'A plan to get you out of traffic': McKenney says transportation plan will ease traffic on Ottawa roads
Mayoral candidate Catherine McKenney says their plan to increase OC Transpo service and build new bike lanes will help limit commuter traffic on Ottawa's roads, promoting their transportation plan on a day thousands of motorists dealt with major delays due to construction.
A five-kilometre section of the Queensway is closed for the replacement of the Rochester Street Bridge this weekend, causing traffic delays on Carling Avenue, Baseline Road, Hunt Club Road, Catherine Street and other roads across the city.
"The plan today that I revealed really is a plan for everyone," McKenney told CTV News Ottawa shortly after unveiling their commitment to ease traffic, shorten commute times and lower emissions.
"It's a plan to get you out of traffic. It includes a transit plan; it includes better, safer roads; it includes cycling. It includes something for everyone."
In a media release, McKenney said the shutdown of Hwy. 417 for construction and the domino effect on the roads is a reminder of "why diverse options for getting around save us time and stress."
The campaign says McKenney's transportation plan will make transit "more reliable and affordable", while their plan for safe cycling and building new cycling infrastructure will "free up our roads and make it easier for more people to cycle" if they are moving around the city of Ottawa.
McKenney has promised to increase transit operations by 20 per cent over the next four years and freeze transit fares, along with building 25 years worth of cycling infrastructure over four years. McKenney's campaign says the cycling infrastructure plan would be financed through a $250-million green bond, adding it would be cost-neutral.
"Anytime you put more people on transit, of course, you take them out of cars, so that opens up space on our roadways," McKenney said Saturday afternoon.
"Certainly, anytime you put in cycling infrastructure it's also an opportunity to make the roadway better, the surface of roadway better - just a little bit more than filling potholes. It really does work towards getting people out of traffic, making sure the roadway is safe and available for everyone."
While McKenney's transportation plan includes new cycling lanes, they say they will make sure Ottawa's current roads are fixed for all transportation options.
"I would suggest that people want the roads they've already paid for to be fixed. The biggest complaint that I hear from people is that the state of the roads, so fix the roads that we have before we widen more," McKenney said.
"Ensure that we are building a transportation network for everyone – getting people out of traffic means getting more people onto transit and building a transportation network that serves everyone."
McKenney is scheduled to release the full campaign financial plan on Thursday. The two-term councillor has said the financial plan will include a three per cent property tax cap.
Mayoral candidate Mark Sutcliffe has pledged to spend an additional $100 million over four years to repair and clear snow from Ottawa's roads and multi-use pathways.
Sutcliffe promised a "balanced approach" to transportation. Sutcliffe is also promising a web-based "pothole-line" where residents can report potholes, and is proposing to double city councillors’ traffic calming budgets to $100,000 per ward.
The former broadcaster and entrepreneur is also scheduled to release their campaign financial plan next week.
Bob Chiarelli, another mayoral candidate, has pledged that no new construction projects would start in his first year in office. The former mayor's campaign website says the savings would be spent on the "deplorable condition" of the existing roads.
"By cancelling planned road projects, such as the twinning of the Airport Parkway and the Alta Vista Parkway, it will free up money to address the crumbling road system," Chiarelli says on his website.
"It makes no sense to prioritize new road infrastructure when we are investing billions into LRT and targeting net zero GHG emissions."
With files from CTV News Ottawa's Colton Praill and Michael Woods
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.