(Posted 5:30 a.m., Dec. 7)
Light rail decision fast-tracks South Innes transitway extension
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online

Commuters living in the east end communities of Chapel Hill South, Notting Hill and Avalon received an early Christmas present on Wednesday when city council agreed to fast-track construction of the South Innes transitway from the Blair Road transit station to Trim Road.

The surprise move came as a result of council’s decision to shelve the downtown portion of the north south light rail project in favour of a future tunnel. But rather than set aside the projected $100 million in savings to help pay for the proposed tunnel, council decided to use the money to improve transit service in the east and west ends.

The lion’s share of the money will be used to build a bus only transitway south of Innes Road from Trim to the Blair Road Station.

The work would be done in two phases. The first phase, which does not require an environmental assessment, would extend from Navan Road south and east of Chapel Hill South through Avalon to Trim Road. According to staff the engineering and design work will take two years to complete with construction likely to begin in the fall of 2008 or spring in 2007.

The second phase of the plan calls a connection from the Blair Road transitway station to the South Innes Transitway at Navan Road which would require a separate environmental assessment. Staff estimate the EA could take between 18 months and two years to complete after which the engineer and design work could begin.

The transitway extension will also be built in such a way that it will be able to accommodate a light rail line in the future.

The east end transitway has been on the books since 2003 when it was included as part of the Ottawa Rapid Transit Expansion Plan with a possible 2007 start date, but no money was ever set aside to get it done.

Council’s decision now means the project will become a reality sooner rather than later. Not surprisingly, the last minute development is being hailed by the local members of council.

“I think it’s great,” said Cumberland Ward Coun. Rob Jellett moments after the amendment to fast-track the Cumberland Transitway was passed. “There’s a crushing need for transit services in the east end, especially along the Innes Road corridor, and this will go a long way to help address that need.”

Orléans Ward Coun. Bob Monette was also thrilled over the surprising turn of events.

“It’s fantastic, especially when they started talking about the numbers and the money was there. I’m glad council showed some flexibility and the people in Orléans are going to benefit as a result,” said Monette.

As far as the decision to stick with the north south light rail project is concerned, it narrowly passed by a 12-11 vote.

Council agreed to move forward with the north south light rail project minus the plan for an above ground rail line down Albert Street in favour of a possible tunnel pending an environmental assessment and additional funding from the provincial and federal governments.

By removing the above ground portion of the LRT line, the city estimates it will save about $100 million depending on how the negotiations go with Siemens and PCL/Dufferin who are the main contractors for the project.
Conversely, city staff estimate a tunnel from Lebreton Flats to the University of Ottawa could cost as much as $500 million.

The only councillor who didn’t vote on the new plan was Innes Ward Coun. Rainer Bloess who is currently on a cruise which he had booked before the municipal election. If he had been at the council table and voted against the motion it would have failed on a tie and the north south light rail project would be dead.

How he would have voted is a matter of some debate with many of the councillors who voted against the project pointing out that he voted against it when it was approved back in July. Others, however, were quick to point out that Bloess said his biggest beef against the deal was that it did not include a tunnel.

As it turned out, O'Brien cast the deciding vote. Afterwards he said that he was “excited” about the prospect of a downtown tunnel and that the residents of Ottawa will be “excited” too.

(This story was made possible thanks to the generous support of our local business partners.)

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