On Jan. 26, committee vice-chair Catherine Kitts moved to reopen the road, noting that the city had received requests from residents, businesses, and visitors to do so.
Wellington Street between Elgin and Bank streets will reopen “to all traffic as soon as it is operationally feasible ... but no sooner than March 1, 2023, to allow for the replacement and installation of traffic infrastructure in the area,” the motion stated.
The motion also said the city will explore options for temporary road closures between those two streets during the summer of 2023 “for special events and community programming or for the safety and well-being of the residents of Ottawa.”
The motion said the city can “currently, in consultation with Ottawa Police Services, Ottawa Fire Services, and Ottawa Paramedic Services, choose to temporarily close Wellington Street and other city streets for special events, security reasons or to allow for lawful protests.”
In early February, the motion will go before the full city council for a vote.
City councillor Ariel Troster told the committee that the plan had to ensure “emergency services are never overwhelmed again” and that the street needed to be “better than it was originally.”
Committee chair Tim Tierney responded that emergency services and the Ottawa Police Services Board are working together to address safety concerns. He said the street is currently not secure and that councillors want “secure measures in place” if it is to reopen.
Some councillors suggested that the street could be turned into a pedestrian-only zone, as did a senator who addressed the committee.
Senator Andrew Cardozo, a resident of Ottawa, said his office is located on Wellington Street.
“The status quo, the bare ugly barricaded street is not an option,” he said. He urged the committee to make Wellington Street a pedestrian-only thoroughfare.
Business Woes
The committee also heard that businesses have been inconvenienced by the road closure.Speaking on behalf of business owners around Sparks Street, which is one block south of Wellington Street, Kevin McHale said that the closure had made deliveries difficult for big trucks and that parking was a problem for customers.
“The limited amount of surface parking in our area cannot be accessed by our members, clients, and service providers. Loading zones are inaccessible and restrict deliveries,” said McHale.
Ben Cool-Fergus, an urban planner with the City of Ottawa, said the Wellington Street discussions present a “historic opportunity” to “not just return to what was, but to think of what could be.”
City councillor Matthew Luloff said that traffic planning is a key part of the reopening of Wellington Street, and that traffic and congestion could increase as more federal government employees return to in-office work.
“Infrastructure in the downtown core is ailing under current conditions,” he said.
The Transportation Committee’s motion noted that the general managers of planning, real estate, economic development, and public works “continue ongoing discussions with federal officials regarding the potential of a redefined Parliamentary Precinct, with appropriate consultation with local businesses and residents.”
