Ottawa committee changes design to Stage 3 LRT project to avoid townhome demo

Ottawa is looking to make a change to its Stage 3 LRT project.

Alstom

Ottawa’s Stage 3 light rail transit project is not even out of the box yet and it is already increasing in value.

However, for taxpayers value means cost. The city’s transportation committee has approved an alteration for Stage 3 in Barrhaven in order to avoid a townhouse complex on Woodroffe Avenue. Original plans called for the demolition of the complex, but new plans will preserve the townhomes at a cost of $30 million to $50 million.

The line was supposed to run on the entire west side of Woodroffe Avenue, but track will now be elevated and run down the middle of Woodroffe Avenue between Knoxdale Road and West Hunt Club Road. The design also is supposed to minimize the noise level of trains going through curves.

The original cost of the Stage 3 LRT project was $3.5 billion. Ottawa’s city council is expected to vote on the design change on June 8.

Read more articles on passenger rail.