Latest news with #andRide
Ottawa Citizen
07-06-2025
- Business
- Ottawa Citizen
OC Transpo explores ‘creative' ways to expand non-fare revenue
Article content In an effort to expand revenues, OC Transpo is looking at adopting several creative options, including OC merchandise, coffee kiosks and parcel delivery. Article content A report to be presented to the city's transit commission on June 12 highlights several revenue sources the agency is looking at to introduce more revenue to address Transpo's staggering $120 million shortfall but also appeal to transit riders on the go. Article content Article content Article content Article content Transit Commission Chair Glen Gower said with several LRT stations open and expansion underway, they're becoming 'high-traffic stations,' which is an opportunity for the city to look into more advertising revenues. Article content 'Priority 1' would be a plan to expand billboard advertisements, installing more vending machines and a retail program expansion, which includes coffee kiosks and 'pop-ups'. Article content Currently, Happy Goat Coffee is the only 'retail option' for transit riders, available at Tunney's Pasture, Hurdman, and Blair stations. Article content 'I often pick up the coffee at Happy Goat at Tunney's Pasture station on my way into work,' said Gower, who is councillor for Stittsville. He also spoke of ideas of bringing in small grocery stores and convenience stores for people looking to get meals on their way in and out of the city. Article content Article content 'As more people use transit, there's more of a market, and maybe, there's some interest there,' Gower said. Article content Third-party parcel delivery, which is considered a 'Priority 2', includes assessing a project to set up lockers at busy transit stations. Gower says this could be a convenient opportunity for people to pick up and drop off parcels and mail during transit hours. Article content 'It's just trying to find some creative use of the stations and meet people where it's convenient,' he said. Article content 'Priority 2' also looks at monetizing non-commercial spaces and reviewing the rates and expansion of the Bus Charter Program. Article content 'Priority 3' focuses on introducing transit merchandise, including gifts and collectibles, and renting out Park and Ride spaces when they are not in use, which has been used in the past for events like farmers markets and local events.
Scoop
21-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Hamilton Gears Up For A Busy Planting Season
Get ready to roll up your sleeves, get your hands dirty, and do your bit to restore nature in Hamilton Kirikiriroa. Cooler weather means planting season starts soon, with the 2025 calendar set to be bigger than ever. As well as the popular annual Arbor Day, Hamilton residents also have the opportunity to get involved in two Plantathon events and a new Plant and Ride initiative as part of Hamilton City Council's Nature in the City programme. Parks and Recreation Unit Director Maria Barrie said the efforts put in to plant native trees during planting season will go a long way to help achieve the city's long-term vision. 'The Nature in the City Strategy aims to increase Hamilton's native vegetation cover to 10% by 2050. We only have 25 years left to reach this ambitious goal and can't do it alone – we need as many nature-loving volunteers as possible to help us shape a greener city for future generations.' This year's community planting events will kick off with Arbor Day on Thursday 5 June, which will this year be held at a new location, Minogue Park. With the goal of planting 15,000 native plants on Arbor Day, Hamilton schools, workplaces and residents are invited to come along, pick up a spade, and lend a hand from 10am – 1.30pm. Hamilton City Councillor Anna Casey-Cox encourages people to get behind the cause. 'We have so many amazing and dedicated volunteers, schools and community groups in our city who weed and plant our gullies and forests all year long. This Arbor Day and planting season is an opportunity to get behind them, tautoko their important work and help nature thrive,' Casey-Cox said. Special guests from the Kids in Nature programme will be at Arbor Day to educate attendees on introduced predators, bees, and Aotearoa's native lizards. Tours around Lake Rotokaeo and the surrounding bush will be available for anyone interested on the day. Barrie says more native plants will not only enhance the environment and support our native wildlife, but will also benefit those that live and spend time here. 'We know being around nature can be magic for people's wellbeing. By restoring more nature for people to connect with, we can help improve the wellbeing of Hamiltonians.' In July, two Saturday planting events will be held at different parks in Hamilton to provide more opportunities for residents to get involved in restoring nature in the city. Plantathon 2025 will take place at: Caernarvon Park, Dinsdale on Saturday 5 July, 11am – 1pm Tauhara Park, Queenwood on Saturday 12 July, 11am – 1pm. This will be the second year that Plantathon has been held in Hamilton, following three successful events in 2024 held at Sandford Park, Hillcrest Stadium, and Minogue Park. This year will also mark the start of a new community planting opportunity Plant and Ride on Saturday 9 August from 11am – 2pm. This unique event will encourage Hamiltonians to get out in the fresh air and cycle, scooter, or stroll along the river path to three different planting sites. The Saturday events aim to make community planting more accessible for families and working individuals to come along to participate. Those wanting to find out more about the upcoming planting events and register their interest can do so via Nature in the City's new volunteering platform at
