FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019 Page 13
MANOTICK MESSENGER
Community Update A memorable first year
City Building • The Confederation Line of our O-Train Light Rail Transit (LRT) system opened to the public on September 14. It was the busiest LRT system on day one in North America • Construction for Stage 2 of LRT is now underway, bringing rail farther east, west and south • The Flora Footbridge, which connects the communities of Old Ottawa East and the Glebe, as well as Lansdowne, was completed ahead of schedule, under budget and officially opened to the public in June • An additional $9.8 million being invested into roads, bike lanes, sidewalks and City facilities in 2019 to bring the total road and infrastructure budget to $128.5 million
Community • No-charge OC Transpo service for seniors has been extended to include Sundays in addition to Wednesdays • Started to pilot new school bus stop-arm cameras with the Ottawa Police Service to catch dangerous drivers and keep children safe in school and residential areas • Over 400 new affordable housing units have been approved to be built since the beginning of the new 2018-2022 mandate • 6 new Red Light Cameras will be installed by the end of 2019, for a total of 60 • Started a comprehensive review of the City’s Tree By-Laws with an objective to reduce urban tree loss
Affordability and Economic Development • Amazon fulfilment centre now employing over 600 residents in the east end • Ottawa’s first soundstage campus and creative hub being built in Nepean, creating up to 500 new jobs and generating $40 million in economic activity in the first few years • Reduced patio permit fees by 50% to help local businesses deal with rising costs • Maintained a Moody’s Aaa credit rating • Keeping life in Ottawa affordable while investing in essential services with a cap on taxes
@JimWatsonOttawa
•
JimWatsonOttawa.ca
• Jim.Watson@Ottawa.ca • (613) 580-2496