East Ottawa Star
Published: Friday, June 12, 2009 

More than just a park name

Okay, it’s time for my yearly vent about things that could be improved in our community and the daily annoyances to be fixed. Let’s start with traffic and growth. The line up getting down Jeanne d’Arc Boulevard each morning onto St. Joseph going westward is becoming a three- and four-light ordeal. How about two turning lanes? Could one of our city councillors enlighten us on this?

As well, the traffic that now backs up onto Highway 174 each evening before Trim Road is dangerous. This volume combined with buses and cars trying to get out of the Park ‘n’ Ride are also increasing road rage and risk. I fear it is just a matter of time before someone gets seriously hurt along this stretch of road.

And when will we get Trim Road widened to four lanes? With its continuing growth south of Innes, the volumes certainly justify this improvement soon, if not now. This could be a prime candidate for some tri-partite government funding, hmmm?

Then of course there is the big-box hell stretch along Innes Road between Tenth Line and Jeanne d’Arc/Mer Bleue each weekday rush hour and most weekends during peak shopping hours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Enough said.

Turning to issues of my stomach, yup, we still don’t have a decent real Italian food joint in our neighbourhood and even some of the higher-end chains such as Baton Rouge, Jack Astor’s and Moxie’s continue to bypass us when it comes to expansion plans.

Memo to these operations and prospective franchisees: our community is home to the second-highest median income in the province and one of the highest rates of home ownership of any community in Canada. This means we have a measure of disposable income and a demonstrated propensity to spend it. What gives?

Let’s now turn to Petrie Island, that jewel of beach on the Ottawa River just a 10- or 15-minute door-to-sand drive for most of us. There’s just one problem that could pop up this summer: water quality. With all this rain and continuing raw sewage overflows into the river, swimming in this water is likely not on the priority list of many parents.

Finally, we all need to do something about the litter lining our main streets, curb areas and bus stops. It is clear that the city and OC Transpo can’t do it all so please, on your next walk with the dog, ride into work or stroll over to a friend’s, just grab one piece of litter and dispose of it properly.

Our community is better than thousands of wrappers, chip bags, Timmie’s cups and stray newspapers pressed up against a community fence or bush.

If you catch someone littering, don’t be afraid to politely speak up because this is, after all, our home.

= = = = =

Comments can be sent to Walter Robinson at orleansouttakes@transcontinental.ca.