It’s a new year and after a holiday break Councillor Gower has returned to keeping residents updated. This week, he shares helpful information on LRT Lines 2 and 4 that launched on Monday; provides an update on Stittsville residential development files; shares information on speed radar cameras – how they work and where they are in the community; improving bus reliability; information for play free Saturdays for kids; information to apply for an opening in Councillor Glen’s office; how to dispose of your Christmas tree; snowmobiles are a no-go on Stittsville streets, paths and a portion of the Trans Canada Trail; make sure you register on the declaration portal for the Vacant Unit Tax; there is a new portal at Ottawa Public Health for reportable infectious diseases data; and of course, if you need assistance don’t hesitate to reach out to Councillor Glen’s office at the contact information below.
All aboard!
Weekday service on LRT Lines 2 and 4 launched on Monday, serving Carleton University, the Ottawa Airport, Little Italy, South Keys, Riverside South, and more. For now the trains will run Monday-Friday, 6am-12pm, and service will increase to 7 days in the coming weeks.
Line 2 runs north-south from Bayview to Limebank, with 11 stations and capacity for 4,200 customers per hour. Line 4 is a spur line from South Keys to the Airport, with a stop at the E.Y. Centre (Bowesville) on the way. The trains run every 12 minutes from morning to night.
You can already see the development and transformation of our city along this north-south line, and also on the east and west lines that will open next.
The north end of Line 2 is at Bayview, next to Lebreton Flats. There are hundreds of non-profit affordable apartments being built near Corso Italia Station (Gladstone Avenue) on former government land. South Keys is a major transfer station and the big box stores there will be redeveloped into new housing, jobs, and retail over the next decade or two. For Riverside South, this is a game-changer for a community that has been there for a couple decades now, but has never had this level of rapid transit.
The launch is a huge boost for reliability for people who are traveling north-south now by bus. Carleton University students will see a huge difference.
It has been interesting to see people from outside of Ottawa are getting excited about this new infrastructure. I’ve seen rail fans from across North America who get how exciting and important this is for a city. The new lines include 19 kilometers of rail on the main line, and then four kilometers to the airport. We’re the third city in Canada with a rail link to our airport.
It’s a great ride and I encourage residents to try it out when you can and let me know what you think! For more information check out octranspo.com.
What’s the latest on Stittsville residential development files?
Stittsville and Kanata continue to be the fastest growing areas of the City. There are just over 20 residential projects in our community that are in various stages of the approval and pre-construction process. Here’s the latest information that we have as of the start of January…
Q&A: Automated Speed Enforcement (photo radar) in Stittsville
Stittsville now has three Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) cameras, also known as photo radar devices. We’ve posted some information here about where they are, and how they work. Remember, there is a very simple way to avoid getting a ticket: just don’t speed. Please slow down and help keep our community safe!
OC Transpo’s plan to improve bus reliability
Every cancelled or late bus has an impact on Ottawa residents. Missed appointments, late for school or work, and a longer commute. OC Transpo’s target (and the industry standard) for daily cancellations is no more than 0.5% of trips cancelled – or about 40-50 trips per weekday. In 2023, OC Transpo staff presented a plan to improve bus network reliability. Here’s how OC Transpo measures reliability, what factors are affecting reliability, and what is being done to improve reliability in the coming weeks and months…
City offers “Play Free Saturdays” for kids and youth in 2025
Children and youth, age 17 and under, can take part in free drop-in swimming, skating and gym sports at City recreation facilities every Saturday in 2025. These free drop-in programs continue to allow children and youth to participate in City programs and benefit from the associated health and social benefits of these activities. More info…
We’re hiring!
Make a difference in your community! We’re looking for an individual to join our team as a Councillor Assistant in our Stittsville office starting in February 2025. This is a full-time position, focused on problem solving and community engagement. More info…
What to do with your Christmas tree
Christmas trees can be placed at the curb alongside the green bin. Please remove all decorations and place at the curb no later than 7am on your scheduled collection day. For reuse options, visit ottawa.ca/christmastrees.
Reminder about snowmobiles
For the safety of residents, snowmobiles are not permitted within Stittsville on the Trans Canada Trail, recreation pathways, or local parks. Ottawa Police conduct enforcement blitzes during the winter to enforce the rules, and residents can also call 9-1-1 to report any issues. (Snowmobiles are permitted on the Trans Canada Trail west of Stittsville, as indicated on posted signage.)
Vacant Unit Tax (VUT) declaration portal is now open
The VUT declaration portal is now open on ottawa.ca. Email notices, using previous year declaration contact information and paper notices are scheduled to be distributed to property owners and will be accompanied by a robust communication campaign throughout the declaration period. The declaration deadline is March 20, 2025, while late declarations being accepted until April 30, 2025, with a $250 late fee.
OPH launches new dashboard for Infectious Disease Surveillance Data
OPH now offers readily available surveillance data on reportable infectious diseases of public health significance among Ottawa residents through the new, interactive data visualization tool: the Diseases of Public Health Significance Dashboard. This dashboard summarizes reportable disease incidence data with time series graphs, tables, and comparisons with the rest of the province. Please note that this dashboard does not contain surveillance data for COVID-19, RSV or influenza; data for these infections are available on the Respiratory and Enteric Surveillance Dashboard.
Get in touch!
If we can help in any way, please email me at glen.gower@ottawa.ca or leave a voicemail at 613-580-2476. Please call 3-1-1 if you require immediate assistance. – Councillor Glen Gower