Convent Glen residents upset about a proposed roundabout at the intersection of Jeanne d'Arc Blvd. North and Vineyard and Fortune Drives will be able to voice their concerns at a public meeting scheduled for April 29 at the Orléans Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Centre.
The meeting will take place at 7 p.m., although the room still has to be confirmed. Whatever room they book, it will likely be a full house. Last week, 25 people braved the pouring rain to attend an informal meeting with Orléans West-Innes Ward councilor Laura Dudas who told those gathered that a meeting with OC Transpo staff was imminent.
OC Transpo has also set up an online portal for residents to submit questions and feedback at https://ca.mar.medallia.com/?e=389614&d=l&h=AEAEB925124CB02&l=en. They are accepting public feedback through the portal, through email or by phone until May 17, 2024. As more information on the project is available, it will be shared on the project website at: https://ottawa.ca/.../jeanne-darc-boulevard-transit-measures.
OC Transpo says the roundabout is necessary to act as a terminus for buses after they drop off passengers at the Jeanne d'Arc LRT station and head back south of Hwy. 174.
According to an OC Transpo backgrounder on the project... "The roundabout was found to be a required component for the new Jeanne d’Arc O-Train Station. It will improve bus service reliability and provide direct and safe routes for buses to access the new station, once the O-Train East extension is operational. Alternative locations for this roundabout were explored but would require increased bus traffic in front of Convent Glen Catholic School, as well on residential streets. Further, alternative locations would compromise service reliability due to longer trips and increase traffic congestion throughout the area. The roundabout design plans will include protected dedicated pedestrian crossovers and modernized cycling amenities to increase road safety for all users".
"The future bus bay on Jeanne D’Arc Boulevard south of the Fortune Drive /Vineyard Drive intersection near the highway bridge, further supports bus operations in the community. This will improve service reliability by providing a location where buses can adjust to scheduled start times with minimal travel time to the station and improve service for transit customers."
Construction on the new facilities is planned to begin summer 2024 as completion is required for the opening of the Stage 2 O-Train East extension.
The public meeting will start with a presentation from city staff, which will touch on project elements and address many of the questions residents have raised. Following the presentation, staff will continue to be available at various stations in the room to answer questions.
Residents believe a roundabout will present a serious risk to students living on the west side of Jeanne d'Arc walking to and from Convent Glen Catholic School at the corner of Fortune Drive and Jeanne d'Arc.
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