling network," though final details will be confirmed during detailed design.

5. TRUCK ROUTE, PROJECT COORDINATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE QUESTIONS

As part of the Gladstone project, staff recommended removing the truck route on Gladstone between Rochester and Bronson. Councillor Clarke Kelly said he had "some reservations" about changing the truck plan without a "systemwide perspective," adding that trucks "need to go somewhere" and some affected parties may not have been aware of the impacts.

Councillors also raised broader questions about coordination of road work and infrastructure planning across departments and with outside agencies. Councillor Wilson Lo said, "Lack of coordination is costly to the city because of the need to implement last minute solutions like traffic coming notifications and even duplicated work like repaving."

Vice-Chair Catherine Kitts said this kind of work can have an outsized effect on daily life even if it receives little attention, calling it "the quiet work that doesn't get reported on by the media" and adding that "it's the work that I think actually makes it a huge difference in people's everyday lives."

Motions

• Motion to implement fully protected left-turn signal phasing at St. Joseph Boulevard and Orléans Boulevard — Passed
• Gladstone-Gilmore Bikeway Project / recommendation to advance design — Passed
• Recommendation to remove the truck route on Gladstone Avenue between Rochester Street and Bronson Avenue — Passed
• Direction to explore speed cushions on the Gladstone corridor during final design — Passed

Attendees

The notes identify the following councillors as present or participating:

• Riley Brockington
• Marty Carr
• Ariel Troster
• Laura Dudas
• Rawlson King
• Tim Tierney
• Jeff Leiper
• Catherine Kitts
• Clarke Kelly
• Wilson Lo

Other staff and delegates quoted in the meeting included Allan Hubley, Isabelle Skalski and Theresa Kavanagh.