Advisory Committees

City Council and Committee Agendas & Minutes

Transportation Committee

Members

Terms of Reference

The Transportation Committee is responsible for the provision of overall guidance and direction to the Public Works and Services Department for issues [excluding those matters within the City’s rural areas, as defined in Schedule “A” of the City’s Official Plan (Document 1)] relating to transportation, parking, and transit services.

Membership

Membership of the Transportation Committee shall consist of nine (9) members of City Council, appointed by the Nominating Committee and approved by City Council. The Mayor is an ex-officio member.

General Responsibilities

The Transportation Committee shall:

1. Be responsible directly to Council for those items within the City’s urban and suburban areas related to transportation, parking, and transit services emanating from:
1. the Public Works and Services Department;
2. the Planning, Environment and Infrastructure Policy Branch of the Planning and Growth Management Department (transportation planning and policy issues); and
3. advisory committees that are within the area of responsibility of the Transportation Committee.
   
   
2. Provide overall guidance and direction to the:
1. Public Works and Services Department with regard to issues of transportation, general right-of-way management and parking, and transit services; and
2. Planning and Growth Management Department with regard to transportation planning and policy issues that fall within the mandate of this Committee.
   
   
3. Monitor the associated activities and implementation of transportation, general right-of-way management, parking, and transit services programs and projects of the Public Works and Services Department.
   
   
4. Ensure active public participation by receiving delegations from the public, and holding public hearings as required by statute and Council.
   
   
5. Subsequent to the approval of the budget, review and approve all operating and capital budget adjustments that are within the existing funding envelopes for the Traffic and Parking Operations Branch, Infrastructure Services Branch (transportation projects), Transit Services Branch of the Public Works and Services Department (inclusive of fleet and real property (new, renovations, major rehabilitation) capital projects falling under the responsibility of this standing committee) and (ii) the Planning and Growth Management Department capital projects related to roads and transit growth.
   
   
6. Subsequent to the approval of the budget, consider, for recommendation to Council:
1. the policy direction and prioritization, but not the funding requirements, of new matters which are within the Committee’s mandate; and
2. matters which were not previously approved, but can be accommodated within the applicable departmental existing capital or operating budgets.
   
   
7. Pursuant to the Delegation of Authority By-law (Section – Conferences and Conventions), approve Councillors travel and attendance at conferences that are related to the Committee’s mandate.
   
   
8. Review and recommend to Council revisions to the Transportation Committee Terms of Reference, as required.
   
   
9. Review and recommend to Council matters related to Advisory Committees under the Standing Committee’s responsibility, such as but not limited to the Advisory Committee membership, the Terms of Reference, annual work plans and reporting, and funding requests.
   
   
10. Recommend to Council proposed by-laws that are under the Committee’s jurisdiction.
    
    
11. Recommend to Council, the City of Ottawa’s participation in federal or provincial cost-sharing programs or employment incentive programs for matters within the mandate of the Committee.

Specific Responsibilities

Transportation
Parking
Transit Services

Transportation

Objectives

To encourage the development of a safe, convenient, efficient and publicly oriented transportation system that optimizes accessibility for all persons and goods with minimum disruption to the environment.

In pursuing this goal, the Committee will strive to attain the following objectives:

• ensure the City of Ottawa’s transportation system provides a range of modal choice, including walking, cycling, transit and automobile, to accommodate all users based on the principles and priorities of the Transportation Master Plan;
• optimize accessibility to employment, housing and all facilities in the City of Ottawa;
• ensure maximum efficiency for the movement of people and goods compatible with a healthy environment and healthy communities;
• develop a system adaptable to emerging and probable changes in technology and capable of expansion to accommodate growing needs;
• identify and consider the full costs and benefits of transportation alternatives to maximize economic sustainability of the transportation system;
• minimize disruption and inconvenience to established and future neighbourhoods;
• develop a transportation network consistent with identified environmental requirements and restraints;
• examine ways to increase the modal share of walking, cycling and transit;
• improvements to winter walking;
• ensuring the City of Ottawa rights-of-way are managed to ensure safety, accessibility and support of the City’s overall transportation objectives; and
• ensuring high quality of operations and maintenance that support overall transportation objectives.

Guidance and Direction

The Transportation Committee shall:

• provide direction to staff for the implementation of the transportation goals of the Official Plan;
• recommend to Council new transportation policies or revision of existing ones;
• recommend to Council revisions to levels of service for road-maintenance;
• monitor traffic-management programs, projects and activities carried out by staff;
• recommend to Council additions and/or deletions to the City of Ottawa road system and other transportation matters which from time to time may be required by Council;
• ensure effective public participation in transportation matters; and
• conduct public hearings under the Municipal Act.

Parking

Objectives

To oversee the provision of municipal parking operations to ensure the needs of the community are met while minimizing the impact on the movement of traffic. To achieve this objective the Committee will:

• facilitate and address the demonstrated parking needs of the community;
• enforce parking restrictions to ensure a safe and efficient street network for the community; and
• monitor on and off–street parking needs.

Guidance and Direction

The Transportation Committee shall:

• provide direction to staff for the implementation of municipal parking programs;
• recommend to Council new parking by-laws, policies and guidelines or revision of existing ones; and
• recommend to Council the establishment or adjustment of on-street parking meters rates and the parking rates at municipal parking lots.

Transit Services

Objectives

In order to provide the best possible public transportation service for all residents and visitors, within the resources available, the Transportation Committee will pursue the following objectives:

• attract an increasing number of customers to transit;
• meet the public transit needs of residents and visitors;
• provide excellent customer service;
• provide a transit service that is accessible and affordable;
• enhance the reliability of transit service;
• ensure a service that is safe for its passengers;
• ensure responsiveness to the customers of the transit service; and
• support policies that are consistent with the City of Ottawa Official Plan objectives.

Guidance and Direction

The Transportation Committee shall:

• ensure the co-ordination of policies and programs in the area of transit services;
• monitor the activities and the implementation of transit services’ programs and projects;
• provide policy guidance and direction to staff on transit services’ programs and projects;
• exercise other specific responsibilities set forth by relevant statutes and City Council;
• ensure co-ordination and consultation with committees and departments where responsibilities overlap on issues of transit services; and
• make recommendations to Council concerning new transit services by-laws, policies, and guidelines or revision of existing ones.

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