Ottawa Approves Light Rail Project

Ottawa gives $780 million light rail project green light story byline/credit: Jake Rupert story content: By a good margin, Ottawa City voted to go ahead with a north-south light-rail line yesterday.

Now only time will tell if the project becomes an embarasssing $1 billion white elephant as the project’s detractors predict, or it transforms the city into a city that embraces smart-growth principles as the project’s boosters, including Ottawa Mayor Bob Chiarelli and senior city staff, predict.

The Ottawa University to Barrhaven electric rail line was approved by a vote of 14 to seven. Construction on the project, which is estimated to cost between $780 million and $1 billion depending on what is added in, is scheduled to start this fall with serious work beginning next spring.

A group of companies, Siemens, which will provide 22 trains and rail technology, and PCL and Dufferin construction companies have been chosen to design, build, provide cars for and maintain the 22-station line for 15 years.

With the vote, council also awarded the three companies a $220 million, 15-year maintainence contract for the line.

The line is expected to be up and running by 2010.