After years of debate relating to Ottawa’s proposed light rail system, the city councillors of the Canadian capital have held a meeting to try and determine a consensus for the future plans and appear to be on the verge of backing a long disregarded option to replace a downtown section with a subway.
The councillors held a meeting on 7 December during which opinions seemed to swing in favour of shortening the surface light rail system and replacing a section of the north-south line with a tunnel instead. The plan calls for a 5km long stretch of subway that will have to cross the Rideau Canal. The city mayor, Larry O’Brien, said he supported the turnaround and mooted several ways of financing the subway including a public-private partnership.
Previous estimates for a bus transit tunnel had suggested a figure of US$1.742bn, but councillors were told a tunnel could be built for a quarter of that with US$436M for a simple dual tunnel with four light rail stations being suggested as a ballpark estimate. This would challenge the city’s financial planning if federal and provincial governments do not contribute to the cost, but it was said to be within the city’s means to finance with debt if such help was withheld.
A fixed price contract for the light rail scheme is set to expire in mid-December as T&TI went to press. This places some pressure on councillors to make their decision as to whether to accept, reject or alter the plan. Killing the contract could cost millions in lawsuits, accepting it is the safe option, but maybe not the best solution to mass transit needs. Altering the contract carries its own risks, but generally less arduous financial implications than killing the scheme.
Detailed studies for a tunnel could be completed in 18 months and if feasible it could be operational within four years.
