OC Transpo Route 18

from Councillor Leadman’s office:

Hello Everyone,

Marc Chenier, a member of the Champlain Park Community Association who is spearheading the 18 petition, sent this information along to me regarding the petition and asked me to pass it along to all of you . If you know of any members of your community affected by the cancellation of Route 18 who would like to participate, could you please pass this information on to them. If you have any questions please let me know.

A petition is being circulated about the loss of the Route 18 bus west of LeBreton.

It reads as follows:

“WHEREAS we the residents of Kitchissippi Ward find changes in Trans PLAN 2009 resulted in transit being more difficult to use throughout the day. The changes increased our walking time, increased transfers to crowded buses and contributed to lower service on local routes.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT we the residents of Kitchissippi Ward wish to petition the City for the reinstatement of OC Transpo route 18 west of Lebreton Station.”

Councillor Leadman is hoping as many people as possible will sign it to help strengthen her arguments to have the route re-instated. Indeed, OC Transpo has indicated that proof of demand for the service is required before it will consider reinstating the route. Ms Leadman believes if she can make a strong argument –backed by large community support– she can be successful.

Starting last week, a few Champlain Park residents have covered the whole Champlain Park neighbourhood in a door-to-door canvass to circulate this petition. An opportunity was also offered for those who were not home when the door-to-door canvass occurred to come to the fieldhouse last Wednesday, to sign the petition.

These efforts have been very encouraging, and to date, over 250 signatures from our neighbourhood have been obtained, in addition to other petitions from other sources that Ms. Leadman has already received.

But we want more signatures, to ensure that the case presented to OC Transpo is as solid as possible. As such, we need help in these areas:

• we need canvassers to cover other affected neighbourhoods, such as Westboro Beach, Wellington West Village, West Village Private and other neighbourhoods along the former route of the No. 18. If you are interested in helping in such a canvass, please call Marc Chénier (613-798-9384);
• If the loss of the route has been a hot topic of conversation at work, school, or play and you feel that your colleagues will be interested in signing the petition, please  call Marc for copies of the petition;

• we will hold another signing session at the Champlain Park fieldhouse (149 Cowley) on Wednesday, February 17, from 8 pm to 9 pm. Anyone who did not yet sign the petition, but wishes to do so, can come to the fieldhouse at that time;

• we need you to forward this e-mail to anyone and everyone who you think has been affected by the loss of Route 18, and who may be interested in participating.

Thank you for your help!

Kindest regards,

Jennifer Young

Office of Christine Leadman