Committee approves investments in transportation infrastructure and green initiatives

The Public Works and Infrastructure Committee today approved its portion of Draft Budget 2026, which calls for a capital investment of $880.7 million to renew and grow transportation infrastructure, including roads, bridges, sidewalks, pathways, culverts and enhanced traffic measures. As part of these investments, the City would commit $557.7 million for projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and $307.1 million for projects that build climate resiliency. The City would increase its winter operations budget by $3 million to $103.4 million.

Investments focus on integrated road projects, rehabilitating and renewing roads, bridges, sidewalks and pathways and bike infrastructure to support all road users. Projects include:

• $239.6 million for integrated road, water and sewer projects, including $70 million for road resurfacing
• $41.3 million to renew or rehabilitate transportation bridges and structures
• $38.1 million to replace vehicles including the continuing transition of Ottawa’s fleet to electric, hybrid and low-emission vehicles
• $13.5 million to renew and repair sidewalks and pathways
• $2.5 million towards the replacement of parking payment systems
• $400,000 to implement additional bike parking programs and infrastructure, including secure bike lockers

The budget invests significant money to support growth and development around the city, ensuring the infrastructure required to meet increasing community needs and improve mobility, including:

• $56.1 million to widen and realign Greenbank Road between Chapman Mills Drive and Cambrian Road – requires multi-year funding
• $20.4 million to widen Carp Road between Highway 417 and Hazeldean Road – requires multi-year funding
• $17.9 million for intersection control measures and network modifications to reduce traffic delays
• $11.8 million to upgrade roads and undertake sidewalk projects in developing areas
• $8.2 million for measures to improve transit travel speed and reliability
• $5.9 million to improve mobility on mainstreets in design priority areas to support intensification and economic development
• $3 million to design the widening of Brian Coburn Boulevard between Mer Bleue and Tenth Line roads

The budget also includes projects aimed at building a more connected city   with reliable, safe and accessible mobility options, such as:

• $32.1 million for pedestrian and cycling facilities to address missing links, improve connectivity and enhance safety
• $5.8 million towards intersections that meet warrants for new traffic control measures, such as signals and roundabouts
• Nearly $2.6 million for pedestrian crossovers
• $500,000 for new streetlights

The City has also saved almost $3 million through operating efficiencies including:

• $1.3 million in fleet efficiencies
• $355,000 in discretionary spending savings
• $145,000 from streamlining facilities and improving efficiency

Schedule 5 of Bill 60, the Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, amends the Highway Traffic Act to prohibit municipalities from reducing car lanes for bicycle lanes or any other purposes set in the Bill. The City will need to review cycling projects in Transportation Master Plan and Road Safety Action Plan, as well as roadway designs for integrated road renewal projects.

Projects in the 2026 capital budget that will be unable to move forward as a result. Staff will report back to Committee in Q2 2026 with recommendations for how funding allocated in Draft Budget 2026 could be used in other ways. Staff will also provide further assessment of the impacts from Bill 60.

City Council will consider recommendations from today’s meeting, including the Draft Budget 2026 on Wednesday, December 10.

• Agenda