Editor's Update July 14, 2010: OSWatch is currently working to arrange another Public Open House for early in September, and the City's planning team continues to accept comments on the direction the study should take, as well as residents' concerns about traffic. Please read the article below for background information, then visit the Study website and send your comments. It's important for OOS that the study reflects the community's concerns, particularly now that Lansdowne redevelopment has been approved. You can email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or otherwise contact him at the address or phone number below.
Old Ottawa South Area Traffic Study Commences, Starting with Public Open House
The Information panels from the Open House are now up on the City website and comments on the Open House materials will be accepted until Tuesday June 8. Send comments to the address at the bottom of this article. The Program Manager states that comments will continue to be accepted throughout the study, but those received later will not be included in the first Open House review.
The first of two public open houses for the Old Ottawa South Area Traffic Management (ATM) Study (also known as the Sunnyside Traffic Study) took place April 28, 2010. Its purpose was to present the extent of the study and receive input from residents on what they perceived to be traffic problems in our neighbourhood.
The study was originally meant to focus on Sunnyside Avenue (which is why it is still referred to as the "Sunnyside Traffic Study" by many), but the study area was expanded to include all streets bounded on the west by Bronson Avenue, on the north by the Rideau Canal, on the east by Bank Street and on the south by the Rideau River.
At the Open House, there were multiple panels mapping traffic patterns and parking restrictions on display, but there was not a lot of detail, as the study is in its early phase. These panels will be published on the City of Ottawa website shortly, and will be announced on this website when they are available.
Asad Yousfani, the City engineer heading the study [at time of Open House], told one resident that the ATM will be done in conjunction with the ongoing Glebe Traffic Plan study, which is to determine whether to close most turns off Bronson in the Glebe completely during peak periods. If this plan goes ahead without a similar ban on peak turns onto Sunnyside, the impact on OOS streets will be felt, and one purpose of the OOS ATM study is in part to determine that impact. Many Sunnyside residents are perturbed by this, as there is already congestion at peak periods, and residents have expressed that Sunnyside will be unacceptably impacted if the Glebe Traffic closures are effected without a similar ban on Sunnyside turns.
The impetus for the traffic study came originally from Sunnyside residents who were concerned about speeding and safety issues along Sunnyside after a series of accidents, in particular after a man waiting for the bus at Seneca was permanently disabled. A speeding SUV coming east from Bronson had plowed onto the sidewalk to avoid rear-ending a car that had stopped at the stop sign.
(Note: The study lead Asad Yousfani has moved to another project and Bob Streicher, address below, is now the contact point.)
Residents are encouraged to express their concerns and comments about OOS traffic problems by sending them to:
Bob Streicher, Program Manager
Area Traffic Management
Planning and Growth Management Department
100 Constellation Crescent
Ottawa, ON K2G 6J8
Tel.: 613-580-2424, ext. 22723
Fax: 613-560-6069
E-mail:
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