Richmond Road/Westboro Transportation Management Implementation Plan

The purpose of the Transportation Management Implementation Plan (TMIP) is to identify a set of programs, policies and infrastructure improvements that will promote a shift to more sustainable modes of transportation in the Richmond Road/ Westboro community over the next 15 years.

These initiatives are necessary to reduce the percentage of trips made by private automobile (as compared to all other transportation modes) on Richmond Road during afternoon rush hour. Specifically, the p.m. peak period auto modal share must decrease by 13% (from 53% today to a future target of 40%) to avoid the need to provide additional roadway capacity.

Data analysis shows that 98% of trips along the Richmond Road corridor either start or end in the study area or surrounding communities. Therefore, initiatives intended to reduce auto dependence along the corridor must focus on changing the way people travel to, from and within the broader Westboro community.

To reduce the proportion of trips made by automobiles, the number of trips on foot, by bike and by bus must increase. Figure E-1 illustrates the modal share targets that have been established to achieve the required auto modal share reduction.

How does this plan fit within the City’s broader transportation policy framework?

The shift from automobile use to more sustainable transportation alternatives (walking, cycling and transit) is a key component of the City’s transportation strategy and supports the City’s overall growth management objectives. By implementing projects that support walking, cycling and transit, the Westboro community will become increasingly lively, healthy, attractive and safe for residents and visitors.

The following City policies directly influence travel behaviour in the study area and across Ottawa:

• City of Ottawa Official Plan and Richmond Road/ Westboro Community Design Plan: Designates land use in the study area and accommodates an additional 3970 dwelling units by 2021.
• Transportation Master Plan: Lays out policies, infrastructure projects and implementation plans to achieve the following city-wide peak hour modal split objectives by 2031.

Table E-1: Proportion of Motorized-Trips by Mode (Transportation Master Plan, 2008)

Table E-2: Proportion of All Person-Trips by Walking and Cycling (Transportation Master Plan 2008)

• Ottawa Cycling Plan: Indicates future bike lanes and shared signed-routes throughout the study area, and includes policies on bike parking, integration with transit, etc.
• Ottawa Pedestrian Plan: Indicates future sidewalk improvement projects in the Westboro neighbourhood, and other citywide policies that enhance community walkability.
• Parking Standards and Strategies: Govern the amount of parking included in new developments and the way public parking is managed in the study area.
• OC Transpo Service Guidelines: Govern the provision of transit service in the study area.

What else can be done to shift travel behaviour?

The success of this plan will be largely dependent on its ability to change existing travel behaviour for those who live and work in the Westboro neighbourhood, and its ability to promote a non-auto dependent lifestyle for new residents. 

After identifying existing barriers to non-auto modes of transportation and researching proven methods to address these barriers, a preliminary list of potential Transportation Management Initiatives was developed and presented to community members through a strategic stakeholder engagement program. Input from public consultation events was used to refine the preliminary recommendations and ensure the plan is responsive to both community issues and City transportation objectives. The recommendations of the TMIP are summarized in Table E-3. 

What are the next steps?

The recommendations highlighted in Table E-3 have been assembled into a 15-year implementation plan. The implementation plan prioritizes initiatives based on ease of implementation, urgency of issue being addressed, compatibility with development and infrastructure projects, and the City’s ability to pay. 

The following timeframes for implementation have been established:

• Near-Term Investments (2011-2015): Initiatives that will have immediate impacts on auto modal share and are easily implemented without further study. High priority initiatives that address current barriers and initiatives that should be implemented in advance of new development are also included in this investment period.
• Interim Investments (2016-2020): Initiatives that require longer set-up and initiatives that should be timed in conjunction with future infrastructure development.
• Long-Term Investments (2021-2025): Initiatives that require more intensive background studies and those that should be implemented in conjunction with long-term infrastructure projects.

This plan will only be successful if it achieves measurable changes in travel behaviour and maintains these changes over time. As such, a monitoring plan has been developed to periodically assess the success of these initiatives and allow for the re-prioritization of initiatives based on the current planning context. 

Table E-3: Summary of TMIP Recommendations

Walking

Connectivity/Accessibility
Community members said: New sidewalks are needed to enhance connectivity to key destinations. Snow clearing and maintenance was cited as a barrier to year-round walkability by community members.

• The Ottawa Pedestrian Plan designates a network of sidewalks throughout the Study Area and ranks the proposed improvements as Medium Priority.
• The City of Ottawa has a rating system for new sidewalk requests, based on pedestrian destinations, traffic and roadway characteristics, adjacent land use, and existing pedestrian facilities in the surrounding neighbourhood.
• The City of Ottawa maintains sidewalks and pathways according to City-wide standards

Walkability
Community members said: Street furniture and drinking fountains would make the neighbourhood more walkable.
 

• Through the Ottawa Pedestrian Plan, the City aims to improve the quality of the pedestrian realm. The City supports road re-allocation for amenities that benefit pedestrians, such as bulb-outs, wider sidewalks, street furniture and plantings.

