85 The percentile of vehicles found in a 1997 survey to be driving at 75 km/h on King Edward. Compliance with the posted speed of 50 km/h was 3%. The new ramps coming off and on the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge make it easier for speeding to occur.
20 Number of pedestrians and cyclists hit by vehicles on King Edward between 1997 and 1999. Pedestrians were killed in 1997, 2005, and 2006. Bike lanes were not included along King Edward in the new plans.
43 Number of years that King Edward, a residential street, has been used as a major truck route.
21 Number of years that the King Edward Avenue Task Force has been lobbying for relief on the avenue and in Lower town.
100,000 Estimated number of people that the Ottawa fire chief believes would need to be evacuated if a truck carrying certain dangerous goods had an accident on King Edward.
9 The percentage reduction of traffic during peak periods that occurred when King Edward was reduced to four lanes during its rehabilitation. This is the exact percentage goal of reduction in single-vehicle usage set by the former Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton. This is equal to 493 tones less pollution generated each year.
2,457 The number of commuters that would need to take the bus or drive to work outside the peak hours of driving, so that King Edward could be reduced to four lanes. This represents, for example, 1.4% additional trips on OC Transpo buses if that system were to absorb the riders. Consultants erroneously concluded that there was no adequate transit system available between Gatineau and Ottawa capable of absorbing this additional capacity.
20 The percentage increase in non-car trips on buses, bicycles, etc, that the City of Ottawa Transportation Master Plan calls for between Ottawa and Gatineau. Currently, 16% of trips during peak hours are by non-car means of travel.
40 The approximate millions of dollars required to complete the four phases of the King Edward Renewal project. The project would have cost approximately $3-5 million less had an at-grade T-intersection been used in the north end instead of on and off-ramps, and if the street had been configured with four lanes instead of six.
75 The highest average sound decibels adjusted (dBa) predicted on King Edward. The provincial and municipal standards stipulate that noise should not go beyond an average of 55 dBa to protect people's health. The heavy trucks and buses on King Edward cause temporary noises as loud as 94 dBa. A person would perceive this as a quadrupling of sound.
450 The number of additional trees that could potentially be added to King Edward, if it were reduced to 4 lanes in Lower town and 2 lanes in Sandy Hill. This is enough additional oxygen for 900 people per year. The current plan only calls for an additional 150 trees along the urbanized part of the corridor.
9,000 The number of kilograms of pollution that could be reduced by adding an additional 450 trees to King Edward Avenue.
127 The number of newspaper articles regarding the King Edward problem on file with the King Edward Avenue Task Force.
1 The crime rate ranking for Rideau-Vanier, Ward 12, in which King Edward Avenue is found. It has the highest crime rate out of 23 wards at 15,885. This is three times the city-wide average of 5,780 per 100,000. Somerset Ward is in second place with 13,804, with Beacon-Cyrville far behind in third place at 6,924.
828 Number of crime-related occurrences reported for King Edward Avenue between 2002 and 2007, including 18 commercial and 50 residential break and enters, 150 assaults, 43 robberies, 121 drug related, 415 thefts under $5,000, 30 thefts over $5,000, and 1 prostitution related.
1,568 Traffic accidents on King Edward Avenue between 2002 and 2007. There were 197 injuries and 3 fatalities. One man was crushed to death by an 18-wheeler while crossing King Edward and Rideau.
50,000 The number of vehicles using King Edward Avenue each day between Boteler and Murray streets.
24 The number of vacant, derelict and/or boarded up houses, buildings, and lots on and around King Edward Avenue. There are also three major shelters in the area, and the ward has the highest poverty rate in the city.
1 Priority given to commuter wait times versus residential quality of life needs. Social issues as listed in this fact sheet had little to no place or effect in the environmental assessment undertaken by consultants. Accommodating traffic at all costs was the goal.
For sources for any of these facts, please contact the King Edward Avenue Task Force
