Merivale Road bus lanes proposed

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Good morning! 

It seems like the festive holiday spirit has officially arrived in Ottawa!

The shopping malls are decorated with trees and lights, the Barrhaven Santa Claus Parade was held on Sunday, and this Friday will launch the kickoff of Lansdowne’s European-style Christmas Market with a tree lighting ceremony. 

On Saturday I was in Orléans for the Robert Plante Holiday Market, and let me tell you, I think half the city was there as well. Cars were lined up for well over a kilometre near the greenhouse, and it was hard to move around between the 250 vendor stalls. I always love supporting locals during the Christmas season, and it is great to see that so many others do, too. 

This week, we are trying something a little new at the Lookout with a lineup of stories dedicated to Nepean. If you don't see your neighbourhood included right away, do not worry: we have big plans for coverage across the city. 

Let’s get to it!

— Charlie Senack, Ottawa Lookout managing editor, [email protected], X: @Charlie_Senack

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WEATHER

Monday: 1 🌡️ -2 | ☁️

Tuesday: 2 🌡️ -3 | ☁️

Wednesday: 3 🌡️ -4 | ☁️

By Charlie Senack

In the last 60 plus years, Merivale Road has been transformed from farmers’ fields to condos. Now one of Ottawa’s busiest commercial stretches, it will again be the subject of massive development through the coming decades. But while growth can bring amenities, community and vibrance, it also means more people and, on busy roads like Merivale, an influx of cars. 

To meet that demand, the city is considering putting dedicated bus lanes down a four-kilometre stretch of the road. But the idea is garnering mixed opinions. 

Ottawa’s Transportation Master Plan, passed earlier this year, lays out a 20-year roadmap for transit-oriented development from 2026 to 2046. 

It includes $360 million for a median bus transitway on Baseline Road from Algonquin College to Billings Bridge, $257 million for the Cumberland Transitway from Blair Road to the Chapel Hill park-and-ride, $140 million to extend that line east to Esprit Drive, $154 million for dedicated bus lanes on Carling Avenue between Lincoln Fields Station and Sherwood Drive, and $122 million for new dedicated bus lanes on Heron Road between Conroy Road and Bank Street.

It also recommends “continuous bus lanes” on Merivale Road between Baseline Road and Slack Road to “address the city’s mobility needs in the future,” according to a staff report. 

The plans are in College Ward, and Coun. Laine Johnson said she is in support of the environmental assessment study, which is the next step in exploring the feasibility of the project. She also noted that buses are regularly getting stuck in traffic, which is slowing them down and resulting in missed or delayed trips. 

“A way to try and help them to make their trips on time is to get them out of that traffic. Transit priority lanes are the cheapest way to do that,” Johnson told the Lookout. “The mechanics of whether it can be done and how it would be done through that corridor are still yet to be determined.”

Part of the struggle, Johnson noted, is that Merivale Road is already two lanes of traffic in each direction, with little room to grow for dedicated bus lanes. It is a similar situation to what is playing out in the Glebe, where the city is exploring the feasibility of adding bus lanes and bike lanes to Bank Street. 

Jill Prott, co-president of the CityView Community Association, said while she is in favour of improving bus reliability and frequency on Merivale Road, she does not think bus lanes should be the priority. 

“We are still waiting for a Secondary Plan, and we think that should come first with a long list of improvements. The City has told us they are also going to look at pedestrian friendliness, which should also be part of the Secondary Plan,” said Prott. “We don't understand how all of this could also fit if the bus lanes are being squished in and the cara don't fit anymore. There just isn't space.” 

Earlier this year, the Baseline-Merivale Secondary Plan was introduced to guide private development and public infrastructure investments “in an area that is anticipated to see significant growth in the coming decades,” according to the City. 

The multi-year project included an open house this past spring with another planned for winter 2026. A third will then be held late next fall to present draft recommendations and seek feedback before the final report goes before the Planning and Housing Committee and City Council in spring 2027. 

While the City View Community Association is in support of the Secondary Plan study, they were initially promised their neighbourhood would have its own study. Combining it with Baseline does not make sense given its unique challenges compared to the Baseline area, said Prott. 

“Merivale Road is a destination place, shopping, things like that, and then you've got a transit corridor you're trying to throw  into the same secondary plan. That isn't going to work,” she said. 

Instead of bus lanes, the local community association would like to see traffic diverted off of Merivale through other means, including the back alleyways that run behind many of the businesses. 

“Buses have been going down Merivale forever and I can't ever recall that being a serious issue in the community. The bigger issue is with the bottleneck of traffic,” said Nancy Wilson, co-president of the Cityview Community Association. “Instead, use the alleys that can connect to streets like Capilano. You could easily put a street behind Emerald Plaza. All you would have to do is open up five yards of pavement.”

What the association has heard in recent years, though, said Wilson, is the lack of busing options along Merivale. It currently houses routes 80, 53, 189, 117 and 187 – but is also a connector for drivers going to and from the OC Transpo drive on Colonnade Drive. 

“What the City needs to realize is we have an aging population, and they aren't going to jump onto buses and go grocery shopping and things like that,” said Prott. “Bags of milk are heavy. I don't know why they think they can change a whole city into an anti-car or no-car place.”

“That is not going to happen. Instead, we want them to work with us on something that works for everybody.” 

The environmental assessment will recommend “functional design for the corridor and confirm property requirements,” the City notes. It will also look at the patterns of vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. 

There is no timeline for when construction would begin if the idea gets a green light.

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1,000

That is how many goldfish are going to be removed from a pond in Celebration Park. You might recall that eight months ago, dozens of dead koi fish were found in the same pond. Read more. [CTV]

Celebrate the holidays with family, friends, and a dash of Muppet mayhem!
From December 11 to 13, 2025, experience Disney’s The Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert—live at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. Join Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, and the whole Muppet gang for this heartwarming holiday classic, brought to life like never before by the NAC Orchestra.

