NR: Ottawa Light Rail surges forward with federal funding

[guest]

Ottawa – Federal Transport Minister John Bairdtoday announced $600 million in funding for the City of Ottawa’s Light Rail Transit (LRT) plan, which includes a 3.2 km downtown tunnel. This welcome announcement will allow Ottawa’s LRT project to move forward without delay.
“This announcement marks the final piece of the funding puzzle for a plan that will revolutionize our city’s transit system,” said Ottawa Mayor Larry O’Brien. “We’re talking about a vision for a better Ottawa- and I’m proud to be standing here today with members of a federal government that sees the importance of realizing that vision.”
Today’s announcement follows the December 18, 2009 announcement of $600 million from the provincial government and brings the total level of senior government funding to $1.2 billion. This is the highest level of funding ever received in the City of Ottawa’s history.
In anticipation of this announcement, the City Treasurer examined a scenario of $600 million in federal funding and has confirmed that the City’s LRT plan remains affordable for Ottawa.
“This federal funding announcement is a significant milestone in bringing Ottawa’s light rail future one step closer,” said Transit Committee Chair, Councillor Alex Cullen. “With a better understanding of the funds available to us from our partners, we can now undertake the important work necessary to ensure that this project moves forward on time and on budget.”
The many benefits the City’s LRT plan will bring to Ottawa include:

• • Using standard Statistics Canada calculation methods, construction alone will create some 20,000 person-years of employment;
  • Economic activity of $3.2 billion in the City through construction alone;
  • With a redesigned bus system will yield up to $100 million in annual operating cost savings, beginning in 2019.
  • The removal of more than half the buses from the downtown core;
  • A reduction of the city’s fuel consumption by 10 million litres annually; and,
  • A net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 38,000 tonnes per year, the equivalent of removing 7,300 mid-size vehicles from the road.

Details on the City’s LRT plan can be found at ottawalightrail.ca and further benefits of the LRT plan’s implementation can be found in the project benefits case document. Tomorrow morning, staff will hold a technical briefing to provide Councillors and the media with further details relating to the affordability of the LRT plan.