Chapter 2 – Strategic Directions 2.1 Creating a Transportation Vision This plan strives to create a future transportation system that supports the Ottawa 20/20 growth management strategy. As an early milestone in the Transportation Master Plan process, a Transportation Vision was developed to expresses what that future transportation system might look like, and how it might benefit Ottawa’s residents in twenty years. The Transportation Vision reflects Ottawa’s social, environmental and economic objectives, and also reflects how the City wishes to conduct the business of local government. It recognizes that transportation is a means to an end — namely, the protection and improvement of our quality of life. This singular goal encompasses a range of issues embodied in the Ottawa 20/20 principles, including safety, access, mobility, environment, community, beauty and accountability, among others. The Transportation Vision is an expression of how transportation can contribute to Ottawa’s overall community objectives, and how transportation should be managed to ensure accountability to the City’s residents and taxpayers. The following statement is a condensed summary of the Transportation Vision:
The complete vision breaks this summary statement into its four major parts. Each part is then divided into elements that define and describe transportation’s role, supported by principles for action that guide the policies and programs of the Transportation Master Plan. Figure 2.1 provides a tabular summary of the vision’s major parts, elements and principles. The Transportation Vision has been created with the goal of permanence. It is intended to be an indelible expression of critical outcomes — what we wish to achieve through transportation, and why. The detailed how, who, when and where of specific actions are addressed through the policies of the Transportation Master Plan. The Transportation Vision expresses important directions and outcomes, rather than specific projects or services — an approach that gives City Council freedom to adjust policies and programs over the years, while relying on an unchanging vision and guiding principles. The pages that follow Figure 2.1 present the complete Transportation Vision, including a detailed description of each element. Figure 2.1 –
Part A – A.1 Access to opportunity will not require access to a car Not owning a car, whether by necessity or choice, will not limit the ability of residents to access essential opportunities. Urban residents will be able to reach employment, education, health care, childcare, shopping, recreation and other daily needs without using a car, by walking, cycling, transit, ridesharing or other options. Rural residents will continue to rely primarily on the automobile, but those who are unable to drive will have other choices. The need for some trips will be eliminated by fulfilling their purpose in another way (such as teleworking), and land use planning will bring destinations closer to where people live. Walking, cycling, transit and ridesharing will be more convenient and effectively promoted — but to a large extent, Ottawa residents will rely on public transit as their most affordable, accessible and all-season travel option. Principles for action include:
A.2 The transportation system will meet mobility needs While we want to reduce overall need for mobility, people and goods will still have to move around Ottawa. Delay increases transportation costs and environmental effects, and will be avoided where possible — although it may result from actions we take to meet other priorities. Whether residents choose to move around Ottawa by foot, bike, bus, light rail or car (or a combination of these), they will travel with reasonable directness and speed. The need to move goods efficiently is a major reason to provide an acceptable level of service on our roads. And whether people with disabilities choose to travel under their own power, or whether they use public transit, they will not find barriers that limit their ability to reach their destination. Principles for action include:
A.3 Transportation facilities and services will make communities more liveable Transportation facilities and services such as sidewalks, pathways, rapid transit lines and roads will support and enliven the communities they pass through. While these facilities enable travel, they will also serve as public spaces — offering benches for pedestrians to rest, racks for cyclists to park their bikes, and shelters for transit passengers to wait in. Trees and other forms of vegetation will play a critical role, providing shade and wind protection, and improving aesthetics and air quality. Greening will occur wherever conditions allow sustainable plantings. Pathways, rapid transit lines and roads will pass through a variety of neighbourhoods, and will be sensitive to their surroundings — avoiding a one-size-fits-all design approach. Residential areas will also be protected from the undesirable impacts of transportation activity — congestion, noise, pollution and poor driver behaviour. Principles for action include:
A.4 Public health and safety will be protected The people of Ottawa will enjoy sidewalks, pathways, roads and transit facilities that are planned, built and maintained to safe standards, and with an eye to providing users with security of person. Transportation choices that can improve health, like walking and cycling, will be encouraged. The City will also educate people about safe walking, cycling and driving behaviours for their own protection, and for that of their families and others. People want clean air to breathe, and the transportation sector’s contribution to air pollution will be minimized. Principles for action include:
Part B – B.1 Transportation impacts on the natural environment will be minimized The health of our natural environment — local, regional and global — is vitally important to the people of Ottawa. Because our transportation system affects the natural environment in many ways, awareness of environmental issues will prevail throughout planning, design, construction and operations. While the most effective way to minimize the transportation system’s environmental impacts is to reduce the scope and scale of that system, the transportation activity that does take place will be closely managed from an environmental perspective. Principles for action include:
Part C – C.1 The economic benefits of transportation will be maximized Transportation plays a significant role in supporting Ottawa’s economic development. The businesses and institutions that are the backbone of our local economy provide residents with employment, educational, social and recreational opportunities. They require an effective and efficient transportation system to move the people and goods that are essential to their operation. It is also important that out-of-town visitors and tourists can move around Ottawa, particularly to and from major intercity travel hubs. Principles for action include:
Part D – D.1 Transportation services will be delivered cost-effectively The City will constantly refine its services, and the way they are delivered, to give maximum value to residents and taxpayers. First and foremost, we will get the most out of what we already have. The performance of existing road and transit systems will be optimized before we build new facilities. The City will consider the short-term and long-term impacts of spending decisions, in order to minimize overall costs. Trade-offs between capital and operating costs will be explicitly recognized, and incorporated into decision-making processes. We will also explore the abilities of private sector partners and service providers to reduce City costs, while protecting the public interest. Principles for action include:
D.2 Consultation and cooperation will protect the public interest The City must have clear and constant communication with a range of stakeholders. The City will ensure that information about the transportation system is gathered, documented and made available to interested parties. The City will also maintain a dialogue with people who use the transportation system, or are affected by it, to understand their needs and concerns. Clear lines of communication with other governments — including the federal government, Province of Ontario, Province of Quebec, City of Gatineau and neighbouring Ontario municipalities — will help to jointly overcome challenges and grasp opportunities. Principles for action include:
D.3 Transportation program funding will be adequate and equitable The City will overcome today’s funding challenges. Internal or external funding sources will guarantee the City’s ability to confidently plan and deliver facilities and services to meet its long-term transportation needs. The City will lessen its dependence on property taxes to pay for transportation facilities and services, and will get a greater portion of its transportation funding directly from users — today, only transit fares and parking fees follow this approach. The greater use of "user pay" principles will allow the City to more effectively influence individual travel choices through the price of transportation. Principles for action include:
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