NCC survey shows most in favour of 'active use' road closures

Published Jan 28, 2024 • Last updated 11 hours ago • 2 minute read

A survey by the National Capital Commission shows wide public approval for the NCC’s closure of its road closures for ‘active-use’ users. JULIE OLIVER/Postmedia Photo by Julie Oliver /POSTMEDIA

A National Capital Commission survey of the region’s population shows that a majority of residents are in favour of its “active use” policies for parkways in Ottawa and Gatineau.

According to the poll, which was available on the NCC’s website from July 13-Oct. 20, 69 per cent of the 10,700 respondents supported the NCC’s “commitment to car free experiences on the Capital’s scenic parkways.” Not surprisingly, the number was 85 per cent among those who took advantage of the open road policies.

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The NCC operates the Queen Elizabeth Driveway, the Kichi Zibi Mikan Parkway, the Sir George Étienne Cartier Parkway and the parkways in the Gatineau Park.

Poll respondents were in favour of the closures of lanes to car traffic, while opening up the roadways for cyclists, in-line skaters, wheelchairs and walkers, on the The Kichi Zibi Mikan (92 per cent), Sir George Etienne Parkway (97 per cent) and Gatineau Park (96 per cent) on weekends.

Those answering the poll were also resoundingly in favour (88 per cent) of the controversial decision to close a 2.4-kilometre stretch of the Queen Elizabeth Driveway — between Fifth Avenue and Somerset Street — for extended periods in the spring and summer.

In 2023, the road was closed to cars from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. between July 1-Sept. 4. Vehicles were also not permitted from 8 a.m – 8 p.m. on weekends and holiday Mondays between May 13-June 25 and Sept. 9-Oct. 9.

There were exceptions for major events, including Ottawa Redblacks games, the Escapade music festival and the Panda Game.

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe has been a notable critic of the NCC’s Queen Elizabeth Driveway closure decisions.

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According to electronic counters, there were 430,000 visits to the region’s parkways in 2023, up from 390,000 in 2022. That includes 1,502 daily visits on the Queen Elizabeth Driveway and 1,152 daily visits to the Kichi Zibi Mikan Parkway.

The NCC says it will use the poll as one of its tools to determine its planning for the roadways in 2024.

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