Reopening Wellington Street: what must be done before traffic returns — and what comes later?
Catherine Morrison, Ottawa Citizen
Published Feb 13, 2023 • Last updated 5 hours ago • 4 minute read
With Wellington Street set to reopen in the coming weeks, certain details need to be worked out such as when it will actually be accessible to all traffic — no earlier than March 1 — and safety considerations.
Ottawa city council’s vote last week to reopen the street, which has for months been partially closed to vehicle traffic in light of the convoy protest last winter, was also a vote for bike lanes, street signs and a traffic light to be put in place.
Meanwhile, questions raised about the long-term future of the street fronting Parliament Hill are set to take a while longer to answer, including which level of government might eventually be responsible for Wellington, as talks about jurisdiction and ownership between the city and the federal government continue.
Cycling
Phil Landry, director of traffic services with the city, told council the plan — for this year — is for a temporary bike lane to be created on Wellington with painted lines and flex posts. He expects there will be a lane in each direction and signs installed.
“The rationale for that is that putting in any other type of protection, like pin curbs, becomes very expensive, so we want to get something done sooner that’s affordable,” he said.
Landry said the city hopes to maximize its cycling network, encouraging points of connection from Sussex through to Lyon streets, and maybe even further.
Landry said the city does not yet know the costs for implementing traffic changes on Wellington, though more information will be determined once the bike lane design is completed.
Following the meeting, Vivi Chi, director of transportation planning with the city, said the long-term plan is to have permanent, continuous two-way cycle tracks along the north side of Wellington St. between the Portage Bridge, Mackenzie Avenue and Sussex Drive
“Regardless of the outcome of discussions with the federal government over the jurisdiction of Wellington Street, there is joint interest in ensuring that safe cycling facilities are part of the street’s future design,” Chi said.
Traffic
Landry said he expects travel patterns to change with the reopening of Wellington Street.
“Motorists who currently have to turn onto adjacent streets to get through the core will no longer have to do this,” Landry said. “This will lead to fewer conflicts between motorists and pedestrians, a reduction of delays for motorists travelling in the core and faster and more direct travel times through the core.”
Landry said the speed limit will remain the same as the currently open section of Wellington Street.
Before opening, the city will re-install a traffic light that was removed at the intersection of Metcalfe and Wellington streets last year when there weren’t many vehicles on the roads. Landry said bike lane signs will also have to be installed.
“When we’re going to be opening Wellington Street, we have to be ready to ensure the safety of everyone,” he said.
Working with the federal government, the city will be developing a traffic study to share by the first quarter of 2024.
“We will be reporting back once the traffic study analysis is complete,” Landry said. “If there is anything to report back in advance of that, we would certainly bring that forward to committee and council.”
Transit
Landry said the city will be working with both OC Transpo and the Société de transport de l’Outaouais bus service ahead of the reopening. He noted that, when the street was closed, there was only one route on Wellington.
“They changed their schedule when they’re travelling within downtown,” he said. “Normally, they will transit through Lyon and other streets, so if we do have to make some modification to the routes of OC Transpo, we will present (to council).”
Security and jurisdiction
The Ottawa Police Service noted that the reopening process for Wellington will take time as issues around both infrastructure and safety are discussed, adding that conversations with partner organizations have already begun.
“We know this is a priority issue in Ottawa,” the police force stated in an email. “It’s important we work together to chart a path moving forward for this area.”
According to police, the next steps will include considerations of “various safety measures.”
“In collaboration with all the partners that have responsibility in securing Parliament Hill and the surrounding area (Parliamentary Protective Service, the City of Ottawa, and the RCMP, etc.) we will develop measures to ensure public safety and community wellbeing around Parliament Hill and throughout the downtown core,” police indicated.
Moving forward, the city is engaging in conversations with federal officials regarding which government should have jurisdiction over the street.
When speaking with reporters before question period on Wednesday last week, Minister of Public Services and Procurement Helena Jaczek said discussions about the future of the parliamentary precinct are taking place.
“We’re really exploring a lot of opportunities,” Jaczek said. “If you look at international capital cities, most of them have formed some sort of parliamentary precinct that makes sense not only from the point of view obviously of local residents, but on behalf of all Canadians to have a nation’s capital that we can all be proud of. So, those discussions are ongoing.”
Chi said the federal government is interested in improving security for the parliamentary precinct, and therefore having jurisdiction over Wellington Street may provide it with options to do so.
“Planning discussions with the federal government about the future of Wellington are just getting underway,” Chi said.
“Besides traffic and implications to transit and other modes, other items to consider include access to underground city services, land valuation, other planned capital works in the vicinity, public consultation, etc.
“At the conclusion of those discussions, city staff will develop recommendations for council’s consideration.”
https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local...at-comes-later
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