City seeks public input on LRT East preferred alignment

The City of Ottawa is looking for public feedback on its preferred alignment for the Confederation Line East Light Rail Transit (LRT) extension at a series of open houses in early February. For the most part, the preferred alignment for the rail line is in the median that runs in the middle of Highway 174 and is being co-ordinated with the eventual widening of the highway.

“This is a great project that will improve the quality of life for people living in the east part of the city,” Mayor Jim Watson said. “This eastern rail extension is an important part of our Stage 2 package of future rail projects that will help us build a truly City-wide transit system to serve generations of residents.”

The City of Ottawa is co-ordinating this environmental assessment study for the extension of LRT from Blair Station to Trim Road with the EA study on the widening of the Highway 174 and Highway 17.

At the open houses, residents will have the opportunity to learn more about and provide their feedback on the integration of LRT in the highway corridor from Blair Station to Trim Road and the plan for highway widening west of Trim Road.

“Transit use in our City is highest in the east, and this project will provide a seamless, high-quality connection to downtown and the rest of the City,” said Councillor Keith Egli, Chair of the City’s Transportation Committee. “It’s important that people let us know what they think of our plans.”

The project will add 10 kilometres of rail from Blair Station to Place d’Orléans and four new stations to the City’s overall transit network. A potential extension to Trim Road could add up to four more stations and 3.5 kilometres of rail.

“It’s an exciting time for east-end residents,” said Chair of the Transit Commission and Cumberland Councillor Stephen Blais. “Through this project, we’re getting better transit and road connections with enormous economic development potential along the highway corridor. These are big improvements that will make a real difference in people’s lives.”

The Confederation Line East LRT extension is one of three environmental assessment studies underway as part of Stage 2, the City’s plan to extend the benefits of rail to residents further east, west and south. Stage 2 will build on existing rail projects by adding 19 new stations and 30 kilometres to our LRT network.

More information on the East LRT and Highway 174 widening project can be found at ottawa.ca .

The open house dates are as follows:

Tuesday, February 3 R.J Kennedy Memorial Community Centre Halls A & B 1115 Dunning Road Cumberland 6 to 9 p.m., presentation at 7 p.m.

Wednesday, February 4 Bob MacQuarrie Orléans Recreation Complex 1490 Youville Drive, Orléans 6 to 9 p.m., presentation at 7 p.m.

Thursday, February 5 Guy Faubert Hall 954 Giroux Street, Rockland 6 to 9 p.m., presentation at 7 p.m.