A new traffic plan presented ahead of in-person work and school

A new transit plan will be presented to council for consideration on July 15, as more traffic is expected in September with federal employees returning to in-office work and classes resuming at all levels throughout Ottawa. The plan will work to enhance transit, the road network and parking capacity in the coming months to prepare [...]

A new traffic plan presented ahead of in-person work and school Posted Jul 12, 2026 11:05:33 AM. Last Updated Jul 12, 2026 11:05:38 AM. A new transit plan will be presented to council for consideration on July 15, as more traffic is expected in September with federal employees returning to in-office work and classes resuming at all levels throughout Ottawa.

The plan will work to enhance transit, the road network and parking capacity in the coming months to prepare for the back to work and school season. According to a release, Staff have executed a network review, coordinated with partners and identified 48 mobility measures to ensure reliable and efficient transportation for commuters. They have also consulted the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario, to ensure the ongoing work on Highway 417 is completed before the fall.

The report outlines five key points to help traffic flow: - Transit Enhancements: Implement Express routes serving key locations and employment nodes and improve reliability and capacity while encouraging alternative modes such as cycling, shuttles, and Park & Ride. - Traffic Management and Construction Coordination: Optimize traffic flow through signal timing, monitoring, incident response, enforcement, and coordinated construction activities - Parking Measures: Expand and optimize parking, including Park & Ride options, to improve transit access and reduce congestion - Active Transportation: Promote walking and cycling through improved access, connectivity, and awareness - Communications and Public Information: Provide timely, clear travel information to - support trip planning and system navigation While there are already strategies in place to address congestion, a proactive approach is necessary to minimize the impacts of traffic, the release said.

By identifying these measures above, the report hopes to identify pressure points and implement measures that will get ahead of the problem before it begins. Council scheduled briefings on July 9 to answer any questions and will now meet on July 15 to decide whether to implement this plan.