Bus Garage is a Fait Accompli – mitigation is our only option

The RPCA and the 710 Coronation working group (CPWG) met with Councillor Hume, OC Transpo and City officials on 4 February 2010 to discuss the proposed expansion of the bus garage on Industrial. We were very disappointed to learn that the expansion is a fait accompli and that our only option now is to identify mitigation measures to limit the impact on our community.

To that end, the RPCA and the CPWG have agreed to work collaboratively with the City to ensure that the City satisfactorily mitigates the potential adverse effects of the facility on the residents of Riverview Park. The next step will be for the City staff to prepare a workplan to address the three main areas of concern: noise pollution, air pollution, and traffic congestion.

Once we have all reached agreement on the workplan, the City has agreed to prepare a Commitment Letter, requiring the City to execute the workplan, including baseline measurements, impact measurements and mitigation implementation, using already approved funding.

Only once the baseline measurements have been taken (after the facility is at full operation) will we know whether the effects of the bus garage exceed pre-defined standards. At that point we be in a position to discuss which mitigation measures are necessary and in which priority order.

The RPCA looks forward to working in collaboration with all our residents, the CPWG and our Councillor on this next step. Updates will be posted on this website. Attached you can read the letter sent by the RPCA following the meeting.
http://rpca.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/letter-re-bus-garage-meeting-5-feb-20101.pdf

Irate Riverview Park Residents Speak Out Against the Bus Garage Expansion

Riverview Park Community Association Meeting on the Proposed Expansion of the OC Transpo Bus Garage, January 27, 2010
Overall the meeting was a success, even though our elected officials, the City and OC Transpo all were unable to attend. Over 60 Riverview Park residents attended and shared their views and ideas on how to mitigate the impact of the bus garage. Several were interviewed by CTV and EMC.

The community residents indicated that:
a) They are very upset about this industrial growth next to our community and the lack of consultation with the broader community. All voiced many concerns about noise, pollution and congestion
b) They were appalled that no representatives for OC Transpo and the City were present

Next steps: The residents requested that
a) The RCPA insist that the abandoned Rail Corridor be used as a dedicated route for both the entrance and exit of all buses using the garage and/or parking lots. This would move the buses off Industrial and away from our community.
b) The RPCA push to have OC Transpo store the extra 80 buses elsewhere. Suggestions included the OC Transpo lot by St Laurent or near Hurdman on the old dump site.
c) The RPCA insist that additional dense landscaping be installed (evergreen) all along Coronation
d) The RPCA insist that the wall be replaced
e) The RPCA continue to contact businesses along Industrial to inform them of this project and also to understand their position on this issue. Carole Moult has already spoken with Metro and the Post Office and will visit other businesses this week.
f) The RPCA gather data on the current levels of usage of Industrial (i.e. trucks, post office vans etc) in order to assess the capacity of the street infrastructure to handle this extra load.

Many were shocked to discover that there is no covered storage for the buses and all the buses will be stored outside. One of the parking lots (with the 150 buses) will have plug-ins for the buses but they will still require some idling time to warm up. The proposed extra parking for the 80 buses would not have any plug-ins and so they would require up to 30 minutes idling to warm up during inclement weather.

Follow up:
Many residents requested contact information so that they could write to the City and OC Transpo. The RCPA provided them with a contact list.

The RPCA will be sending out the minutes of the meeting to all who attended and will post them on our website.

Finally, Councillor Hume is holding a small roundtable meeting of stakeholders next Thursday (Feb 4, 2010) at 8:00 at OC Transpo HQ to discuss ways of mitigating the situation with the Bus Garage. RPCA President Karin Keyes Endemann and board members Kris Nanda, Chris Mark and Carole Moult will attend on behalf of the community. Other invited attendees include Paul Hussar, Project Manager from the City and OC Transpo representatives. We have suggested to Councillor Hume’s office that a representative from the Cumberland Transit Study Team also be invited. The RPCA will be preparing documentation/evidence etc. in advance of the meeting on Feb 4, 2010.

Contact Karin Keyes Endemann or Kris Nanda if you can help or want more information.

