Open houses spotlight proposed eastern LRT
Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen
Published on: February 1, 2015, Last Updated: February 1, 2015 9:07 PM EST
Controversy surrounding the city’s preferred route for the western extension of light rail often dominates discussion about Ottawa’s long-term transit blueprint.
But that could soon change as the plan for extending the rail line east of Blair station steps into the spotlight this week at a series of open houses in the east end.
Here are some key details and dates to keep in mind.
Where will the train go?
The first phase of LRT will see the 12.5-kilometre Confederation Line, which is now under construction, terminate at Blair station. The second phase would see trains run along the north side of Highway 174 from Blair to the proposed St-Joseph station near Montreal Road.
Eastbound trains would then exit the elevated station, cross above the on- and off-ramps for Montreal Road and follow a natural dip in the topography around Greens Creek into the Highway 174 median. Trains would travel down the median until the terminus station at Place d’Orléans.
Why does the proposed eastern alignment seem less controversial or complicated than the western alignment?
The preferred route for the western extension travels through a densely-populated, built-up residential area and requires the co-operation of the National Capital Commission.
Not so out east, where the train is more or less going in a straight line through an existing transit and transportation corridor that east-end residents and transit users are keenly familiar with.
“I think it is pretty straightforward,” said Cumberland Coun. Stephen Blais.
Where will the stations be?
The project would add 10 kilometres of rail between Blair station and Place d’Orléans, and four new stations — St-Joseph, Jeanne D’Arc, Prom d’Orléans and Place d’Orléans.
A potential future extension to Trim Road could add up to four more stations and 3.5 kilometres of rail.
How much is this going to cost?
The overall price tag for phase two — designed to extend rail service to the east, west and south — is $3 billion. The eastern portion, from Blair to Place d’Orléans, is $500 million, in 2013 dollars, according to the city.
This amount does not include vehicles or an additional maintenance and storage facility that would be needed for phase two.
Where and when are the open houses?
Tuesday, Feb. 3
R.J. Kennedy Memorial Community Centre
1115 Dunning Rd., Cumberland
6-9 p.m. (presentation at 7 p.m.)
Wednesday, Feb. 4
Bob MacQuarrie Orléans Recreation Complex
1490 Youville Dr., Orléans
6-9 p.m. (presentation at 7 p.m.)
Thursday, Feb. 5
Guy Faubert Hall
954 Giroux St., Rockland
6-9 p.m. (presentation at 7 p.m.)
What happens next?
The city is co-ordinating its current environmental assessment (EA) for the extension of the LRT from Blair station with a separate EA on the widening of highways 174 and 17, which it’s conducting in partnership with the United Counties of Prescott and Russell.
The partnership, and the counties’ specific interest in the highway widening east of Trim, explains why one of the open houses is to be held in Rockland.
Because each segment of the 174 is a bit different, there is room in some spots to widen it on the inside, while in other spots the widening will happen on the outside, Blais said.
The existing rapid bus lanes will become redundant once the rail line is extended, so a good chunk of the widening will already be taken care of, he added.
The city hopes to pin down its preferred eastern corridor this spring so it can proceed with the rest of the required analysis as part of the EA and be in a position to apply for funding from other levels of government for phase two later this year.
mpearson@ottawacitizen.com
Twitter.com/mpearson78
http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-...ed-eastern-lrt
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