Calls have been made and letters and e-mails have been sent , both by individuals and by HPRA representatives, to express disapproval of the restrictions on Fraser, Windermere, Courtney & Rowanwood Avenues and to urge early (and permanent) removal of the barricades placed at those intersections.
It would be nice to announce that removal is imminent, however, the city says data collected by counters placed on Sherbourne between Bromley Road and Fraser, the week before and the week following implementation of the closures, will only be analysed this week. A decision should be made by the end of this week.
It appears that the City of Ottawa has been dealing exclusively with the community of McKellar Park on this issue. Since the barricades have been placed in their community, it makes sense, on the face of it … except that these closures, advertised as temporary, are measures that a small but vocal group has been pushing for a number of years to bring into being on a permanent basis. Since the impact on all area residents is huge, actions take by the City to address traffic issues in our community must reflect the voice of the majority of those residents, and not just a handful.
HPRA wants to ensure the voice of Highland Park and surrounding communities are given equal measure as we move forward on this issue, as well as others. If the barriers remain in place after the data review, HPRA will distribute flyers and put up posters in the neighbourhood to let you know the next steps to make your voice heard on this issue. Those who have voiced an opinion so far have been overwhelmingly against these closures but we would like to hear from more of you out there in our community to better determine our next steps.On a more positive note, please have a look at the recent changes and additions to the website, most notably a short history of Highland Park.
