'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
Fluid in eye cells can 'boil' if you watch the eclipse without protection: expert
Millions of people in parts of Eastern and Atlantic Canada will be able to see the rare solar eclipse happening on April 8. But they should only look up if they have proper eye protection, experts say.
He didn't trust police but sought their help anyway. Two days later, he was dead
Jameek Lowery was among more than 330 Black people who died after police stopped them with tactics that aren’t supposed to be deadly, like physical restraint and use of stun guns, The Associated Press found.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Being harassed at work? What to consider when deciding what to do next
If you've been the victim of workplace harassment, it can be difficult to feel you're not alone - and even more difficult to know where to go with a complaint.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Half of Canadians support TikTok ban, with U.S. concerns 'trickling' north: poll
A new poll indicates 51 per cent of Canadians support banning the social media app TikTok, after a U.S. bill aiming to do just that passed in the House of Representatives.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
More unauthorized products for skin, sexual enhancement, recalled: Here are the recalls of this week
Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency recalled various items this week, including torches, beef biltong and unauthorized products related to skin care and sexual enhancement.