City to close streets outside three Ottawa elementary schools during drop-off
School Streets initiative kicks off this fall at Francophone Francojeunesse, Hopewell Avenue, and Trille des Bois. EnviroCentre will run the program at no cost to the city.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
Ottawa will temporarily close streets in front of three elementary schools during morning and afternoon drop-off times as part of a pilot of its School Streets initiative, city council decided on July 15.
The program will launch this fall at École élémentaire publique Francophone Francojeunesse, Hopewell Avenue Public School, and École élémentaire publique Trille des Bois. According to EnviroCentre, the non-profit running the project, School Streets are car-free areas outside schools where roads are closed to vehicles—or access is severely limited—for a timed period at the start and end of the school day. The aim is to create a safer, healthier environment that fosters increased active transportation for students.
The initiative began in 1989 in Bolzano, Italy, in response to traffic management challenges during peak pick-up and drop-off hours. Since then, over 1,000 School Streets projects have rolled out across Europe, North America, and Australia and New Zealand. Cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Winnipeg have already implemented the initiative.
Implementation has been complicated. In a March report, the city's public works department said neither the City nor the Ottawa Police Service had the staff resources or budget to develop and operate any School Streets initiatives. That changed when EnviroCentre stepped in, meaning there will be no direct financial impact on the City of Ottawa. EnviroCentre will handle funding, planning, coordination, liability, and operation of the road closures.
The facts
Which Ottawa schools are getting School Streets?
École élémentaire publique Francophone Francojeunesse, Hopewell Avenue Public School, and École élémentaire publique Trille des Bois will pilot the School Streets initiative, launching in fall 2026.
What is School Streets?
School Streets are car-free areas outside schools where roads are closed to vehicles or access is severely limited during morning and afternoon drop-off times to create a safer, healthier environment and encourage active transportation for students.
Who is running the Ottawa School Streets program?
EnviroCentre, a non-profit organization, will run the program at no cost to the City of Ottawa, handling funding, planning, coordination, liability, and operation of the road closures.
