Catherine Kitts
- Sep 29, 2023
- 2 min read

Transportation Master Plan

After a spirited and lengthy debate at city council on April 26, the city’s Transportation Master Plan (TMP) Part 1 was approved, which will have a significant impact on improving transportation in our ward and across Ottawa. As your councillor, I’m proud to have worked closely with transportation staff to address my concerns and ensure that our community's needs are adequately represented and planned for in Part 2, which will come in the latter part of 2025.

During the meeting, all three of my motions were carried, which included allocating increased funding to major infrastructure projects in areas of significant new development, considering mobility deficits in our ward, and including a section of Navan Road from Brian Coburn to the Blackburn Bypass in the Crosstown Bikeway Network. This is a crucial step towards making sure that our ward is accessible and safe for all forms of transportation, including active transportation, and we get a fair piece of the pie when developing new communities and the road infrastructure that comes with it.

I want to emphasize that the Brian Coburn extension is a road/transit/active transportation project and is one of the most critical projects for our ward. This project will not only improve traffic flow but also provide residents with reliable and efficient public transit options. As we continue to grow and expand, it's essential that we invest in infrastructure projects like this one to support our community's needs. I believe our advocacy efforts as a community have been heard loud and clear by the City and by my colleagues. Now, we must find a path forward with the NCC and secure the funding necessary to realize this missing, critical link. Without it, the rapid pace of development in our ward will need to slow – contrary to every level of government’s stated interest in building more homes faster.

I want to thank the residents who participated in the public consultation process and provided valuable feedback on the TMP. Your input is important, and I will be asking for record participation as we embark on the consultation for Part 2 of the document.

I am committed to continuing to work with staff and my fellow councillors to ensure that our community's transportation needs are adequately and safely addressed, whether that be walking, cycling, taking transit, or driving.

As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns. I look forward to continuing to collaborate on moving Orleans South Navan from mobility poverty to mobility possibility.

For a full recap of the meeting, please visit https://bit.ly/3LanejD