Please see our website for more information www.riverviewpark.ca

Increased Pollution, Noise and Congestion for Riverview Park Residents ……….due to proposed expansion of OC Transpo bus garage on Industrial Ave.

The City and OC Transpo are proposing to expand the bus garage on Industrial Ave. by an additional 80 buses. This means ……
 562 additional bus trips every day on Industrial Avenue
 240 buses stored: 60% increase over the original figure (150 in 2008)
 281 articulated buses on Industrial Ave. every 24 hours
 200 articulated buses will make left turns across traffic on Industrial
 153 buses exiting the facility between 6:00 and 9:00 and 104 buses entering the facility between 19:00 and 21:00
 Each bus idling 20 minutes as warm up (winter)
 This proposal limits the options for the proposed Cumberland/Hospital Link Transitway Connection as it encroaches on an abandoned railway corridor which has been identified as a potential route
We need to your help to mitigate the impact this will have on our peace and quiet – and on our housing prices

Voice your concerns: 27 January 2010 Riverview Park School 19:00

Read the full letter sent by the RPCA to the Mayor and Councillor on behalf of our residents on 18 January 2010 …..
http://rpca.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/letter-from-rpca-president-re-bus-garage-18-jan-2010.pdf

Upcoming Friends of the Farm activities

Books for Blooms: Used books would be greatly appreciated for our used book sale on June 26 & 27. Drop off February 6 & March 27, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please no encyclopedias, magazines, text books, or condensed books. East exit off the Prince of Wales traffic circle, white and green building.

Winter Propagation Workshop, February 23, 7 to 9 p.m. Building 72, Arboretum, Central Experimental Farm. Hands on, learn to take and care for winter cuttings and how to start trees, shrubs and perennials from seed. Cost $15. Information/register 613-230-3276, info@friendsofthefarm.ca, www.friendsofthefarm.ca

The RPCA Winter Carnival 31 January 2010

Come and join us for a fabulous celebration of winter….at the Riverview Park Winter Carnival.
31 January 2010 14:00-16:00 at Balena Park (1650 Devon Ave)
Refreshments and skating and fun for all!
- Riverview Park Community Association-

…and a grand time was had by all….

On Saturday 19 December 2009 over 85 Riverview Park residents gathered at the Cancer Survivor Park to light our neighbourhood tree, ring bells and sing carolls in the frosty night. Hot chocolate was enjoyed by all and we now plan to make this an annual event – so mark your calendars.

LOVE TO SKATE?

We are looking for VOLUNTEERS for the BALENA PARK SKATING RINK
Please contact Chris MacAvoy at 613 730-4277 or via email at chrismacavoy@hotmail.com
……your Riverview Park Community Association

Parks and Recreation News

Balena Park Update: The City is in the process of installing new playground equipment in Balena Park. The old play structures have been removed and beautiful, brand new play structures should be up soon. Check it out before the snow flies!
Our Community Association requested more trees for the park and five new trees have recently been planted on the Balena Park field. We thank the City for these trees and hope that they will grow quickly to offer shade for the soccer parents and all who enjoy summer in the park.

RPCA Planning and Development Update

RPCA is making a difference on local planning and development issues
By Kris Nanda, Chair, RPCA Planning and Development Committee

The RPCA Planning and Development (P&D) Committee is continuing to monitor and provide feedback on proposed developments which might affect the Riverview Park community. Some of its efforts have recently borne fruit, particularly in terms of the decision at the October 2009 RPCA Annual General Meeting to make enhanced pedestrian and cycling safety a priority. Several items in the proposed 2010 Capital Budget would begin to address the needs of Riverview Park residents (see document below. The RPCA Board has also written City Councillors to ask them to ensure that sufficient resources to adequately implement pedestrian and cyclist safety measures are included in the 2010 budget. Key local planning and development issues, which are being followed include:

