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Issues
Since I volunteered on January 12th, to set up a website for this group, I've received a lot of information. Here is my attempt to filter it all into the main issues.
1. Train Maintenance Yard
location.
The City Staff and Environmental Assessment have identified our Greenspace
along the Airport Parkway as the 'preferred location' to build their
new yard for the Light Rail Trains. City Staff insists that Lester is
where it is going, and the RFP out to bidders only includes the Lester
site. I do not understand why they didn't pick the existing Walkley
site. Their selection just defies logic. Is there something going on
that we don't know about? It just doesn't make sense.
2. Location of the train tracks.
The Residents of Emerald Woods respectfully request that the City move
the location of the new LRT tracks closer to the Airport Parkway. This
is a win-win situation. We gain because the Greenspace is not lost to
us and split in half by tall fences. Deer and other wildlife can continue
to roam. The tracks can go through closer to the airport.. making it
a more profitable to the City. If they weren't in such a big rush they
would have public input... we could suggest this properly. They have
not allowed for public input in this multi-million dollar proposal.
Nice. New! See
further explanation
This issue was identified by Transport 2000. Here's my simplification. Our current O-Train is deisel powered. It runs on current existing tracks, therefore it can go anywhere that existing tracks go. Electrical Trains must have overhead wires, poles, substations and powerstations to run them. Although they could run on existing lines, the City planners are setting rules to ensure this does not happen ... see further explanation
4. Highway Engineers vs. Train Engineers?
Again, this issue was identified by the Transport 2000 people. The LRT
engineers are highway builders, hence the soaring overpasses in their
design. Instead Train Engineers will dig tunnels. What do we want our
future Ottawa to look like? Are we giving this Transportation Corridor
enough thought? Is this another 'Articulated Buses' that don't work in
the snow? :)
5. Arrogance on the part of City Staff.
Sorry folks. I got really peeved by their attitude. They had extensive
public consultation. Crap. We didn't find out about it until last November...
and only by accident. They have buried the entire Yard location under
a 400 page document. They bundled it with the whole LRT proposal - which
makes it hard for the Councillors to vote against... no one wants to vote
against Motherhood. They cancel meetings... they... well. I personally
felt quite insulted by their attitude.
nb: Lester Site = Parkway Site = Greenspace Site (all terms mean the same thing)
I think that's it. If I've forgotten something... let me know.