Projects overview by ward

The Official Plan, Transportation Master Plan and Infrastructure Master work together to show how the city will grow and what new infrastructure is needed to provide an appropriate level of service. The Master Plans prioritize new infrastructure projects within an affordable budget envelop that includes construction as well as long-term operating costs.

Higher densities and a focus on walking, cycling and transit throughout Ottawa support a more compact and affordable city. This approach to growth is also more environmentally sustainable, since less energy is consumed for buildings and transportation and less land is consumed by development.

How do the Official Plan and Master Plans affect our neighbourhoods?

The official plan and master plans result in on-the-ground change through requirements for new development, changes to the Zoning By-law and construction of new infrastructure.  The plans also lead to more detailed studies and neighbourhood plans.

• Light rail will make the most significant changes in the City
  • Construction is underway on the Confederation Line – 12.5 km of light rail from Tunney’s Pasture to Blair Station that will reduce congestion and improve travel through the downtown.  When the line is complete in 2018, priority will shift to Stage 2 LRT.
  • The Stage 2 LRT plan ultimately will extend light rail transit from Central Ottawa farther east, west and south. Specifically, the plan will extend rail to Baseline and Bayshore in the west (Confederation Line West), Place d’ Orléans in the east (Confederation Line East), and to Bowesville in the south (Trillium Line O-Train). Although not within the City’s affordable budget envelop, the Stage 2 LRT plan also includes an Airport Rail Link on the Trillium line and extension of the Confederation Line East from Place D’ Orléans to Trim Road.
• Site Alteration By-law
  • A new by-law to regulate site alteration. This initiative responds to policy direction in the City's Official Plan for such a by-law to be established.
• Beyond 2036
  • The Ottawa Next: Beyond 2036 planning study will undertake by a core team from the City’s Economic Development and Long Range Planning department together with two internationally recognized Planning Consultants, Dan Leeming and Joe Berridge. The results of these discussions will be compiled for public comment and the core team will report to Council on the results and identify priorities and opportunities that the City should consider as we plan for the future
• Bird Friendly Construction Guidelines
  • This project will research and develop bird-friendly design guidelines to address and help mitigate the issue of bird collisions on buildings and other structures in Ottawa. Birds are an essential natural resource in Ottawa. They perform numerous roles in our environment such as pollinating plants, distributing seeds, and eating insects, all of which help to maintain the ecological health of wetlands, forests and valley lands. They are also useful for pest control and pollination for agriculture and forestry
• Capital Region Resource Recovery Centre
  • The purpose of the CRRRC will be to recover and recycle resources and divert them away from landfill disposal. The facility will process solid non-hazardous wastes and soils that are generated by the commercial, industrial, institutional, construction, and demolition sectors.
• Ottawa Hospital
  • On December 2, 2016, the Minister of Canadian Heritage approved 930 Carling Avenue and 520 Preston Street, commonly referred to as the Sir John Carling site, as the location for the new Civic Hospital Campus. The Official Plan amendment will re-designate the 5 hectare parcel of Agricultural Research Area to General Urban Area and adjust the Experimental Farm Boundary in the Official Plan to reflect the boundary of the new hospital site.
• Ottawa Central Library
  • On February 8, 2017, Ottawa City Council approved 557 Wellington Street as the site for the new Ottawa Central Library. A library is a permitted use under the mixed-use designation

What else is underway in Central Ottawa?

Intensification

Redevelopment at higher densities—or, intensification—is targeted for:

• Traditional mainstreets in Central Ottawa such as Wellington, Bank, McArthur, and Beechwood Arterial mainstreets such as portions of Carling Avenue, St. Laurent Boulevard and Montreal Road
• Key rapid transit stations in Central Ottawa such as Tunney’s Pasture, Billings Bridge and Preston Street.
• The goal is to create a convenient mix of uses and attractive public areas where walking and cycling support transit use and achievement of city wide targets for sustainable transportation.
• Outside the areas targeted for intensification, infill and redevelopment that is compatible with the surrounding neighbourhood is supported. A Mature Neighbourhoods Overlay in the Zoning By-law was approved in 2015 to regulate low-rise residential development throughout Central Ottawa so that it complements and reinforces the established neighbourhood character as seen along each street.

Community Design Plans translate the Official Plan at the community level. Recently-completed or ongoing plans include:

• Clemow Estate Heritage Conservation District Study Phase II  - The City has started Phase II of the Clemow Estate Heritage Conservation District Study. The area under study includes Clemow Avenue west of Bank Street to Bronson Avenue, Monkland Avenue, and Linden Terrace.
• Sandy Hill Heritage Conservation District Study Phase II - The City of Ottawa has started Phase II of the Sandy Hill Heritage Study.  The following areas are under consideration for designation as heritage conservation districts:
  • Russell Avenue, Chapel Street and Blackburn Avenue between Laurier Avenue and Osgoode Street
  • Range Road and Marlborough Avenue between Laurier Avenue and Osgoode Street
  • Besserer Street and Daly Avenue between Charlotte Street and the Rideau River
• The City is amending its Official Plan and Zoning By-law to reflect updated flood plain mapping prepared by the Conservation Authorities. Affected areas in Central Ottawa include the Ottawa River shoreline.
• A study of the feasibility of a tunnel for trucks downtown linking the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge and Nicholas Street/Highway 417 is underway. The study responds to directions in the Official Plan and Transportation Master Plan to explore alternative means to accommodate interprovincial truck travel to minimize impacts on the Central Area, in particular along King Edward Avenue.
• The Glebe Neighbourhood Cycling Plan has recommended routes and cycling facilities such as bicycle boxes at intersections and new bike lanes throughout the neighbourhood, in keeping with Ottawa’s Cycling Plan.
• A pedestrian and cycling bridge over the Rideau Canal at Fifth Avenue and Clegg Street connecting neighbourhoods, multi-use pathways and Lansdowne. Additional cycling projects will extend the cycling network in this area. (dependent on funding).  Both projects will improve connections to the transit system, the University of Ottawa, federal employment in the core, and the existing network of multi-use pathways.
• Several projects to complete the East-West Bikeway linking Vanier to Westboro, including improvements on Beechwood, Hemlock and Albert.
• A new Trillium Line O-Train station at Gladstone Avenue, connecting area residents to Bayview station in the north to Bowesville in the south.  Service frequency will also increase.
• Transit priority measures on streets throughout the core, including a number of intersection modifications on Bank Street to enhance transit reliability.
• Proposed twinning of the Airport Parkway just south of the Central Ottawa to create an additional lane for transit and high-occupancy vehicles travelling to the airport.
• Albert and Slater Streets Post Light Rail Transit (LRT) Repurposing Functional Design Study and Slater Street Realignment Environmental Assessment Study The City of Ottawa is studying Albert Street, Slater Street and the Mackenzie-King Bridge between Empress Avenue and Waller Street. The study will explore opportunities to improve walking, cycling, transit and general traffic along these streets by reallocating existing Transitway lanes after the O-Train Confederation Line opens in 2018
• Sparks Street Public Realm Plan Sparks Street is Canada’s first pedestrian street and a famous place for residents and visitors alike to gather and celebrate in the heart of Ottawa’s downtown
• Alta Vista Hospital link The project provides a link from Riverside Drive and the Transitway to the Hospital Link Road. Construction of the Hospital Link facility is open to vehicular traffic and emergency medical services
• Bank Street Renewal The City of Ottawa has initiated a study to develop a Recommended Functional Design Plan for Bank Street from the Riverside Drive North to Ledbury Avenue. The Plan will include preliminary roadway geometry and general arrangements, typical cross sections, pavement markings, intersection details, preliminary landscape designs, and identify property requirements and project costs.
• Colonel By Crossings The City of Ottawa initiated a study to identify opportunities for enhancements to the pedestrian and cycling crossing of Colonel By Drive that is adjacent to the tunnel under Nicholas Street near the University of Ottawa
• CSST The CSST will greatly reduce the frequency of sewage overflows during storms from entering the Ottawa River, and will help protect the river. These tunnels will hold up to 43,000m3 of sewer overflow during major rainfalls, the equivalent capacity of approximately 18 Olympic sized pools. Once rainfall has subsided, this water will then be treated and returned safely to the Ottawa River. The CSST project will include the construction of two tunnels: an east-west tunnel (EWT) through the downtown core from LeBreton Flats to New Edinburgh Park, and a north-south tunnel (NST) along Kent Street from Chamberlain Avenue to existing infrastructure, just behind the Supreme Court.
• Cummings ATM The City of Ottawa has initiated an area traffic study along Cummings Avenue between Montreal Road and Donald Street. The study will look at the road conditions from the perspective of all road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, drivers and adjacent property owners. The objectives of the study are to assess the traffic related concerns of local residents, develop and evaluate possible solutions where warranted and to recommend a preferred plan of action.
