Councillor Duggan’s rural study:

Rural residents want better roads, bus service, a new tree policy

Road conditions, Gatineau’s tree-cutting policy, and a lack of citizen consultation before municipal decisions are hot topics identified in Councillor Mike Duggan’s rural study.

Following 2013 municipal elections, the Lucerne councillor observed a divide between the city’s urban and rural services. He launched this study to better understand the issues that reflect rural interests.

First, Gatineau’s “rural territory” is defined based on the urban perimeter as determined by Gatineau’s land-use  management plan. The zone covers 966 residential and business addresses. A letter soliciting comment on these and other issues brought 53 responses. STO bus service and traffic signage were added often, noted Mr Duggan.

Road conditions generated the most feedback. More than 50% of respondents identified a dozen rural roads in poor condition; besides poor surfaces, some have lanes that are too narrow and others are missing shoulders.

Mr. Duggan said road work already in planning will solve some problems. The city has invested $1.5 million to resurface Pink Road between Vanier and Klock Roads while another $900,000 is earmarked for Mountain Road, from de la Brise Street to the edge of town.

On the drawing board are improvements to Vanier Road between Cook and Pink Roads, to Skyridge between Chestnut and Edgewood Streets, plus $1 million in improvements to Klock Road between Allumettières and Antoine-Boucher Road. Later, the city will upgrade most of Cook Road.

Don’t save those trees?

Two dozen rural respondents said the city’s strict tree-cutting policy was designed for urban conditions, without considering rural wooded or agricultural lots with many trees. This policy could change as the city’s Environment Commission is planning a comprehensive review of the 2005 tree-cutting policy. It was last modificated in 2012.

 

Residents must obtain a permit before felling a tree, and a tree may only be cut down if it is dead, has an incurable disease, poses a safety risk, constitutes a nuisance, is damaging property, or the tree is where construction is planned pursuant to a building permit.

 

Centralized decisions

The tree-cutting policy is seen as an example of rulings imposed by city hall in Hull. Many rural residents believe that, since the merger, Gatineau is governed more centrally. They say decisions made in the majority’s interests often ignore rural realities. Mr. Duggan is determined to end this. “I’m working on a residents’ association which could help to coordinate communications with rural residents,” he stated.

Duggan is also focused on the STO. He says one third of transit’s operations are funded by municipal property taxes, yet these services in rural areas are either non-existent or inadequate.

The STO’s revenues come from the city budget (50%), ticket revenues (33%), and from the transport ministry (15%); only Route 48 serves Aylmer’s sparsely populated rural area.Mr Duggan is drafting a proposal to council for a more equitable distribution of services, such as public transportation.