By Joe Sambol
Elgin Street residents may soon be sleeping easier once Ottawa police finalize their proposed changes to make Elgin a quieter and safer place to live.
The changes, which may include increased lighting, late-night bus services and moving parking spaces around to facilitate taxi service, are expected to be implemented in early May.
Elgin Street has been causing residents and police headaches over the high level of noise and litter left by late-night revellers leaving bars.
“We are using a process we refer to as ‘problem oriented’ policing,” says Const. Mark Horton, who is in charge of this police initiative. “Instead of constantly throwing police at the calls, we’re trying to find out why it’s noisy and address that.”
But finding a solution, as Horton explains, involves finding a balance. “What we’re trying to establish here is an appropriate line. If it’s noisy at 11 and you live downtown, you really can’t complain.” He says, “If it’s noisy at 3:30 in the morning and there’s still people on the sidewalk yelling and shouting and people blaring their car stereos … [I think maybe that] has crossed the line for people living downtown.”
Horton insists the possible solutions will be simple and won’t require by-law or zoning changes in regards to parking.
The proposed changes are receiving a positive response from some Elgin residents. David Gladstone, who serves on the Centretown Citizens’ Community Association and frequents Elgin Street at night, likes the idea of later bus times.
“Certainly having late night bus services makes sense,” he says.
Increased bus service late at night is expected to cut down on the traffic, which will also decrease honking and loud car stereos.
“Elgin Street is one of the few places in town that has a traffic jam at 2:30 in the morning,” says Horton.
Somerset Coun. Elisabeth Arnold said she agrees with an expanded bus schedule. She says, “Access for public transit and late night public transit is a problem because we simply don’t have it.”
But Arnold also realizes changes such as these require much investigation. “We need to make sure that if we put on more routes, that people are actually going to take the bus.”
Horton’s fix-it list also includes a shift in parking, letting taxis flow through Elgin Street easier, and reducing the amount of traffic. This is an idea Gladstone feels necessary. “There’s no question that you need a certain amount of dedicated taxi space late at night in order to make it work better.”
In addition, more lights in parks will prevent possible vandalism and loitering.
And while Horton predicts there will always be complaints, he hopes the changes will improve the situation. “We just want the business component and residential component of Elgin Street to live together as better neighbours.”