• Elgin Street Renewal The City of Ottawa is undertaking the design and construction for the renewal of Elgin Street from Gloucester Street to Isabella Street. This project also includes the renewal of Waverley Street from Elgin Street to Metcalfe Street through Jack Purcell Park, as well as roadway renewal on Isabella Street from Elgin Street to Queen Elizabeth Driveway. The purpose of the project is to prepare drawings and specifications for the reconstruction of the aforementioned streets. This includes the layout of the surface elements including sidewalk, cycling, transit and vehicle provisions, street lighting and streetscape improvements, and solutions for underground linear municipal infrastructure and affected overhead and underground utilities
• High Rise Urban Design This research-based study will update the current Urban Design Guidelines for High-Rise Housing and develop new zoning provisions for high-rise buildings. The study will address how high-rise buildings should be designed in locations where they are currently permitted by Council-approved policies and regulations like the Official Plan, Secondary Plans, Zoning By-law, and Community Design Plans.
• Maitland Avenue Bridge and Cycling Improvements The City of Ottawa is undertaking the Maitland Avenue Highway 417 Bridge Cycling Improvements Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) Study to incorporate cycling infrastructure on the Maitland Avenue Highway 417 Bridge. As part of the Stage 2 Light Rail Transit (LRT) project, Highway 417 will be widened from Maitland Avenue to Highway 416 presenting an opportunity to add cycling facilities when the Maitland Avenue Highway 417 Bridge is replaced
• McArthur Avenue Cycling Lanes Following the design studies and public consultations completed earlier in March 2017, the City of Ottawa plans to construct protected bike lanes along McArthur Avenue in June 2018. This activity is being conducted in order to improve transportation choices along the route
• Monitoring of Infill 1 and 2 September 2018 to October 2018, the City will install 50 ring-and-post bike racks at the chosen bus stops.
• Montreal Road Revitalization plus CIP and EA In 2018, the City, in partnership with the Quartier Vanier Business Association, began a process of consultation by meeting with business and property owners to discuss the viability of a Community Improvement Plan CIP for the portion of Montreal Road between North River Road and the Aviation Parkway in Vanier. The plan being considered would offer Tax Increment Equivalent Grants for eligible projects
• Ogilvie Road MUP The City of Ottawa has initiated a functional design study to provide a cycling connection along Ogilvie Road between Blair Road and Montreal Road. A 3m wide multi-use pathway is proposed to replace the existing concrete sidewalk between Blair Road and Montreal Road. The pathway has been aligned to minimize impact on adjacent properties, vegetation and infrastructure.
• Ottawa Hospital On December 2, 2016 (link is external), the Minister of Canadian Heritage approved 930 Carling Avenue and 520 Preston Street, commonly referred to as the Sir John Carling site, as the location (link is external) for the new Civic Hospital Campus.
• Queen Street Renewal The renewal of Queen Street is a project that implements the vision from the Downtown Moves: Transforming Ottawa’s Streets, which was approved by Council on March 27, 2013. The overall plan aims to make walking, cycling and transit use more comfortable and convenient by redistributing and improving the streetscape environment.
• Scott Street Renewal The City of Ottawa has initiated a functional design study for the modification of cycling facilities and eastbound travel lanes on Scott and Albert Streets between Smirle Avenue and City Centre Avenue. These changes are being considered after the removal of the temporary busway along this corridor, which will not be required after the Confederation Line of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) is fully in service. This study examines the section between Smirle Avenue (near Tunney’s Pasture Station) and City Centre Avenue (near Bayview Station).
• Creative Venues Zoning By-law Amendment – In 2012, Council approved the Renewed Action Plan for Arts, Heritage and Culture (2013-2018). One of the key strategies is to "preserve and develop cultural and creative places and spaces." To that end, the Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development Department has undertaken a review of the Zoning By-law to ensure that there are no undue obstacles to establishing and operating live music and performance venues in appropriate locations
• Small Scale Industrial This proposal introduces new zoning provisions allowing limited, small-scale manufacturing and food processing, including micro-distilleries and micro-breweries, in commercial areas. An earlier proposal was circulated to the public and to technical agencies in February 2017. The proposed amendment is intended to allow small-scale light manufacturing under certain circumstances in commercial and mixed-use areas.
• Heritage Inventory Project On Wednesday, March 23, 2016, City Council passed by-law 2016-089 to adopt the Rockcliffe Park Heritage Conservation District Plan. The new Plan replaces the current guidelines approved by the former Village of Rockcliffe Park in 1997.
• Various Area Traffic Management measures will be implemented in Centretown, on Bayswater Avenue, on Crichton Street, on Riverdale Avenue and Sunnyside Avenue
• Carling Transit Priority Measures Study, Lincoln Fields to Bronson Avenue