Visit the NAC to view showtimes and reserve your seats for this festive event at Southam Hall, in the heart of Ottawa.

In this beloved retelling of Charles Dickens’s timeless story, Michael Caine stars as the grumpy Ebenezer Scrooge, whose frosty heart begins to thaw after visits from the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. The Muppets bring their signature humour, warmth, and unforgettable music to this family favorite, while the NAC Orchestra performs the score live beneath the film on the big screen.

Some performances are already close to sold out! Book early to make sure you don’t miss this holiday favourite.

Visit the NAC and share the joy of the season through music, laughter, and the magic of the Muppets.

This is Christmas as only the Muppets—and the NAC Orchestra—can deliver!

Voluntary donation: If you have looked at the 2026 Draft Budget, you might have noticed an information box called the “City of Ottawa Contribution Program.” It allows residents to make a personal contribution or a corporate contribution between $5 and $25,000. Official donation receipts for income tax purposes are available for donations over $20. Other jurisdictions like Toronto have similar programs, but councillors are divided on the idea. 

By the numbers: The Ottawa Food Bank has released its 8th annual Ottawa Hunger Report, revealing a deepening food insecurity emergency in the city. The 2025 report, titled Food Insecurity in a Broken System, highlights how hunger is not an isolated issue, but a symptom of failing systems—from unaffordable housing to inadequate social assistance and employment supports.  

In 2024, over one in four — or 25.7 per cent of households in Ottawa — experienced food insecurity. Visits to food programs supported by the Ottawa Food Bank reached 588,866, more than double the number recorded in 2019. The report shows a sharp rise in food program usage among seniors—a 90 per cent increase since 2019—and a growing number of newcomers, two-parent families, and single adults turning to food banks for help.

💸 Fifteen city-owned parking lots across Ottawa, including the Clarence Street parking garage, the Dalhousie and Clarence garage, and the Second Avenue lot in the Glebe could see price increases due to the 2026 Budget. Read more. [CTV]

🏠 The next step in Ottawa Community Housing’s plan for Gladstone Village will bring nearly 1,000 houses to the city, though it’s not clear when shovels will be in the ground. Read more. [CityNews]

🌿 The 36 conservation authorities across Ontario are being amalgamated into seven, including five in the Ottawa area that could be consolidated into one entity. Read more. [Ottawa Citizen]

☎️ The Centretown crisis response team known as ANCHOR handled about 4,000 calls in its first year, with the vast majority not requiring police intervention, a report showed. Read more. [CBC]

📚 Parents of Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) students are divided over the province’s new mandate ordering the board to open a new special support office in response to parents’ concerns. Read more. [CBC]

⚖️ The supervisor of an Ottawa hedge-trimming company was found not guilty of criminal negligence in connection with the death of a worker in 2023. Read more. [CTV]

Ultimate Burger Battle | Various restaurants across Ottawa | Nov. 1–30, various times | Month-long burger fundraiser with $2 per burger donated to United Way | Free

LUMINAIRE – Tree Lighting Ceremony | 55 ByWard Market Sq., Ottawa | Nov. 21, 4–8 pm | Holiday tree lighting with light shows, music, brass band and giveaways | Free

Ottawa Christmas Market | Aberdeen Plaza at Lansdowne, Marché Way | Nov. 21–23, various times | European-style market with festive lights, local vendors, warm drinks, and live performances | Free

Hoppy Holiday Makers Market | Broadhead Brewery, Orleans | Nov. 23, 11 am–? | Holiday market with 30+ vendors, live tunes, beer and BBQ menu | Free

A Season of Light and Love | Bells Corners United Church, 3955 Old Richmond Road | Nov. 28 and 29 | West Ottawa Ladies Chorus Christmas concerts | Tickets $25

West Carleton Arts Society Artistic Creations Sale | Mess Hall, 2240 Craig Side Rd., Carp | Nov. 28–29, various times | Holiday art show featuring 20+ local artists with fine art and crafts under $200 | Free

Carp Farmers’ Market – Christmas Market Day 1 | Carp Farmers’ Market, 3790 Carp Rd. | Nov. 28, 3–8 pm | Holiday market with local vendors, festive goods and seasonal community shopping | Free

Artistic Creations ($200 and Under) Sale 2025 | Mess Hall, 2240 Craig Side Rd., Carp | Nov. 28, 3–8 pm; Nov. 29, 9 am–4 pm | Holiday sale featuring 20 Ottawa artists with handcrafted works priced under $200 | Free

Christmas in the Village – Manotick | Manotick Main St. | Nov. 28–29, various times | Parade, tree lighting, wagon rides and festive family activities in Manotick | Free

Carp Farmers’ Market – Christmas Market Day 2 | Carp Farmers’ Market, 3790 Carp Rd. | Nov. 29, 8 am–2 pm | Second market day featuring local artisans, produce and festive holiday shopping | Free

GamerCon | Nepean Sportsplex, Halls A & B, 1701 Woodroffe Ave. | Nov. 29, 10 am–4 pm | Gaming convention with video games, board games, TCGs and themed artisan vendors | Tickets $5

Want to see your event here? Submit them to our event calendar.

Join Bells Corner BIA for some FREE family fun, including sleigh rides, live music, seasonal refreshments, and a visit from Santa and his elves!

Time: Sunday November 30, 2025 from 2 PM to 6 PM

Location: 31 Northside Road in the EP Store Parking Lot

For full details, visit our event page on our website.

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The Robert Plante Greenhouse near Orleans was packed with thousands of people who attended its 250+ vendor Christmas market over the weekend.