[Cre47]

Ottawa Sun article - seems the east end is more preffered and Jan is fuming. Well Jan blame on the residents of Westboro for that, although if the Strandherd Bridge is built at the same time much of the construction is done, I could see an extension to Barrhaven without worrying about the Westboro NIMBYS.

Meanwhile, the streetcar option and the hopstial complex by-pass is also on the maps

Originally Posted by Derek Puddicombe

Street cars new wrinkle in transit plans

Councillors to hear 4 options today

By DEREK PUDDICOMBE, Sun Media

City commuters might be presented with a choice of light rail or street cars for their downtown transit system.

As part of four scenarios which city staff will present to councillors this morning, a street car line along Carling Ave. has been drawn into the long-range plans.

The Carling Ave. street car would would be built into the current roadway and stop at each traffic light. The option is being presented is in case the National Capital Commission does not give the city permission to run light rail along the Ottawa River Parkway.

The city operates OC Transpo buses along the parkway with permission from the NCC, but the federal body has been non-committal on whether it would allow LRT along the corridor. The parkway route is a vital link in the city's plan for light rail to the west end.

Councillors Clive Doucet and Christine Leadman contend the NCC won't green-light a rail system along the parkway, and suggest street cars as an alternative.


The pair have argued all along that taking light rail down the parkway will destroy its environmental integrity. They also admit the Carling Ave. route isn't a new idea.

But, as straight arterial route which links to Hwy. 417, the existing western Transitway, the downtown and Quebec via the existing O-Train line, they say it's the best way for the city to connect the downtown with the west end.

As reported in the Sun today, scenario three is shaping up to be the preferred option among councillors to begin construction of the city's $4 billion, 23-year transit plan. This option includes 30 km of light rail, including from Riverside South to the University of Ottawa, and the Blair Rd. transit station.

It also includes a bus bypass that must be built to maintain commuter service while a portion of the east-end transitway is converted to light rail.

The route also takes light rail to Tunney Pasture.

Barrhaven Coun. Jan Harder is fuming that nowhere in the grand plan is any light rail for Barrhaven.

She said it would only take an extra few million dollars added to the $4 billion plan to service commuters with light rail. Barrhaven's population has almost tripled from 25,000 in 2000, and it could be home to 175,000 people by 2031 when the transit plan is to be completed.