With low-income housing in the way, Ottawa plows ahead with light-rail project

Written by RT&S Staff
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The Ottawa City Council will listen to recommendations for the city’s transportation commission on a light-rail extension later in November.

With low-income housing on the firing line, the city of Ottawa continues to take aim at another stage of light-rail construction. The city’s transportation committee voted in favor of the $3 billion project. The Ottawa City Council still needs to give the project a thumbs up, and also needs financial assistance at the provincial and federal levels.

The light-rail line would extend service into Barrhaven from Baseline Station, and is likely to have seven stations. Preliminary designs call for three new bridges over the VIA Rail line, eliminating at-grade crossings at Woodroffe Avenue, Fallowfield Road and along the Transitway.

If Ottawa moves forward with the project, 120 low-income housing units will be demolished. A petition has started calling for a halt to the wrecking ball because affordable housing in the city is hard to come by and residents claim it will be difficult to relocate.

The Ottawa City Council is expected to review the recommendations from the transportation committee on Nov. 25.

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