SELECTED 2010 DRAFT MUNICIPAL BUDGET ITEMS

Here are the draft budget items which will have an impact on Riverview Park”
- $5 million for McIlraith Bridge Rehabilitation, Seismic Retrofitting and Deck Widening to accommodate standard sidewalks and bike lanes (across Rideau River between Smythe and Main Street). Includes $2.4 million for Bike Lane portion
- $5 Million for Alta Vista Corridor (Hospital Link Road) for design work
- $50,000 for 2010 Pedestrian Access (Intersection and Ramping), includes $13,000 for work on Sanford Fleming as part of approach to Terminal and Trainyards – allocated in response to RPCA P&D request
- Road Resurfacing on Smyth between St. Laurent and Alta Vista
- $830,000 for Rehabilitation of Terminal Avenue Overpass at Riverside Drive
- Traffic Signal and Intersection Program for Industrial/Riverside
- TDM $1 million for Transport Demand Management (TDM) program to improve City transportation network and give priority to walking, cycling and transit
- New shared pathways on Industrial between Alta Vista and Riverside – building a 3-metre wide multi-use pathway to enable legal off-road cycling
- New multi-use pedestrian/cyclist pathway on west-side of Conroy north to Smythe Road (in the AVTC)
- Pedestrian Missing Link Studies — $1 million to conduct feasibility study for proposed mid-town pedestrian/cycling bridge across Rideau Canal (Clegg to 5th Avenue) which ceived support in principle from RPCA; and across Rideau River between Somerset Street (Sandy Hill) and Donald Street (Overbrook)

Daffodil bulbs planted in the Cancer Survivor Park

An idea came to reality on a beautiful sunny afternoon, Sunday, October 25th when about forty people gathered to plant daffodil bulbs in the Cancer Survivor Park.

Pam and Orrin Clayton’s idea of daffodils in the Cancer Survivor Park was wholeheartedly supported by the Riverview Park Community Association (RPCA), the RPCA Parks, Recreation and Environment Committee, the Regional Cancer Foundation and the Regional Office of the Canadian Cancer Society and the Cancer Survivor Park landscape architect.

One thousand daffodil bulbs were donated by an anonymous donor through the Canadian Cancer Society. Volunteer planters from Riverview Park signed up at Councillor Peter Hume’s Corn Roast September 13th and at the RPCA Fall Social on September 27th. Karin Keyes Endemann, the RPCA President as of October 21st, brought on board Michelle Parsons a leader with the 154th Girl Guides in the Elmvale/Alta Vista area. As a result we had 12 Girl Guides and three Leaders helping to plant the daffodil bulbs. They worked non-stop for two hours to earn their Community Badges. The Girl Guides efforts were greatly appreciated as was the hard work and enthusiasm put in by the Riverview Park volunteers. Among the volunteers were several Cancer survivors from Riverview Park and at least two survivors from outside the community.

Three of the Cancer Survivor Park landscaping crew Bill, Brian and Lindsay provided great ideas on where to plant and the manpower to dig in the grassy area.

Councillor Peter Hume’s office supported our effort by providing coffee, hot chocolate, water and Timbits. Susan Scott on staff at Councillor Peter Hume’s office and a Past President of the RPCA manned the refreshments which were greatly appreciated by the volunteer planters.

Linda Eagen Director and CEO of the Regional Cancer Foundation and Mary Hobbs, Regional Director of the Canadian Cancer Society as well as providing support through the past months were present on Sunday afternoon to help plant daffodil bulbs.

The day was beautiful, the enthusiasm contagious and we wait now for spring to see our efforts come to ‘floweration’.

Riverview Park Annual General Meeting

On Wednesday, October 21, 2009 the RPCA held its annual general meeting. About 40 residents turned out to hear our guest speaker, Christopher Stoney, from Carleton U and to discuss the future of Riverview Park and Ottawa with Peter Hume, our councillor and David McGuinty, our MPP.
Volunteer Extraordinaire awards were given to three of our members:
- Chris Mark for her years of devoted contributions to the RPCA
- Bruce Aho for his selfless efforts in maintaining our skating rinks
- Brian Oliver for so generously giving his time and efforts to our skating rinks
The residents also elected the new RPCA Board of Directors was elected, as follows:
a) Karin Keyes Endemann, President
b) Chris Mark
c) Sue Vye
d) Kris Nanda
e) Janina Nickus, Secretary
f) Nazish Ahmed
g) Bruce Aho, Treasurer
The RPCA would welcome any other nominations or volunteers to sit on the Board or on any of the 3 RCPA committees: communications, planning and development and parks and recreation.
The residents also took up a donation to help our neighbours, the Johnson family,whose house burned last week.
Minutes of the RCPA annual meeting will be posted on this site in the next few days

RPCA Social: a great time was had by all!