Want to know more?

For more information about plans and studies, see public consultations

To stay current on the latest planning and transportation news, sign up for the Planning and Development e-newsletter:

Learn more about development applications in your neighbourhood.

What else is underway in the Inner Urban Area?

Intensification

• Redevelopment at higher densities—or, intensification—is targeted for:
• Traditional mainstreets in the Inner Urban Area such as Richmond Road
• Arterial mainstreets such as portions of Carling Avenue, St. Laurent Boulevard Merivale Road and Bank Street
• Key rapid transit stations such as Confederation Line between Blair and Hurdman plus stations on Stage 2 LRT such as Baseline-Woodroffe and Confederation Heights.

• The Eastern Subwatersheds Stormwater Management Study will look at a combination of measures, from controls on individual residential lots through to end-of-pipe ponds and wetlands sites to yield a long-term plan to improve the health of the water in the subwatershed and the Ottawa River. The study area is roughly bounded by Trim Road to the east, the Greenbelt to the south, Conroy Road to the west and the Ottawa River to the north. The Eastern Subwatersheds includes all the lands that drain to Taylor Creek, Bilberry Creek, Voyageur Creek, and Green's Creek and its tributaries within the urban area.
• A multi-use pathway to complete a missing link along the north-south bikeway through the General Hospital campus. This pathway will connect to the network in the north near Train and Hurdman stations and to the off-road route on Smyth which extends to Walkley and ultimately Hunt Club Road.
• The Nepean Trail and other local cycling routes to increase connectivity within neighbourhoods such as Tanglewood, Fisher Heights and Borden Farm to adjoining shopping, recreational and community destinations.
• Cleary and New Orchard Planning Study - The purpose of this study is to undertake a review of the lands in the vicinity of the future Cleary and New Orchard LRT stations to determine appropriate redevelopment in the context of surrounding mature neighbourhoods.
• Richmond Road Complete Street Implementation - The City of Ottawa's 2013 Transportation Master Plan has a Complete Streets component that aims to redesign certain city streets to ensure they meet the needs of all people, whether they choose to walk, bike, drive or take public transit. It will offer safety, comfort and mobility for all users, while also encouraging healthier, cleaner living by making it easier to walk or bike.
• O-Train Confederation Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) Stage 2 Station Connectivity - A Connectivity Study was initiated to ensure that there were strong community multi-use pathway and sidewalk connections to each Stage 2 Light Rail Transit (LRT) station to encourage transit use.
• A cycling project along Brookfield Road and Hog’s Back Road , between Prince of Wales Drive and the Airport Parkway to improve connectivity. 
• The Confederation Line West extension project will add 13.5 km of rail and 10 new or converted rapid transit stations to the City’s overall light rail transit (LRT) network at Bayshore, Pinecrest, Queensview, Baseline, Iris, Lincoln Fields, New Orchard, Cleary, Dominion and Westboro.
• The Confederation Line East Extension , tying in at Blair Road, will have four new stations: Montreal Road Station, situated on the north side of Highway 174 as well as Jeanne d’Arc station, Orléans Boulevard, and Place d’Orléans, which will all be located within the median.
• The Trillium extension of the O-Train from Greenboro to Bowesville and new rail stations at Gladstone, Walkley and South Keys will improve commutes for residents and provide better access to South Keys, Carleton University, Confederation Heights, Little Italy and Chinatown.
• A planning and environmental assessment study are in process for bus rapid transit on Baseline Road and Heron Road . Phase 1 from Baseline station to Prince of Wales Drive, targeted for a 2019 construction start, will include sections of dedicated transit lanes and cycling facilities, as well as sections where other measures will give transit priority over other vehicles.
• Widening of the Airport Parkway and Lester Road between Brookfield and Hunt Club Roads from two lanes to four lanes and between Hunt Club and Macdonald-Cartier International Airport
• Intersection modifications along Prince of Wales Drive to improve traffic flows and enhance walking and cycling infrastructure in the areas surrounding the Hunt Club Bridge and Riverside Drive. The portion of Prince of Wales from Strandherd to Merivale will be widened.
  • Improvements to cycling and pedestrian conditions along Cyrville Road,
  • Widening of Prince of Wales Drive between Hunt Club Drive and Colonnade Road from two lanes to four lanes
  • A multi-use pathway on Ogilvie Road to complete a missing link between existing bike lanes on Montreal Road and west of Blair Road.
  • Merivale Road Transit Priority Study, Carling Avenue to Baseline Road
• Merivale Road North CDP The Community Design Plan will review the current zoning of land, consider a range of economic development incentives and create a complete street design to improve walking, cycling and streetscape. The Transit Priority Measures study will review ways to improve bus transit services.
• Bayshore to Moodie LRT As part of planning for Stage 2 the Light Rail Transit (LRT) program, an opportunity has been identified to extend LRT from the current planned western terminus of the Confederation Line (Bayshore Station), approximately 2.5 km further west to Moodie Drive, with one station located east of Moodie Drive at Corkstown Road and a Light Maintenance and Storage Facility in the north-west quadrant of Moodie Drive and Corkstown Road
• Cedarview Pathway The City is planning to improve sections of the Holly Acres / Cedarview multi-use pathway between Richmond Road and Bruin Road. This is project number twelve in the Community Connectivity Projects.
• Heron Road Cycling The City of Ottawa is developing a design for separated cycling facilities in the Heron Road corridor between Data Centre Road to the west and Bank Street to the east. Through a combination of raised cycle tracks and multi-use pathways on both sides of the road, this design addresses the need for seamless connections with cycle tracks designed for the Baseline Road Bus Rapid Transit Corridor (Phase 1 - Woodroffe Avenue to Data Centre Road), cycle tracks designed for the Bank Street Renewal project (Riverside Drive to Ledbury Avenue).Heron Road is identified as part of Cross-Town Bikeway #7 and Phase-1 project P1-19 in the Ottawa Cycling Plan of 2013. This design project is partially funded through the federal government’s Public Transit Infrastructure Fund
• Hunt Club Cycling Pathway The City of Ottawa is in the planning stage for improving quality and consistency in cycling facilities along Hunt Club Road between Riverside Drive and Paul Benoit Driveway / North Bowesville Road.
• Leitrim Road Widening The City of Ottawa has initiated an Environmental Assessment (EA) study to develop a Recommended Plan for the realignment and widening of Leitrim Road between River Road and Bank Street
• Merivale Road Transit The City of Ottawa has initiated the Merivale Road (Carling Avenue to Baseline Road) Transit Priority Measures Study which has been identified in the City’s 2013 Transportation Master Plan (TMP) as a Transit Priority Corridor
• Hospital On December 2, 2016 (link is external), the Minister of Canadian Heritage approved 930 Carling Avenue and 520 Preston Street, commonly referred to as the Sir John Carling site, as the location (link is external) for the new Civic Hospital Campus

Want to know more?

For more information about plans and studies, see public consultations

To stay current on the latest planning and transportation news, sign up for the Planning and Development e-newsletter.

