Ottawa committee endorses light rail plan with eye to expansion

A $4-billion transit plan calling for north-south and east-west light rail lines and a tunnel through Ottawa's downtown core will be going to city council for debate and approval after being recommended by the city's joint transit and transportation committee Wednesday.

The committee also passed an amendment asking that staff look into expansions to the suburbs of Kanata, Orleans, Riverside South and Barrhaven at some point in the future.

The current plan passes through downtown at its north end, reaching Lincoln Fields in the west, Blair Road in the east and Bowesville Road in the south.

It was Option 4 of four possible transit plans unveiled in March and had been endorsed by city staff in April following public consultations.

Mayor Larry O'Brien attended Wednesday's meeting until it ended at 9 p.m., 11 hours after it started, and seemed very pleased with the result.

"I think it's just good news and I'm just so proud of my council colleagues," he said.

Coun. Alex Cullen, who represents Bay Ward, proposed the amendment for the future expansions, but said he doesn't know when those expansions will happen.

"To go out and do all the growth areas will require meeting certain standards for population, ridership, a business case," he said. City council will discuss the committee's recommendation's on May 28.