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(Posted 12:30
p.m., Oct. 12)
Proposed OC Transpo cuts, light rail plan dominate budget
consultation meeting
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online
Proposed cuts
to local bus routes and a 7.5 per cent increase in transit fares dominated
a public budget meeting at the Orleans Client Service Centre Tuesday night
attended by more than 100 concerned residents.
Surprisingly
no one in the audience was upset with the proposed four per cent tax increase
which city council is currently considering. Instead, most of the questions
focused on a handful of proposed schedule changes to OC Transpo bus routes
including the 94, 101, 102, 118, 127, 131, 137, 193 and 231.
At least two
people voiced their opposition to OC Transpo's plans to end service on Route
231 between Sarsfield and Navan. Another person wanted to increase the frequency
of Route 231 through Notre-Dame-des-Champs.
OC Transpo general
manager Alain Mercier did his best to explain to the audience that the proposed
cuts were part of a city wide rationalization of routes based on use. The
problem, he said, was growth. With increased demand in areas experiencing
increased development such as South Avalon, underutilized routes have to
be cut in order to free up the necessary resources.
But many of those
in attendance at Tuesday's meeting said the idea of reducing local service
while expecting people to pay more through increased transit fares was the
height of audacity.
Innes Ward Coun.
Rainer Boess said he was against many of the proposed cuts, but did support
eliminating service where there is an obvious redundancy such as routes
that offer a parrallel service.
Cumberland Ward
Coun. Rob Jellett said he was opposed to eliminating bus service between
Sarsfield and Navan, while Orleans Ward Coun. Bob Monette said he was opposed
to any service reductions in the east end.
Another major
bone of contention was the light rail plan and especially the planned downtown
tunnell, which most of the presenters said we could do without, especially
considering the city will need to borrow close to $1 billion complete the
first phase.
"we don't
need a $2.1 billion light rail system," said Antoine Walker referring
to the total cost of the project. "We should go above ground, not underground.
We can't afford it. We should look at the Calgary solution."
All three councillors
defended the light rail project including the tunnel. All three councillors
were also in agreement when it came to a city proposal to replace standard
water meters.with new "smart" meters at a total estimated cost
of $25 million. In a nut shell they were against it.
The discussion
about the new meters produced one of the few moments of levity during the
two hour meeting when a woman who identified herself only as Susan voiced
her opposition to the initiative.
"I don't
want you guys watching me flush my toilet," she told the councillors.
"I don't want you guys telling me when I can take a shower or when
I can use my dishwasher."
"Don't wory,
we don't want to watch you flush your toilet either," Jellett answered
back to a smattering of laughter.
Among the other
things the audience said they could do without are a new library and the
Green Bin program which will cost taxpayers $15 million a year.
On the debate
over the new central library, Jellett explained that council has yet to
approve the project which comes with an estimated price tag of $100 million
less the $25 million council approved to purchase the proposed site.
As for the Green
Bin program which was a favourite target of a majority of the audience members,
both Bloess and Jellett admitted they supported it. Monette said he was
now opposed to the program after voting for it at least four times. The
problem, he said, is that it would cost $80 million to get out of the current
contract which isn't likely.
As more and more
people voiced their opposition to the Green Bin program, Monette promised
to hold a separate public meeting on the subject in February.
As for the budget,
council will hear from public delegations starting Jan. 25. Budget delibertations
will commence immediately following the public presentations.
A list of the
proposed changes to local transit service are as follows:
Route 101 - Remove
service east of St. Laurent Station outside morning and afternoon rush hour
Route 102 - Remove
service east of St. Lauent
Route 118 - Remove
peak period service between Place d'Orleans and Hurdman Station
Route 122 - Revise
route to serve the Taylor Creek Business Park
Route 127 - Remove
midday and Saturday service east of Blair Rd.
Route 131 - Remove
evening service
Route 137 - Remove
Saturday evening and Sunday service
Route 231 - Remove
service east of the Navan Arena
(This story
was made possible thanks to the generous support of our local
business partners.)
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