• The City is developing an Outdoor Drinking Fountain Strategy

Pedestrian Safety
Community members said: To promote safe community walkability, existing signal timing should be reviewed and pedestrian countdown signals are needed.

• The Transportation Master Plan calls for pedestrian countdown signals to be installed at all new and rebuilt traffic signals, and at other traffic signals as resources allow.
• Signal warrants and signal timings are reviewed by the City’s traffic department.

Cycling

Connectivity
Community members said: Connectivity: Lack of direct cycling routes discourages cycling as a commuting option. The recreational pathway along the Ottawa River does not serve the needs of commuter cyclists, because of conflicts with other users. The Scott St. multi-use pathway should be better integrated with Westboro Station.
Cycling Lanes
Community members said: Speed of adjacent traffic and small cycling lane widths make cycling along many major streets undesirable; the creation of bicycle lanes would increase cyclists’ safety.

The Ottawa Cycling Plan identifies short-term and long term strategies for promoting cycling across the City, including a network of bicycle lanes and shared signed routes within the study area.

Bike Parking
Community members said: There is inadequate provision of covered and secure bicycle parking within the community and at transit stations.

The Ottawa Cycling Plan includes technical recommendations for the City to install bike parking where demand is high and to encourage partners and the private sector to install secure bike parking at key destinations.

Bike Sharing

The National Capital Commission (NCC) and the Cities of Ottawa and Gatineau are launching a bike share service in downtown Ottawa and Gatineau in 2011.The National Capital Commission (NCC) and the Cities of Ottawa and Gatineau are launching a bike share service in downtown Ottawa and Gatineau in 2011.

Transit

Level of Transit Service
Community members said: Improve the frequency and reliability of local bus service especially during off-peak periods. Current frequency makes transit inconvenient for multiple stop trips.
 

• OC Transpo’s Service Design Guidelines implement city-wide criteria for bus frequency and coverage, in order to ensure the transit service is offered effectively throughout the city. Performance measures are based on ridership, customer feedback, new development, and operational costs.

Safety/Accessibility
Community members said: Low lighting, overgrowth, and poor visibility are concerns when travelling to and from Transitway stations. Improving snow clearing should make sidewalks passable. Station elevators should be constantly in-service.

• Ottawa’s transit services department maintains Transitway stations, while sidewalks and bus stops are maintained according to Maintenance Quality Standards for Roads, Sidewalks, and Pathways. The City accepts customer feedback via online forms and the 3-1-1 telephone hotline.

Transit Stop Amenities
Community members said: Bus shelters and bike parking should be provided at transit stations, taking into account weather and seasonal effects on transit trips.
 

• The City has an established system whereby transit users can request bus shelters. The requests are evaluated based on wind conditions and stop usage, among other factors.
• Bike parking is currently provided at Transitway stations, in order to facilitate the integration of the two modes.

Connectivity
Community members said: The Transit-way is not easily accessible from Westboro, despite proximity. Better pathway connections are required to access the stations.
 

• An analysis has been undertaken to determine the feasibility of providing an additional bus Transitway station at New Orchard in the near term. The Western LRT Corridor Planning and Environmental Assessment Study will determine the long-term need and location for rapid transit facilities in the study area.

Ticket Availability
Community members said: Locations and hours of operation of ticket vendors need to be improved.

• The City is implementing a Smartcard program in 2011/ 2012; bus tickets will be replaced by cards that can be re-loaded by phone and internet.

TDM Transportation Demand Management

Commercial Parking Requirements

• The City completed a Municipal Parking Strategy that recommends analysing parking supply and demand across different commercial main streets throughout the City.

Residential Parking Requirements

The City controls the provision of parking in new developments through the zoning by-law. In certain parts of the City, the min. required spaces has been reduced and/or a max. number of spaces has been set, in order to promote alternative transportation modes. The City also offers parking reductions via cash-in-lieu.

School Zones
Community members said: Student pick-up and drop-off by private car causes traffic congestion during peak hours, impeding the safety of walking or cycling to school.

• The City provides support for School Travel Planning initiatives at Broadview Public School and Churchill Alternative School (both in the study area) by offering financial support and transportation planning advice.

Car Sharing
Community members said: New residents/visitors add drivers which adds to congestion. New developments should offer car sharing programs to help reduce congestion.

• Vrtucar car sharing spaces are provided in various municipally managed parking lots throughout the City.

Awareness
Community members said: There has been inadequate promotion of cycling routes and walking paths.

• OC Transpo offers an online personal travel planner for transit users.
• The City created a cycling map available online and for distribution.
• The City offers travel planning info and services to the public through the TravelWise program.
• The City was awarded a TDM grant for a city-wide Active State of Mind advertising campaign
• The Cycling Plan and Pedestrian Plan contain further policies for the citywide promotion of active transportation modes.

End of Journey Amenities
Community members said: There is a need for showers and locker facilities at workplaces to encourage cycling as a commuting option.

• The City provides info and tools for employers seeking to change the commuting behaviours of their staff. The EnviroCentre, the City’s non-profit partner, provides additional services, including the creation of employer-specific travel plans.