Marianne Wilkinson Councillor, Kanata North Future Ottawa River Bridge Crossings Public Open House, Wed.

June 13, KRC 5-9 pm

There is a need for another bridge crossing of the Ottawa River that will get the huge trucks, including logging trucks, out of downtown Ottawa. Presently trucks going to Gatineau exit the Queensway at Nicholas and manipulate their way through downtown Ottawa via Rideau and King Edward to the MacDonald-Cartier bridge. This is severely impacting downtown communities as well as increasing pollutants in the core. A new more direct crossing would move the trucks out of a congested area, reducing pollutants and making a more direct connection to businesses in Gatineau. An Environmental Assessment to choose the best crossing locations has been started. The terms of reference (TOR) for the study can be found at www.ncrcrossings.ca. The study is designed to determine how to provide for vehicles, cyclists, transit and pedestrians in 20 and 50 year planning horizons. A particular concern is for a truck route to that links provincial highways and minimizes the impact on communities. To ensure that the TOR will consider all concerns from Ottawa the City Transportation Committee will review the TOR at its June 20th meeting (starting at 9:30 am) and recommend any changes, deletions or additions. The public can make comments on the TOR until July 6th. The study identifies 8 possible bridge locations - 3 in the west and five in the east. Those in the west would cross at Riddell Drive, Moodie Drive or Acres Road. The first is distant from the urban area and would be destructive to Camp Y on the Ottawa and the Kanata Sailing Club. The other two would impact residential areas and Andy Haydon Park. Gatineau has provided access points in its plan - Kettle Island (east end) and Deschnes (Britannia area). I do not see any need for a bridge in the west at this time since the population of Gatineau and its primary industrial areas are all towards the east. The most logical location is Kettle Island since it could be accessed directly from Highway 417 via existing corridors. Residents can find out more by attending one of the Open Houses planned - one in Kanata at the Kanata Recreation Centre in Walter Baker Park (off Terry Fox) on Wednesday June 13th from 5-9 pm or at Ottawa City Hall on Monday June 18th from 5 to 7 pm followed by a presentation, questions and comments.

Mayor's Task Force on Transportation

By the time you receive this paper the report from the Mayor's Task Force will be public. As a member of both the Transportation and Transit Committees I will be making a thorough analysis of this report as part of the review of the City's Transportation Master Plan. I would appreciate your comments on the report. I'll

be commenting more fully once I've had an opportunity to consider the recommendations. Since many recommendations will be long term, in July the Committee will be considering transportation measures that can move forward quickly, such as the remainder of the transitway to the west.

Go Sens Go
Along with 20,500 others last Saturday I attended the first Stanley Cup game since 1927! What a game. Support for the team is pulling Ottawa together in a remarkable way. Win or lose this is a memorable and exciting time for the new City of Ottawa. Thanks Sens.

Coming Events
June 15th, Deadline for Green Partnership Pilot Program June 16th, Morgan's Grant/Briarbrook 1st Multicultural Summer Festival June 23rd, Kanata Lake's Kids Day in the Park June 23rd, Lawn Supper, St. John's Church, 325 Sandhill June 23rd, Give-Away Day July 1st, Canada Day in Kanata at Walter Baker Park, Terry Fox and Hazeldean

Working for the residents and businesses in Kanata North

To receive the Kanata North Newsletter, to deal with a concern or make a suggestion you can contact me at City Hall at 613-580-2474 or by email Marianne.Wilkinson@ottawa.ca or through www.mariannewilkinson.com