Committee OK's downtown Ottawa transit tunnel

The city of Ottawa's transit committee has approved a plan to build a tunnel under the downtown core as part of the city's proposed light rail transit system.

After months of consultation and study, councillors voted in favour of building the proposed $2.1 billion, 12.5-kilometrestretch of light rail track, which willrun from the Tunney's Pasture transit station in the west to the Blair station in the east. It will include a 3.2-kilometre long tunnel between LeBreton Flats and the University of Ottawa, withfour underground stations.

Alex Cullen, chair of the city's transit committee, said he expects the tunnel plan will be passed by city council on Jan. 13 without issue.

"This is what it takes to get our people through the downtown and to bring us into the 21^st century in terms of light rail and to build capacity to accommodate our growth."

Following council's approval, the city will then attempt to secure $70 million in funding for the project from the federal and provincial governments. Cullen acknowledged that the tunnel project has a hefty price tag, but was optimistic about the city's prospects for funding.

"All the signals we're getting [are] yes, it's a large project, but [the federal and provincial governments] have seen us develop it from day one, they are familiar with the details and I think at the end of the day, they will be there with the city of Ottawa."