Over the past year, my office has been contacted by approximately 30 representatives of Health Canada as well as an additional 20 residents who work at 405 Terminal regarding transportation and safety issues around the building and in accessing the building. The following has been prepared to answer the most common questions received.
Active Transportation
Why is there no connection between the VIA station and Trainyards?
Although an Environmental Assessment study for a Multi-Use Path (MUP) connection began in 2022, it was paused because the most effective solution is to incorporate the connection directly into the VIA Rail site. Based on consultation with VIA Rail, their redevelopment plans for the site are not yet known. As Alto is a subsidiary of VIA Rail, there is a strong possibility that the station will be expanded in the current location, so it is likely it will be some time before it proceeds.
While they have indicated a willingness to integrate the MUP connection with their redevelopment plans, the planning work has not yet commenced and they are unable to provide a timeline for when it will occur. Consequently, this significantly restricts the practical and effective long-term MUP connection options available for the City to pursue.
What are the active transportation improvements being contemplated in the area surrounding Terminal Avenue to assist safe passage for federal public servants returning to the office?
While not designed specifically due to the return-to-office of Federal public servants, the following active transportation projects are underway in the vicinity of 405 Terminal Avenue:
- A new MUP along Riverside Drive, between the existing MUP along Tremblay Road and Terminal Avenue, is being advanced to improve connectivity. Preliminary and detailed design is expected to begin this year, with construction to follow as early as 2027, subject to land acquisition and available budget.
- A MUP is proposed at 1325 Avenue L to access Belfast Road, as part of the ongoing redevelopment taking place in the area. Plans will be finalized once further redevelopment occurs.
Pedestrian Crossing
A pedestrian crossing is required on Terminal Avenue to connect to the Trainyards given the high volume of pedestrian traffic.
Agreed. Traffic Services staff have determined that the location shown below (approximately 70 metres east of 405 Terminal Avenue) meets the criteria for a pedestrian crossover (PXO).
When will this PXO be installed?
Funding for design of this PXO has been secured for this year (2026), with implementation scheduled for 2027. More specific dates for installation will be communicated early in 2027.
Street Safety
It is difficult to exit the parking lot behind 405 Terminal Avenue as there are cars parked on the street. Is it possible to install no parking signs so that it is easier to leave the parking lot?
The entry/exit point for the 405 Terminal parking lot is a private approach, similar to a private driveway. As per Traffic and Parking By-law section 7(c) “(1)No person shall park a vehicle or permit a vehicle to remain parked on any highway (c)in front of or within one and one-half (1.5) metres of a laneway or driveway”. With that said, the existing no-parking anytime signs are placed at approximately 9 metres (providing substantially more clearance than 1.5m regulation in the By-law).
Regardless of the By-law, the signs need to be moved as there is not a lot of visibility and it is very challenging to leave the parking lot safely.
With respect to visibility at the parking lot exit, the City does not typically establish minimum sight distance requirements for private approaches and driveways in the same manner as public streets and roadways. This is because under Ontario Highway Traffic Act (HTA) section 139 (1) “Every driver or streetcar operator entering a highway from private road or driveway shall yield the right of way to all traffic approaching on the highway so closely that to enter would constitute an immediate hazard”.
Drivers exiting a private approach are expected to proceed cautiously and only enter the roadway when they have established that it is safe to do so. Where visibility is partially restricted, drivers may need to inch forward carefully to obtain an adequate view of approaching traffic before proceeding. This is consistent with their obligation under the HTA to yield the right-of-way to through traffic on the roadway.
Could convex mirrors be installed to improve visibility?
While convex mirrors may appear to improve visibility, they have several limitations. The reflected image can distort the perceived speed and distance of approaching vehicles, particularly under adverse weather or low-light conditions. Their effectiveness may also be reduced by glare, condensation, snow accumulation, dirt, vandalism, or improper alignment, making them an unreliable means of determining whether it is safe to enter a roadway.
More importantly, the presence of a traffic mirror may encourage drivers to rely on the reflected image rather than directly observing approaching traffic. Under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act (HTA), drivers are responsible for ensuring that it is safe to proceed and for yielding the right-of-way where required. The installation of a traffic mirror does not change these legal responsibilities or transfer liability for the safe operation of a vehicle.
For these reasons, city does not install traffic mirrors (convex mirrors) at public intersections or at private property lot entrance/driveway at the municipal roadway connection points.
Shouldn’t additional parking restrictions have been put in place once the construction of 405 Terminal Avenue was complete?
Additional restrictions were put in place. The existing no-parking anytime corner restrictions have been in place since the opening of the parking lot in 2013/2014, when only 395 Terminal Ave existed. Following the construction of 405 Terminal Ave, the restrictions were extended in 2017 to provide corner clearance at both parking lots entry/exit points.
Can the parking zone on the one side of the street be moved to the other side so that it is easier to exit the parking lot?
City’s parking services group reviewed the possibility of switching parking from north side (currently) to south side (proposed). However, this option was not supported because there are no controlled pedestrian crossing opportunities between the Sandford Fleming Avenue and Trainyards Drive intersections (approximately 997 metres apart). Relocating or switching the parking sides would likely encourage pedestrians to cross mid-block on a designated truck route, introducing additional safety concerns. The relocation would also create operational issues related to the location and accessibility of the paid parking machines.
Our Assistant Deputy Minister, Directors General and Directors have all agreed that the on-street parking should be relocated to improve visibility. Why has this not been factored into the City’s decision-making?
Based on the available information, staff do not support relocating or extending the existing no-parking anytime restrictions at this time, as the current restrictions already exceed the minimum setback required under the Traffic and Parking By-law. The rank of federal public servants is not considered when applying By-laws.
Has the City Councillor even come to our site to see how challenging it is to leave the parking area? It is particularly challenging at lunchtime.
Yes. She has gone to the site multiple times, most recently at noon on July 23, 2026, where she entered and exited the parking lot. She is therefore aware that it is not possible to leave directly from the stop line in the parking lot, and that it is necessary to inch forward until safe to do so.
In addition to the City Councillor attending the site at the request of Health Canada representatives, Traffic Services has made multiple visits to assess the site and assess the situation. Ottawa Police Service officers have also been consulted.
Speeding
The speed limit needs to be reduced as it is very dangerous on the street and cars are constantly speeding. This poses a real risk to the workers.
To assess whether speeding on Terminal Avenue may be contributing to concerns, City staff reviewed recent speed data collected near 395 and 405 Terminal Avenue.
As per the data,
- Posted speed limit: 50km/h
- 85th percentile speed: 52.99km/h
- Average speed: 45.06km/h
- Compliance rate: 78.0%
Speeding of significance was not identified throughout the study.
Parking Meters
It is frustrating to have to come and reload the parking meter multiple times a day. Is there a way to pay just once?
The City is nearing the transition to new pay-by-plate technology. The Pay & Display machines will be replaced in the coming months. The timing for this transition could start as early as sometime in September. Additional information will follow.
Sometimes the parking machines are broken. Will these be fixed?
City staff have been out recently to assess all machines on Terminal Avenue and found there to be some reoccurring issues. This is something we are actively working with the vendor to address and resolve.