Learn more about development applications in your neighbourhood.

What else is underway in Orleans?

Intensification

Redevelopment at higher densities—or, intensification—is targeted for:

• Mainstreets such as portions of St. Joseph Boulevard and Innes Road
• Key rapid transit stations such as Orléans Town Centre and the mixed-use area centred on Mer Bleue south of Innes
• The Official Plan also supports increased residential densities in suburban communities by setting a minimum density and requiring a mix of single-detached and other housing types.  In response to these policies and other pressures, suburban Ottawa has seen a 70 per cent increase in residential densities in less than 15 years.

Community Design Plans translate the Official Plan at the community scale. Recently-completed or ongoing plans in Orléans include:

• Mer Bleue Expansion Area CDP, east of Cardinal Creek
• East Urban Centre’s Mixed Use Centre CDP, south of Innes Road

• The Eastern Subwatersheds Stormwater Management Study will look at a combination of measures, from controls on individual residential lots through to end-of-pipe ponds and wetlands sites to yield a long-term plan to improve the health of the water in the subwatershed and the Ottawa River, including fewer closures of Petrie Island Beach. The study area is roughly bounded by Trim Road to the east, the Greenbelt to the south, Conroy Road to the west and the Ottawa River to the north. The Eastern Subwatersheds includes all the lands that drain to Taylor Creek, Bilberry Creek, Voyageur Creek, and Green's Creek and its tributaries within the urban area.
• Area traffic management studies are ongoing or recently completed in five locations: Jeanne D’Arc Boulevard, Grey Nuns Drive, Viseneau Drive and Barrington Street, Merkley Drive, and Forest Valley Drive.
• Montreal Road Transit Priority, Cumming Bridge to St. Laurent Boulevard – improving transit service.
• A new multi-use pathway built as part of the Brian Coburn Boulevard extension between Navan and Mer Bleue.
• Brian Coburn Extension EA The Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Blackburn Hamlet Bypass Extension (BHBPE) was completed and approved in 1999. The EA for the Cumberland Transitway was also undertaken at the same time as the BHBPE EA due to their proximity, particularly for the section from the Bypass to Mer Bleue Road. The EA study limits will extend from Blair Road to Brian Coburn Boulevard and south to Anderson/Renaud Road to allow for a larger range of alternatives to be examined.
• Small-scale improvements to local roads to help build the Orléans east-west greenway bike route, planned as a well-connected, low-stress route through the community.
• The Confederation Line East Extension will have four new stations: Montreal Road Station, situated on the north side of Highway 174; as well as Jeanne d’Arc station, Orléans Boulevard, and Place d’Orléans, which will all be located within the median. Priority at traffic signals and queue jump lanes to give buses priority over other vehicles on feeder routes to the new light rail stations. Similar measures will speed connections to the station at Blair Road from Innes Road.
• The future expansion of the Millennium Park & Ride lot, as well as a new Park & Ride lot at Chapel Hill. An environmental assessment is underway for the Chapel Hill Park and Ride between Navan Road and Pagé Road, north of the future Brian Coburn Boulevard.
• Blackburn Hamlet Bypass extended to new four-lane road between Orléans Boulevard Extension and Navan Road and Bypass Road and Navan Road.
• Brian Coburn Boulevard extended to new two-lane road (ultimately four-lane) between Navan Road and Mer Bleue Road.
• Widening of Mer Bleue Road between Brian Coburn Boulevard and Renaud Road from two lanes to four lanes.
• Widening of Tenth Line Road between Brian Coburn Boulevard and Wall Road
• Jean d’Arc Pathway The City of Ottawa is undertaking the renewal of various multi-use pathways in the City’s east end. This existing granular pathway is considered a major pathway in the Ottawa Cycling Network. It was identified as being deficient with respect to the lack of asphalt and connectivity to Trim Road/Petrie Island.
• Trans Orleans pathway The City of Ottawa has initiated a functional design study for a multi-use pathway between Liska Street and Trim Road. This project is jointly funded through the Government of Canada’s Public Transit Infrastructure Fund.A multi-use pathway is to be constructed along the future Cumberland Transitway Corridor between Liska Street and Trim Road
• Vanguard Drive EA The City of Ottawa has initiated an Environmental Assessment (EA) study to develop a Recommended Plan for the extension of Vanguard Drive. The EA study limits for the extension of Vanguard Drive will extend from Lanthier Drive in the east to Mer Bleue Road in the west.

Want to know more?

For more information about plans and studies, see public consultations

To stay current on the latest planning and transportation news, sign up for the Planning and Development e-newsletter.

Learn more about development applications in your neighbourhood.

What else is underway in Kanata and Stittsville?

