WHY LIGHT RAIL ON CARLING AVENUE FAILS TO MEET KANATA’S NEEDS

Recently some councillors have suggested that, instead of converting the transitway to light rail, Carling Avenue be used. The problem is that a light rail route using Carling Avenue will be too slow to provide a fast route between downtown and the west end.

One of the benefits of light rail technology is that it can be used to meet a variety of different needs. Depending on how much the light line is kept separate from road traffic and the number of stations, light rail service can be as fast as a subway (but a lot cheaper to build) or as slow as a streetcar.

Based on the proposal that came forward in 2006, light rail along Carling Avenue could best be described as a souped-up streetcar. Because it would operate in light rail only lanes and getting on and off would be easier than a bus, it would be faster than existing bus service. However, trains would have to stop at traffic lights as well as 24 stations between Preston Street and Bayshore – making it considerably slower than existing transitway service. While putting a route along Carling Avenue in a tunnel or cutting would make it faster, it would also make it much more expensive.

Our first priority needs to be a fast light rail route that will solve congestion problems in the downtown and get people as quickly as possible to the west, east and south ends of the City. In the west end the cheapest way to do that is to convert the transitway.

There is a role for light rail along Carling Avenue. As a feeder route for a cross-town light rail line, it would provide an improved connection to the many destinations along Carling. However, when what is needed most is a fast light rail route across the city, Carling Avenue should not be our first priority.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE MEETING ON SAFETY ISSUES LAST WEEK

I would like to thank everyone who attended the meeting I held on July 24 to discuss safety issues near Castlefrank. The meeting was very informative and people were keen to respond, so hopefully we will see new Neighbourhood Watch groups forming. Based on what has happened elsewhere in Kanata, this should help address the problems.

There have been problems in a few locations in Bridlewood. I will be organizing community meetings for people living near those locations to discuss forming Neighbourhood Watches.

EXPO 55+ SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 19

This year’s Kanata Expo 55+ will be held on September 19 at the Mlacak Centre, hosted by Marianne Wilkinson and myself. Our offices will be organizing it jointly and we will be providing more information closer to the day.

WORKING FULL-TIME FOR KANATA SOUTH

I appreciate the chance to hear from you about issues affecting our community. You can reach me at 580-2752 (office), 580-2762 (fax), www.feltmateforkanata.com or peggy.feltmate@ottawa.ca