How do you avoid a truck protest on Wellington in the future? Build a tramway there
Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen
Publishing date: Feb 01, 2022 • 45 minutes ago • 3 minute read
Building a rail line and banning traffic on Wellington Street is one way to avoid another truck protest in the heart of Ottawa’s Parliamentary Precinct.
The Société de transport de l’Outaouais (STO) continues to plan a tramway between west Gatineau and downtown Ottawa, via the Portage Bridge. One of the options is to build the rail line on Wellington Street and completely remove vehicular traffic from in front of the Parliament Buildings.
While traffic would be pushed to other downtown streets, restricting the ceremonial Confederation Boulevard to only pedestrians, cyclists and transit customers is an idea on the table as multiple organizations consider what’s best for the capital experience, regional transportation and security in a high-risk area.
A larger study led by the National Capital Commission is considering a transit “loop” between downtown Ottawa and Hull in the long term, with the STO tramway project being a potential first phase.
Sen. Vern White has taken an interest in the idea of a transit loop, particularly when it comes with a potential to increase security in the Parliamentary Precinct.
“Having listened to the concerns about traffic there from those who are proponents of the loop, this problem in front of Parliament Hill with these heavy-duty trucks would be alleviated if it were in place,” White said.
White said it makes little sense to have vehicles pass not only in front of the Parliament Buildings, but within metres of the Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council across the street.
“I’ve always said that should be barricaded from Elgin Street all the way down to Bank Street,” White said. “That should be a no-go zone for vehicles. It should be foot traffic only.”
The ongoing trucker protest hasn’t prompted that thinking, but it has amplified it, White said.
A tunnel under Sparks Street is another option to bring the tramway into downtown Ottawa, but a surface tramway on Wellington Street might be the leading option, especially since it would be much cheaper than digging a second rail tunnel through downtown Ottawa.
While decreasing road congestion by getting people out of cars and into trains has been a main driver of the STO project, it has also provided an opportunity for a complete rethinking of the Parliamentary Precinct and Wellington Street.
The NCC has supported the Wellington Street option for the tramway.
Ottawa city council prefers a Sparks Street tunnel but doesn’t oppose the Wellington Street option. The City of Ottawa isn’t paying for the STO project.
The STO’s study also leaned toward the tunnel, while noting cost and technical challenges could make the Wellington Street option the optimal choice. The project is still under study.
In considering the Wellington Street option, the STO’s study has been looking at a design that would either remove vehicles east of Bank Street, or allow some car lanes.
The federal government will have influence on the final option as a major funding partner. Security around key national assets could play into the feds’ decision.
Phil Gurski, a former CSIS strategic analyst and a Distinguished Fellow in National Security at the University of Ottawa ’s Professional Development Institute, said the security threats in the Parliamentary Precinct would be constantly monitored.
Gurski described authorities’ “delicate dance” of allowing people to protest while protecting MPs and other people working on the Hill.
“The mere fact that the trucks have been there since Friday shows to me they’ve made the assessment that allowing them there is not a threat to national security or public safety,” Gurski said. “If they make a decision to open (Wellington Street) up, I think it’s because they want to get back to normalcy as soon as possible.”
The Ottawa Police Service is leading the protest enforcement, with help from other agencies, including the RCMP and OPP.
Ottawa police have allowed the protest to continue, with Chief Peter Sloly saying on Monday, “This demonstration is unique in nature, massive in scale, polarizing in context and dangerous in literally every other aspect of the event itself.”
White, a former Ottawa police chief, said police are doing exactly what they can do until the number of protestors decreases, allowing a dialogue between the two sides.
jwilling@postmedia.com
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