Intensification

• The Official Plan also supports increased residential densities in suburban communities by setting a minimum density and requiring a mix of single-detached and other housing types.  In response to these policies and other pressures, suburban Ottawa has seen a 70 per cent increase in residential densities in less than 15 years.
• Feedmill Creek Subwatershed Management Study is re-examining stormwater management measures to ensure that impacts of new development on the creek are mitigated.
• Jock River Reach 2 Subwatershed Study is developing environmental management actions to improve the health of Reach 2 of the Jock River, which includes the community of Bridlewood and the south portion of Stittsville.
• The South March Highlands Conservation Forest Management Plan is identifying opportunities for people to enjoy the area while protecting the natural features and functions that make it special.
• The City is amending its Official Plan and Zoning By-law to reflect updated flood plain mapping prepared by the Conservation Authorities. Affected areas in Kanata Stittsville include portions of the Carp River and Poole Creek.
• Akerson Subdivision Pathway and Cycling Corridor will link the Bridlewood Pathway with the Trans Canada Trail in Kanata South by means of a new pathway and new bike lanes.
• An extensive multi-use pathway network through the Carp River restoration project.
• High-quality on- and off- road cycling facilities in conjunction with new development, including connectivity to existing routes such as Poole Creek and the Trans-Canada Trail.
• Completion of missing links on Terry Fox and Campeau.
• Urban Expansion Study Area Kanata Highlands - A comprehensive study is required to identify and determine the site’s suitability for urban development.
• A median-running bus rapid transit (BRT) on March Road between Eagleson and Carling, with four new stations, to provide better connections within the community and to other destinations. The BRT will be further supported by new bus priority measures on Eagleson.
• Light rail and rapid transit improvements inside the Greenbelt will improve access to the downtown and other employment areas
• New four-lane road at Campeau Drive between Didsbury Road and new North-South arterial in Kanata West
• Underpass of Terry Fox Drive at Earl Grey Drive to improve access to Kanata Centrum and Stittsville
• Widening Old Richmond Road/West Hunt Club Road from two-lanes to four lanes between Hope Side and Highway 416 to support growth areas in Kanata
• New two-lane road between Abbott Street and Fernbank Road.
• Klondike Road’s existing two-lane rural cross section between March Road and Sandhill Road. - Construction of a multi-use pathway from March Road to Sandhill Road.
• Realign Palladium Drive in vicinity of Huntmar Road to new north-south arterial.
• Flewellyn and Goulbourn The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) has notified the City of Ottawa of the results of the Goulbourn Wetland Complex boundary review, and began the process of notifying affected landowners
• Herzberg Road Improvements The City of Ottawa is in the process of designing improvements to Herzberg Road for cyclists and pedestrians from a point approximately 200 m north of March Road to March Road. The work will correct a gap between existing bike lanes on March Road and existing paved shoulders on Herzberg Road by installing new cycle tracks and add a new sidewalk where it is needed. Both Carling Avenue and Herzberg Road are designated Spine Cycling Routes on the 2013 Ottawa Cycling Plan and the project was identified as part of the ‘affordable network’ within the 2013 plan. This project is supported financially by the federal government’s Public Transit Infrastructure Fund.
• Kanata LRT The City of Ottawa has initiated this Planning and Environmental Assessment (EA) study to develop a Recommended Plan to extend Light Rail Transit (LRT) from Moodie Drive to Kanata. The study will also address potential implications of federal and National Capital Commission (NCC) properties and the need for federal approvals to implement the project.
• BRT As part of planning for Stage 2 the Light Rail Transit (LRT) program, an opportunity has been identified to extend LRT from the current planned western terminus of the Confederation Line (Bayshore Station), approximately 2.5 km further west to Moodie Drive, with one station located east of Moodie Drive at Corkstown Road and a Light Maintenance and Storage Facility in the north-west quadrant of Moodie Drive and Corkstown Road.
• Kanata South Link To accommodate growth in the Kanata South and Stittsville communities, this project involves the widening to four lanes of Old Richmond Road between Hope Side Road and West Hunt Club Road. The project includes roundabouts at Hope Side Road/Old Richmond Road, Stonehaven/Old Richmond Road, and Old Richmond Road/West Hunt Club Road.

Future road investments will also include:

• Widening of Carp Road between Highway 417 and Hazeldean Road from two lanes to four lanes to provide capacity for growth in Stittsville. A notice of completion of the Environmental Assessment Study for the project was filed in 2015.
• Widening of Eagleson Road between Cadence Gate and Hope Side Road from two lanes to four lanes to support growth and provide continuity from the four-lane Eagleson road to  Hope Side Road
• Widening Kanata Avenue between Highway 417 and Campeau Drive from two lanes to four lanes to support urban design initiative in the Kanata Town Centre
• New two-lane road between Palladium Drive and Abbott Street and Palladium Drive and Maple Grove Road.
• Widening of Hope Side Road between Eagleson Road and Richmond Road from two lanes to four lanes, to provide capacity for growth areas in Kanata and network continuity
• Widening of Huntmar Drive between Campeau Drive Extension and Cyclone Taylor Boulevard from two lanes to four lanes to accommodate Kanata West development.
• Widening of Kanata West Mainstreet between Palladium Drive and Maple Grove Road from two lanes to four lanes.
• Various Area Traffic Management measures will be implemented on Knudson Drive
• A new multi-use pathway replacing the existing sidewalk on Campeau Drive between Knudson Drive and Teron Road.
• Campeau Drive MUP The City of Ottawa has initiated a study for pedestrian and cycling safety enhancements on Campeau Drive between Teron Road and Knudson Drive.

Want to know more?

For more information about plans and studies, see public consultations

To stay current on the latest planning and transportation news, sign up for the Planning and Development e-newsletter.

