The National Capital Commission and the city of Ottawa have reached a  big compromise on the future of an extended LRT in the capital.  The solution is all underground. The NCC and the city have agreed to a tunnel under the Sir John A MacDonald Parkway at a cost of roughly $900 millon dollars.

The two sides had different ideas as to where they wanted the western leg of the LRT to go.  This option saves important park space for the city and moves the project forward. For the NCC, it preserves an unimpeded view of the water.

Starting at Dominion station, the train would dip underneath the parkway, resurfacing at Pinecrest Creek. 

‘That’s a pretty decent trade off,’ says local resident Jordan Wells, ‘I don't mind having a better view of the water, that's for sure.’

The solution came about at the tail end of a 100 day deadline.  That's how long a working group involving the NCC and city staff gave themselves to figure out how to resolve an impasse over the LRT expansion. 

‘We’ve achieved a significant breakthrough,’ city manager Kent Kirkpatrick said at a joint news conference this morning involving the NCC and the city.

The breakthrough means the city gets to protect Byron Linear Park and Rochester Field.

‘We weren't prepared to tear up Byron Linear Park or the green corridor through Rochester Field,’ Deputy Mayor Mark Taylor said at the news conference, ‘both treasured parkland and now with this agreement, both will have official parkland status.’

The NCC keeps its view of the shoreline and all its mature trees.

‘You’ll see how the realigned roadbed provides 38% more greenspace between the parkway and the Ottawa River,’ says Dr. Mark Kristmanson, the CEO of the NCC, ‘It improves pedestrian and cycling parkways and adds more crossings that connect the shorelines to the community.’

The plan is actually to re-align the Sir John A MacDonald Parkway.  It may be slightly straightened in some parts, the median will be somewhat smaller and the road will be shifted slightly further south, away from the river to create what will become a massive linear park between the War Museum and Britannia.  The rail line will be fully buried in order to create a new “stacked” transportation corridor to maximize the amount of continuous green space through the corridor and along the waterfront.

Residents in the area met the idea with mixed reviews.

‘Under the road is probably a better choice,’ said Hayward Peirce, ‘but I’d sooner it still be on Carling because there's more population density to deal with there but I guess it's a compromise of compromises, so to speak.’

‘If it’s going to make it easier to get around the city, that’s awesome,’ added Hillary MacDougall.

The city is confident it can do all this within its $980 million dollar budget.

‘With the train under the roadbed,’ explained Kirkpatrick, ‘there is no longer the need for the same depth for ground cover for plantings. This simple change to raise the elevation to grade saves tens of millions of dollars.’

Taxpayers will get their say on this.  There's a public meeting March 30th and an open house at the end of April.