Councillors push for light-rail connection

Appearing at the east-end Transitway stop on Tuesday, Sept. 9, Beacon Hill-Cyrville Coun. Michel Bellemare, Innes Coun. Rainer Bloess, Orléans Coun. Bob Monette and Cumberland Coun. Rob Jellett called building light rail from the downtown core out to the east their "number one priority," and suggested they would only support a plan that includes an easterly LRT extension as a first move.

The new transit plan, explained Bellemare, will come over time and as funding is available. But with public consultations beginning last night and a final decision on the plan’s progress expected in November, the four area councillors coming together signals an important step, he continued. "It's time the east is recognized when talking about light rail transit," echoed Monette, pointing to the area's highest rate of ridership across the city. "I will not support anything (that doesn't include LRT to Blair Station)."

The $3.82-billion Option Four transit plan – one of several alternatives originally tabled as possibilities for Ottawa’s new transit network, and given the thumbs up by a joint meeting of the city’s transit and transportation committees, as well as council, earlier this spring – calls for the Transitway to be converted to twin-track electric light rail transit from Baseline to Blair stations, and the O-Train to switch to twin-track LRT with extensions to Bowesville.

In May, council also approved a provision for future plans to extend LRT along the Cumberland Transitway to Trim Road and the current Transitway adjacent to Highway 174. The light rail plans – which also look at expanding service to Scotiabank Place and the Barrhaven Town Centre – come with several conditions, including the prior development of transit corridors inside the Greenbelt, a business case supporting returns on the investment, achieving a minimum density target and availability of funding.

East-end officials, including Bloess, Monette and Jellett, initially put their support behind Option Three, which would have seen the Transitway from Baseline to Blair converted to twin-track electric LRT and the current O-Train route remain the same.

Both Options Three and Four were lauded by city staff for their possibilities for long-term transit growth, low emissions, possible accommodation of Gatineau transit users and focus on connecting major urban areas. Planners, however, also speculated on the cons – massive service disruption to the current Transitway throughout construction and the lack of straight-through, transfer-less transit from points east, west and south.

Calling the need to extend LRT to the east end "obvious," Jellett pointed to current congestion on Highway 174 and new developments cropping up across southern Orléans as evidence. "The people out here should be rewarded (for their transit use)," he added. "(We want) a rail system for the whole city … rail that's going where it's needed most."

With buses backed up on the east-end portion of the Transitway and the 174 at peak capacity, "the solution is right here," continued Bloess, motioning to Blair Station. "The east is one of the first places LRT should go. We want to be here to drive the first spike in the ground." In the east end, a public consultation will be held Tuesday, Sept. 16 at the Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Complex – Orléans, with an open house from 6 to 8:30 p.m. and table discussions beginning at 7 p.m. For more information, please visit www.ottawa.ca/tmp.