Learn more about development applications in your neighbourhood.

What else is underway in Riverside South and Leitrim?

Intensification

• The Official Plan also supports increased residential densities in suburban communities by setting a minimum density and requiring a mix of single-detached and other housing types.  In response to these policies and other pressures, suburban Ottawa has seen a 70 per cent increase in residential densities in less than 15 years.
• The Riverside South Community Design Update will better position the community for future growth with updated plans for a new district park, new Park & Ride facilities, rapid transit stations, and stormwater management facilities.
• The Trillium O-Train extension will bring new stations to Riverside South, approximately 150 m east of Bowesville Road,  and to Leitrim, adjacent to the existing Park & Ride lot.  In addition, a new transit priority service will connect Riverside South and Leitrim across the Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge to Barrhaven Town Centre. From there, the Southwest Transitway provides access to Baseline station, a major transfer hub in the rapid transit network.
• New Park & Ride facilities will improve access to rapid transit. The Park & Ride lot at Leitrim will be expanded to 460 spaces for opening day with 925 spaces planned for the ultimate configuration. At Bowesville, the Park & Ride lot will accommodate 400 spaces on opening day with the potential to accommodate 3,100 spaces.
• Airport Parkway & Lester Road Widening Environmental Assessment is developing a preferred design to meet increasing demand from Barrhaven, Riverside South and Leitrim as well as other communities and the airport.
• New roads in Riverside South, Leitrim and neighbouring Barrhaven include:
  • New four-lane Greenbank Road extension between Jockvale Road and Cambrian Road
  • Jock River and Mud Creek The Jock River Reach 2 subwatershed includes all the lands that flow into Flowing Creek, Monahan Drain, Faulkner Drain, and Leamy Creek. The subwatershed includes the villages of Richmond and Fallowfield, the community of Bridlewood, and the south portion of Stittsville.
  • Widening of Strandherd Drive between Fallowfield Road and Maravista Drive from two lanes to four lanes
• Future road projects will also include:
  • Widening of Bank Street between Leitrim Road and Earl Armstrong Road Extension from two lanes to four lanes
  • Widening of Lester Road between Airport Parkway and Bank Street from two lanes to four lanes.
  • Widening of Earl Armstrong Road between Limebank Road and Bowesville Road from two lanes to four lanes and new two-lane road between Bowesville Road and Bank Street.
• Leitrim Road Realignment and Widening – Rideau River Road to Bank Street
• Intersection improvements north of the Greenbelt, for example at Prince of Wales Drive and Hunt Club Road, will improve travel to and from Riverside South and Leitrim.

Want to know more?

For more information about plans and studies, see public consultations

To stay current on the latest planning and transportation news, sign up for the Planning and Development e-newsletter.

Learn more about development applications in your neighbourhood.

What else is underway in Barrhaven?

Intensification

• The Official Plan also supports increased residential densities in suburban communities by setting a minimum density and requiring a mix of single-detached and other housing types.  In response to these policies and other pressures, suburban Ottawa has seen a 70 per cent increase in residential densities in less than 15 years.
• Community design plans translate the Official Plan at the community level. Area landowners and the City are preparing the Barrhaven South Expansion Area Community Design Plan for undeveloped land between Barnsdale Road and the current boundary of Barrhaven, west of Greenbank Road.
• The Kennedy-Burnett Stormwater Management Plan will expand this stormwater management facility, retrofit it to meet current standards and provide better protection of water resources. The Kennedy Burnett facility receives and treats runoff from Barrhaven West (Old Barrhaven) and ultimately discharges it to the Jock River.
• An environmental assessment study is underway to establish the alignment and complete the functional design of the Chapman Mills Drive Extension (Longfields Drive to Strandherd Drive) and bus rapid transit link (Greenbank Road to west of Cedarview Road).
• As the northern terminus of the Southwest Transitway from Barrhaven, the new Baseline station will operate as a major BRT/LRT transfer terminus connecting Barrhaven residents to all destinations on the rapid transit system. To the east, the Bowesville station terminus of the Trillium Line O-Train will connect residents to the central area, with stations at major shopping and employment destinations en route. A transit priority corridor will connect the Barrhaven Town Centre across the Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge to Riverside South and the Bowesville station.
• Access to the Trillium Line will be enhanced by increased Park & Ride facilities. The Park & Ride lot at Bowesville will accommodate 400 spaces on opening day with the potential to accommodate 3,100 spaces. The Park & Ride lot at Leitrim will be expanded to 460 spaces for opening day with 925 spaces planned for the ultimate configuration. An expansion is also planned for the Park & Ride at Woodroffe and Strandherd.
• An extension to the multi-use pathway along Woodroffe Avenue for pedestrians and cyclists, between Longfields Drive and Stoneway Drive
• Facilities for cyclists and pedestrians include a new Barrhaven rail corridor multi-use pathway will be constructed concurrent to work on Greenbank Road, to address a missing link in the off-road path network and connect the paths east of Jockvale with the Transitway corridor path.
• New roads in Riverside South, Leitrim and neighbouring Barrhaven include:
  • New four-lane Greenbank Road extension between Jockvale Road and Cambrian Road
  • Widening of Strandherd Drive between Fallowfield Road and Maravista Drive from two lanes to four lanes
• The Airport Parkway & Lester Road Widening Environmental Assessment is developing a preferred design to meet increasing demand from Barrhaven, Riverside South and Leitrim as well as other communities and the airport.
• Future road projects will also include:
  • Widening of Bank Street between Leitrim Road and Earl Armstrong Road Extension from two lanes to four lanes
  • Widening of Lester Road between Airport Parkway and Bank Street from two lanes to four lanes.
  • Widening of Earl Armstrong Road between Limebank Road and Bowesville Road from two lanes to four lanes and new two-lane road between Bowesville Road and Bank Street.
• Intersection improvements north of the Greenbelt, for example at Prince of Wales Drive and Hunt Club Road, will improve travel to and from Riverside South and Leitrim.
• Harthill to Hailey MUP The purpose of the project is to provide a cycling and pedestrian facility for the local residents wishing to access the Harthill pathway, Strandherd Road or the commercial centre on Strandherd Road.
• Strandherd Widening The City of Ottawa wishes to construct a widened four lane cross section along Strandherd Drive from Maravista Drive to Jockvale Road in Barrhaven. This project will include the widening of Strandherd Drive to four lanes, a multi-use path in both directions, a grade separation over the existing VIA Rail line and construction of a road detour.