On September 27, at The Boofs Restaurant, the biennial Fall Social was an evening of fun, feasting and fundraising. About 70 community residents and friends gathered to enjoy a delicious buffet followed by musical entertainment provided by the barbershop quartet POLARIS. Their antics kept everyone smiling and the singing was wonderful.
The Silent Auction, so generously supported by local businesses and the community, raised over $1,500.00! This, together with donations, will be used to support the RPCA’s activities over the next year.
The Parks, Recreation and Environment Committee of the RPCA would like to thank all those who attended, including a visit from Ottawa South M.P. David McGuinty and his wife and all who contributed to the Fall Social. Special thanks to Farhad Derskhshan, owner of The Boofs Restaurant, and to City Councillor, Peter Hume, for his generous support, the RPCA Board of Directors, and to the following donors:

Community effort shows ’system can work’

By Brant Scott
A steady rain soaks in. This statement transcends mere weather conditions and there is a message here about perseverance. The Against Browning Corridor (ABC) committee was struck under the auspices of the Riverview Park Community Association (RPCA) last year. We were hopeful that our steady rain of resistance would have some effect on scrapping the Browning Corridor as a preferred option for the east-west high-speed bus route.

The ABC group of local volunteers put the City of Ottawa – Hospital Link/Cumberland Transitway Connection Study under its microscope and went to work…and the city’s decision to remove the Browning option was swift and sweet.

Free Activities for Children ages 0-6

Fall is quickly approaching! Are you looking for fun, free and educational activities to do with your children 0 to 6 years of age? We can help. The Ontario Early Years Centre Ottawa South has drop-in playgroups for parents and caregivers with their children 0 to 6 years of age. 

Browning Corridor Removed as Transit Route Option

(Riverview Park – June 24, 2009) By now, many of you have heard that the consultants for the City of Ottawa – Hospital Link / Cumberland Transitway Connection Study have concluded that the Browning Corridor is no longer recommended as an option for the Bus Rapid Transit system in Ottawa.
This position was officially announced at the Open House last night at the Jim Durrell arena. Does this mean the Browning bus route is really dead? City representatives on this project concur that Browning should no longer be considered, and taking it off the short list will alter the December 31, 2009 deadline for the Environmental Assessment. The EA has now been re-scheduled to conclude in February, which means the deadline imposed by the Ontario Municipal Board will not be met. Missing that deadline will be the final straw that kills the Browning option.  
So, it is evident that the Browning Corridor will continue to be the domain of cyclists, dog-walkers and school children for many years to come. There is always a possibility that this area could be considered for development again in future decades, but the conclusion of this EA will be on the books as a precedent and will no doubt carry some weight into the future.

Services for Young Children

The Ontario Early Years Centre Ottawa South is a place where parents and caregivers can get answers to questions, information about programs and services which are available for young children and have an opportunity to talk to early years professionals as well as other parents and caregivers in the community. The OEYC Ottawa South offers a range of free services in English and in French, these include ……

Pet Remembrance Patio in Balena Park

With the enthusiastic support of the Riverview Park Community Association, the Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind and the City of Ottawa we now have a Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind brick patio in Balena Park. It is located at the site of the Ellen Lanthier Memorial Bench and garden in Balena Park. As a result, you now have the opportunity to celebrate and commemorate the life of your best animal friend— your pet ! You can do this and at the same time support the Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind by purchasing a brick destined to become part of the Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind patio in Balena Park. Your brick will be engraved with the inscription of your choice and placed in the pet memorial patio in Balena Park. More information is attached….