News Release
February 28, 2024
The City of Ottawa and the National Capital Commission (NCC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance Transit Priority Measures along the Blackburn Hamlet Bypass and Innes Road as well as the realignment of Renaud Road. With this MOU, the NCC and the City of Ottawa commit to work collaboratively to improve commuting options for east end residents and to minimize the impact of these measures on the Mer Bleue section of the Greenbelt.
Council approved recommendations for the Brian Coburn Extension / Cumberland Transitway Environmental Assessment (EA) Study on March 23, 2022, in preparation for near-term improvements including Transit Priority Measures along the Blackburn Hamlet Bypass and Innes Road between Navan Road and Blair Road. The project includes localized widenings and lane improvements for shared transit and high occupancy vehicles (HOV). Improving transit reliability and encouraging car-pooling are key steps for the City to achieve its goals of sustainable transportation and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
In addition, the City and the NCC announced plans to work together on the Renaud Road Realignment, which will help address the transportation needs of the growing east end community. The realignment would remove the two sharp bends currently on Renaud Road and two crossings of the Prescott-Russell Trail, promoting greater safety for drivers, passengers, and pathway users. The realignment will see a two-lane westerly extension from Brian Coburn Boulevard at Navan Road to the northern segment of the existing Renaud Road. Under this proposal, the southern part of Renaud Road would be closed and returned to greenspace.
Once completed, these projects will provide reliable transit service, improve safety, and protect the Greenbelt, and are an important step forward in improving transportation in Ottawa’s east end.
For more information on these projects, please visit ottawa.ca/briancoburn, and ottawa.ca/blackburnhamletbypass.
Quotes
“This MOU with the NCC, signifies a commitment to finding solutions to improve traffic flow for our Orléans South community while preserving our green spaces. Working in collaboration with Councillor Kitts, we’re taking a balanced approach to advance our transportation networks and help ensure our east end commuters can navigate their community safely."
- Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, City of Ottawa
“This is a significant move forward in addressing transportation challenges in Orléans South. For over a decade, progress on transportation infrastructure in this community has been stalled despite rapid residential growth. I’m pleased that we were able to collaborate on this critical first step to extend Brian Coburn Blvd, which will address pressing safety concerns for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians in Bradley Estates and provides a more direct route for east end commuters.”
- Councillor Catherine Kitts
"Because of this collaborative approach between the NCC and the City of Ottawa, residents of Orléans and of the National Capital Region will benefit from new infrastructure that will ease movement and transit, and at the same time will protect the Greenbelt, a natural heritage treasure that belongs to all Canadians."
- The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement
“I am thrilled to see the NCC and the City of Ottawa working together to reach an agreement that will significantly improve the transit and the safety of the south end community of Orléans while minimizing the impact on the Mer Bleue sector and the Greenbelt.”
- Marie-France Lalonde, MP for Orléans
“With this agreement, the NCC and the City of Ottawa are signaling their intention to work together with the objective of creating more sustainable transit options for residents of the east end of Ottawa and protecting the Mer Bleue sector of the Greenbelt. I look forward to our continued collaboration within the framework of this agreement to ensure the protection of the Greenbelt for future generations.”
- Maryse Gaudreault, Chairperson, National Capital Commission