Want to know more?

For more information about plans and studies, see public consultations

To stay current on the latest planning and transportation news, sign up for the Planning and Development e-newsletter.

Learn more about development applications in your neighbourhood.

What else is underway in the rural area?

• Four reviews are underway in the rural area or slated to begin in the near future, to make sure the Official Plan is based on the best information available. These are:
  • The Ottawa-OMAFRA Soil Mapping Pilot Project, to update the soils data needed to complete the Land Evaluation and Area Review (LEAR) project.  LEAR is a tool developed by the Province to help municipalities identify prime agricultural areas and protect them in their Official Plans. 
  • A review of the mapping used to identify bedrock, sand and gravel resources that are protected through the Official Plan
  • Revisions to the areas identified as significant forest in the natural heritage system based on new Provincial criteria
  • Amendments to the Official Plan and Zoning By-law to reflect updated flood plain mapping prepared by the Conservation Authorities. Affected areas include the Ottawa River shoreline; the Carp River; Pool, Green, and Cardinal Creeks; and the John Boyce/Boundary Municipal Drain and the Osgoode Garden/Cedar Acres Municipal Drain. Affected villages include Fitzroy Harbour, Constance Bay, Cumberland and Greely.
• Jock River Reach 2 Subwatershed Study is looking at potential impacts of development and other land uses on the subwatershed, how to mitigate them, and how to improve natural systems in the subwatershed. The subwatershed contains all the lands that flow into Flowing Creek, Monahan Drain, Faulkner Drain, and Leamy Creek, and includes the villages of Richmond and Fallowfield.
• North Island Link - The City of Ottawa has initiated the North Island Link (NIL) Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) and Functional Design Study. The main objective of this study is to link the existing water main on Rideau Valley Drive to the proposed Manotick Watermain Link at the north end of Long Island.
• The Mud Creek Subwatershed Study will identify actions to improve the environmental health of the creek, which drains into the Rideau River just north of Manotick.
• Widening of Old Richmond Road and West Hunt Club Road from Hope side Road to Highway 416, which will help residents in the southern rural areas better access services and facilities in other areas of the city.
• The Greenbank Road Extension, a new four-lane road between Cambrian and Jockvale Roads, will maximize the use of the Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge and enhance connections to Limebank Road and Riverside Drive, the planned commercial area in Riverside South, as well as the rural southern areas, and the Minto Recreation Complex.
• Future road investments will also include widening of Bank Street between Earl Armstrong Road extension and Rideau Road from two lanes to four lanes.
• Cumberland Transitway To complete the environmental assessment for the extension, the project will follow the provincial Transit Project Assessment Process as set out in Ontario Regulation 231/08 – Transit Project Regulation. This regulation provides a framework for focused consultation and the assessment of potential environmental effects and decision-making to be completed within a regulated six-month timeframe.
• Eastern Subwatershed The Eastern Subwatersheds Stormwater Management Retrofit Study has been undertaken in accordance with the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (MCEA), an approved process under Ontario's Environmental Assessment Act. The study has followed the MCEA's Master Planning Process satisfying the first two phases of this Class EA process. More detailed assessments will be required for individual projects that are recommended in the plan. The retrofit plan will become the basis for, and will be used in support of, these future assessments and evaluations.
• Flewellyn The Goulbourn Wetland Complex has been identified as provincially significant by the MNRF.  The Province requires municipalities to prohibit development or site alteration within provincially significant wetlands.  It requires municipalities to ensure that development or site alteration on adjacent lands within 120 meters of provincially significant wetlands will have no negative impact on their features or ecological functions.  Existing, permitted land uses are unaffected, including agriculture.

Want to know more?

For more information about plans and studies, see public consultations

To stay current on the latest planning and transportation news, sign up for the Planning and Development e-newsletter.

Learn more about development applications in your neighbourhood.