| Due to the
COVID-19 pandemic, all city park
facilities and park equipment are now
closed until further notice. Only
walkthroughs are permitted – while
respecting physical (social)
distancing.
Sports
fields and courts
The
amenities and spaces that are closed
for use include:
- Public
sports fields – including those
located at recreation facilities
- Ball
diamonds
- Basketball
and tennis courts
These
types of spaces and amenities
encourage group gatherings and
usage, which go against the physical
(social) distancing measures being
used to flatten the spread of the
COVID-19 virus.
Play
structures and park equipment
The closures apply
to all play and park equipment, this
includes:
- Play
structures
- Swings
- Slides
- Climbers
- Adult
fitness stations
- Benches
and picnic tables
- Skateboard
parks
- Off-leash
dog enclosures
Park
and play equipment also encourage
multiple users. More importantly,
the surfaces are not being cleaned
and could potentially spread the
COVID-19 virus.
Walkthroughs
permitted – maintain physical
(social) distancing
While
the parks are closed, you are able
to walk through them. Safe park
practices that are permitted
includes running, walking or
jogging through
the park, while keeping a
two-metre distance from others –
which is equal to the length of a
hockey stick. You can also walk your
dog through the park where this is
allowed, while respecting the
established leashing requirements
for the site.
OC Transpo's bus, train
and Para Transpo services
changes kick in Monday
OC Transpo says
ridership numbers are down
because of the COVID-19
pandemic.
OC Transpo is
reminding transit users of
upcoming changes to its services
that will start after the
weekend.
Because of COVID-19 Ottawa's
public transit is experiencing
a dip in customer volume
— about 70 to 90 per cent —
and it's forcing the bus,
O-Train and Para Transpo
services to scale back, with
some services being cancelling
altogether.
The service changes will start
Monday and may result in longer
walks, wait times, travel times
and/or additional transfers,
general manager John Manconi
said in a memo.
“Maintaining service to all
neighbourhoods and to essential
services, such as grocery
stores, pharmacies and
hospitals, at levels that will
still allow customers to safely
space themselves out on trains
and buses and maintain social
distancing continues to be a
priority,” Manconi wrote.
“With reduced ridership and
COVID-19 potential impacts to
the workforce, an adjustment to
our multi-modal transit system
is required to sustain and
continue to provide the service
while at the same time ensuring
levels of service the enable
social distancing.”
O-Train
As of last Friday,
service for the O-Train Line 1
now starts at 5 a.m. and goes
until 1 a.m. on Saturday
mornings, with overnight
bus service will be available
for that time. Otherwise, start
and end times will stay the
same.
At peak periods, trains will
arrive every six to eight
minutes, and every 10 to 16
minutes at other times of the
day and on weekends.
The number of dedicated R1 buses
is also being reduced to align
with the changes to service
levels on Line 1.
There will also be less
red-vested O-Train ambassadors
on sites.
For Line 2 riders, trains will
show up every 15 minutes at all
times, with service start
and end times remaining the
same.
Tape will also be installed in
Line 2 trains to block the area
closest to the operator cab
from the rest of the train to
protect the health of operators
and customers.
Buses
For conventional
buses, service will continue to
be provided to all
neighbourhoods. Weekday service
will move to Saturday service
levels on many routes starting
Monday.
Those routes, which normally
operate only on weekdays, will
continue to run, but on modified
service.
Trips will start later in the
morning for many routes while
weekend service will operate as
usual.
Rural weekly Shopper services
will also stay as they are.
For a complete list of affected
and cancelled routes,
visit OCTranspo.com
Para
Transpo
For Para Transpo,
service levels are being managed
according to demand.
Most trips will operate with
only one customer on board at a
time to allow for social
distancing, and users who make a
trip request the day before will
also be accommodated.
Metrolinx
Deadlines to
cancel auto renewal of April
monthly transit passes have been
extended to Friday at 11:59 p.m.
Manconi says this will give
customers more time to cancel
their monthly passes, if that’s
what they choose to do.
Customers can head to prestocard.ca to
change their auto renew
settings.
“We will continue to monitor
ridership levels closely and are
ready to adjust again as
necessary to continue to protect
the health and safety of our
staff and customers,” Manconi
said. “If operators report
crowding on any services, we are
ready to respond with spare
vehicles”
| CityWatch
Canada is
an interactive
map that
tracks the
local
government
response to
COVID-19 in
communities
across Canada.
It showcases
data from
Canadian
communities on
key decision
points:
whether a
state of
emergency has
been declared
at the
provincial
and/or
municipal
level; whether
key municipal
services and
facilities
have been
closed or
reduced;
changes to
council and
committee
meetings; and
more. |
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Niedziela, 29 marca 2020
