City Staff Presentation - Barrhaven Light Rail Transit and Rail Grade-Separations, Planning and Environmental Assessment Study
The Transportation Committee received a presentation on the Barrhaven Light Rail Transit, touching on the Rail Grade-Separations, Planning and Environmental Assessment Study. This proposed expansion route has caused a high level of concern for residents due to the fact that a portion of the recommended alignment of the line will impact countless homes (notably affordable housing).
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Light rail transit could extend from Baseline Station to Barrhaven as part of Stage 3, if funding from upper levels of government becomes available.
The City's Transportation Committee today approved recommendations from the environmental assessment for Barrhaven LRT and rail-grade separations. The LRT would be extended by 10 kilometres and seven stations. Double tracks would be elevated between Baseline Station and the Nepean Sportsplex, transitioning back to grade and following the existing southwest Transitway alignment to Barrhaven Town Centre.
The design includes three bridges to separate VIA Rail tracks from Woodroffe Avenue, the southwest Transitway and Fallowfield Road, along with interim measures to make transit more efficient and reliable along Woodroffe Avenue.
The estimated $3-billion project could be implemented in two phases. The first would cost $2 billion, extending LRT between Baseline Station and Fallowfield Station and building three bridges over the VIA Rail line. The second would cost $1 billion, extending the LRT to Barrhaven Town Centre, where a new park-and-ride facility would be built.
As the recommended alignment of the LRT extension would affect 120 private rental units, the Committee approved a motion to create a working group to examine options on how to assist the residents who are facing future relocation. The working group, which would include multiple City departments, Ottawa Community Housing, representatives from the affected communities, the Ward Councillor and the Council Liaison for Housing and Homelessness, would make recommendations to the Finance and Economic Development Committee by the end of the year.
The Ministry of Transportation presented its plans to replace the Highway 417 bridges over Preston Street, Rochester Street, Booth Street, Bronson Avenue and Percy Street. Construction is expected to take five years.
Source : City of Ottawa
Audio from the meeting
City Staff Presentation