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Your Voice Your Vote: Relief road a key issue
A bypass that would complete a ring of A-roads around Shrewsbury is one of the issues on the minds of voters ahead of local elections in Shropshire on Thursday. The four-mile-long single carriageway "needs to go ahead", according to Shropshire HGV driver Kyle Longmuir, who got in touch with us via Your Voice Your Vote. The 38-year-old said the North West Relief Road would stop village roads being used as rat runs and improve air quality in the town centre. All of the main political parties fielding candidates in Shropshire Council elections on 1 May are against the project, except the Conservative group. "Professionally, I drive an HGV and often need to get around Shrewsbury and face similar problems [to those travelling in the town centre]... it is impractical to drive through town," said Mr Longmuir, who lives in Shawbury. "So, if there's an accident or heavy traffic, especially around holidays, then it costs a lot of time." He frequently drives through the town centre to visit his wife's parents in Copthorne or take his young son to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. "The centre of town is often the shortest and quickest route [in a car], despite the congestion. Building the relief road would make life a lot simpler and safer for everyone," Mr Longmuir added. However, there are various reasons why people are opposed to a new road, linking the A5 to the west of the town with the A5124 to the north east at Battlefield. Environmental campaign groups claim it would destroy the countryside, create excessive greenhouse emissions and result in veteran trees being felled. Others like Debbie Carvell, who runs a clothing shop in Shrewsbury, thinks the road would not solve the town's traffic problems. "If you build more roads, then you just create more traffic and I think it would be a really bad decision to do that," she said. "More cars will come in, instead of using the Park and Ride [or] bikes or walking into town." The cost of the project is another reason why many people, especially outside the county town, object to the road. The latest estimate puts the total cost of the project at £215m - more than treble the 2019 price tag of £71m. It is one of the reasons why the Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green groups on the council wrote a joint letter to the government in February to say they would cancel the funding application as "a first priority" if they take control on 2 May. The letter, signed by Labour leader Rosemary Dartnall and Liberal Democrat Roger Evans, criticised the relief road for offering "no credible solution to the current and future traffic problems Shrewsbury and Shropshire face". It means the road is almost certainly doomed if the Conservatives do not maintain their majority of councillors. National polling and the decline of Tory support at the last general election suggest it will be challenging for the party to hold on to power after next week's vote. Reform UK's national leader, Nigel Farage, mocked the price of the road during a recent visit to Shropshire. The party, which has candidates standing for all 74 seats available, said it was "pro-road" but very concerned by the rising cost of the project. The Conservative group on Shropshire Council said the relief road would take a considerable amount of traffic out of the town centre, improving air quality and the local economy. The party's concerns about traffic problems are shared by local businessman Tony Bywater, who is chairman of the caravan and motorhome dealership Salop Leisure, based near the busy Emstrey Island. "Shrewsbury is clogged and it's not good for our businesses," he said. "Our staff are having to leave home half an hour earlier than normal just to get to work on time. It seems to be getting worse every day. "Shrewsbury is a fantastic place to live and work and the onus is on Shropshire Council to ensure that the town continues to prosper." You can find a full list of candidates standing in Shropshire Council elections on 1 May here. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Ring road costs set at £215m as budget talks loom Plan to scrap bypass revealed ahead of election Relief road business plan delayed until Christmas Shropshire Council: Shrewsbury North West Relief Road
