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In the debate over the best location for a relocated Civic campus of the Ottawa Hospital, we’ve heard plenty from those who insist on easy road access, ample surface parking and no traffic congestion. But we’ve heard much less about some other obvious questions:

• Should a hospital of the 21st century be built for and around the private automobile, on the assumption that almost everyone can, will or should drive?

• Would the Ottawa Hospital not do staff, patients and the broader community a valuable service by relocating to a place that offers frequent, convenient transit service – such as the future LRT line – and is easily reachable by foot or bike as well as by car?

• Shouldn’t an institution dedicated to health actively encourage cleaner and healthier modes of transportation, and aim to reduce private-vehicle use for non-emergency trips, as supported by Ottawa Public Health policies?

A hospital should be easily accessible to as many residents as possible, including those who cannot or choose not to drive. Encouraging people to use public or active transportation when possible also benefits anyone who drives by choice or necessity, by taking cars off the road.

The NCC, in its very public process, heard clearly from many citizens that protecting the Central Experimental Farm and its research fields is a priority, and that transit access should prevail over expansive parking lots.

The Sir John Carling site now being recommended by elected leaders, and apparently acceptable to the Ottawa Hospital board, is much nearer the Trillium O-Train line, and thus more accessible than the current hospital. But the matter of surface parking remains unaddressed.