In Other News in Ottawa
LRT Trillium Line could be operational this November
OC Transpo has announced a tentative timeline for the launch of its Phase 2 light rail Trillium line, targeting a trial period beginning on October 7. However, an exact opening date for passengers remains unconfirmed.
During a technical briefing, OC Transpo revealed that if the trial runs prove successful, the trains could potentially be operational for commuter use by mid-November.
“TransitNext has dedicated the past several years to preparing for this test. This is considered TransitNext's final exam, and it will be a demanding one,” stated OC Transpo general manager Reneé Amilcar. “Both TransitNext and OC Transpo have put in significant effort and have conducted numerous practice sessions. We are confident in the reliability of the system, but the true evaluation will come from the daily testing results.”
The trial runs will need to be completed without any incidents for a minimum of 21 days before opening, structured in two phases of seven days each—one week focused on assessing on-time performance and another on maintenance and operations evaluation.
New rules for idling vehicles come into effect
New Idling Rules in Ottawa: The City of Ottawa is introducing new regulations to reduce vehicle idling during extreme weather conditions. However, the updated rules will be less strict than initially suggested.
Last month, the city's environment and climate change committee, along with the emergency preparedness and protective services committee, approved a bylaw limiting idling to one minute per hour, or five minutes on particularly cold or hot days when heating or air conditioning is necessary. After a 15-8 vote, the council has amended this to allow three minutes of idling on less severe days and ten minutes on extreme weather days.
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe expressed his approval of the changes, describing them as a "step forward," noting the challenges of enforcement. He stated, "The signal that we have sent is that we don’t want people to idle in their cars. Even on cold and hot days, there should be a limit on what they’re doing. We know there’s not going to be a huge amount of enforcement of this bylaw as there wasn’t much in the past either," as reported by the Ottawa Citizen.
Changes Explained: Previously, drivers were allowed to idle for three minutes when temperatures were below 5°C or above 27°C, which occurs over 200 days a year in Ottawa.
Exemptions: Certain groups are exempt from these new rules, including emergency vehicles responding to incidents and individuals with medical documentation or those attending medical appointments. Non-compliance could result in fines typically set at $500.
Duly Noted
The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to a hybrid work model, but has also acknowledged that it may need to mandate in-person work four days a week. Deputy Clerk Christaine Fox stated that the government is prepared to adjust its policy as necessary. Article [Ottawa Citizen]
It’s been a big year for car thefts in Ottawa with more than 1,200 vehicles already being stolen this year, including 115 in September. The hot spot is in Gloucester-Southgate, which has reported 124 vehicle thefts this year. Bay Ward comes in second place at 85, and Rideau-Vanier in third at 79
The hunt for a missing cat who was snatched from a pet store in Orleans is over. Nacho, who was taken from the Pet Valu at the Convent Glen Shopping Centre on Friday afternoon, was found Wednesday. Ottawa Police said the investigation was ongoing. [CTV]
