Ottawa LRT environmental assessment OKd
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-ChiefThe Ontario provincial government has endorsed the environmental assessment for the proposed light rail transit project in Ottawa, the nation’s capital.
Ottawa’s director of rail implementation, John Jensen, told city councilors late Tuesday that the provincial environment ministry had approved the city’s environmental assessment on a key component of the C$2.1 billion (US$2.0 billion) project. That in turn is the first phase of a larger C$5.6 billion transit master plan that’s been split into two parts and would be built during the next two decades.
Jensen called approval “a significant milestone” toward securing provincial funds and, also, obtaining federal environmental approval for the project.
The environmental assessment examined the potential impact of the planned 12.5kilometers (7.75 miles) of LRT from Tunney’s Pasture to Blair Station, as well as a controversial tunnel portion under downtown. The city had submitted its environmental project report to the province in June.
Ottawa has struggled with varying LRT plans for years.
