Comprehensive Area Traffic Management Study for Alta Vista Drive
May 2010 Update:
Alta Vista Traffic Preferred Concept Plan - Final
Background
During the 2008 Budget debate I co-sponsored a successful motion to add $1.3 million to the area traffic management budget. I also requested that the budget allocation specifically dedicate $100,000 to be spent on a comprehensive area traffic management study of Alta Vista Drive from Smyth Road to Bank Street. Only two such studies were approved during the 2008 Budget and I am very pleased to inform you that the Alta Vista Drive study was included.
I look forward to continuing to work with City staff to find solutions to congestion concerns on Alta Vista Drive.
More information is available on the City's web site: Alta Vista Drive - Area Traffic Management Study
Open House #1 - Meeting Summary
The Alta Vista Drive Area Traffic Management Study was off to a good start with the first of two Public Open Houses (POHs) held on Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at the Rideau Park United Church. In spite of the cold spell with a double-digit sub-zero temperature, the meeting was well attended by 34 residents. The POH, which was initially slated to go from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., extended until 9:00 p.m.
Those who attended the POH were treated to a colorful display of boards covering the City's Area Traffic Management Process; traffic issues on Alta Vista Drive from Bank Street to Smyth Road; results of the recently completed data collection exercise; and potential measures that would be appropriate for consideration on Alta Vista Drive. A digital copy of the boards presented at the POH will be posted on the City's web site, as soon as a web page for the project is up and running.
Many attendees acknowledged the dual function the road serves, and the limited range of options available to address the identified issues. Many attendees also expressed the view that the Alta Vista Parkway is the real long term solution to the traffic woes on Alta Vista Drive. However, the need for an interim solution, as imperfect as it may be, was acknowledged with the understanding that "perfect" should not be allowed to be the enemy of "good".
The leading traffic issues were reported to include: high vehicular traffic volumes; high commercial and heavy vehicles on a non-truck route; blockage of residential driveways by vehicular queues; difficulty of making left turn movements from side streets and private driveways onto Alta Vista Drive; vehicular traffic speeding; aggressive driving behaviour and running of red lights; ineffective pedestrian crossing markings at controlled crossings; pedestrian crossing safety within the vicinity of schools; incomplete pathway linkages serving the schools; as well as noise and air pollution associated with traffic movement and stop-and-go operations.
The attendees confirmed the issues identified along the corridor and provided much insight in terms of some of the specific localized issues observed on a daily basis. The attendees also shared some ideas and thoughts as to what should, and should not, be considered as mitigation measures on the corridor. A total of 14 Comment Sheet were submitted at the venue.
The study progress is being guided by a Public Working Group comprised of 7 members from the local community with representation from the Alta Vista Drive Residents’ Association and the Charles Hulse Public Elementary School.
In terms of next steps, a second POH is expected to be held in early spring of next year. This will be the next major public point of contact, at which the public will be presented with potential solutions to address the identified issues.
Enquiries and comments should be directed to Mr. Bassam Hamwi of Morrison Hershfield who serves as the Project Manager for this study. He can be reached by telephone at 613-739-3241, or e-mail at bhamwi@morrisonhershfield.com.
Councillor Peter Hume
110 Laurier Ave. West
Ottawa, ON K1P 1J1
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