Ottawa transit planners are busy at work mapping out a blueprint to get buses off downtown streets and to better move people to and from every corner of the city by 2031.
The plan, as detailed exclusively to CTV, involves converting the current bus transitway to a rail-based system from Baseline Station in the west to Blair in the east. It also calls for a tunnel downtown and a light rail extension further south.
"We're going to have in front of the citizens of Ottawa a transit plan that will take public transit well into the next level of efficiency and effectiveness," said Coun. Peter Hume, chair of the planning and environment committee.
The plan would call for riders to get to Barrhaven and Kanata, Orleans and Navan by switching from light rail to buses that would travel along a new transitway still to be completed.
Total cost of the plan is close to 3.6 billion.
Some councillors say the price tag may seem hefty, but it could be manageable if split over 25 years and between all levels of government.
Vice chair of Ottawa's transit committee, Coun. Marianne Wilkinson, wants to see some focus on a regional rail network similar to the Toronto's GO transit system, with each municipality paying based on how many stops it has.
"We know we have a demand for this system in places like Kemptville, Arnprior, Almonte, Carleton Place," Wilkinson said.
"Ottawa can't afford all that, but if we had a system that we could share, it would help a lot of people in the surrounding communities who work in Ottawa."
However, Ottawa's deputy city manager Nancy Schepers cautions nothing is set in stone yet.
"We will present all the information to councillors and they can kick the tires, so to speak, and really understand what's the best decision for this city," said Schepers. "Our planning period is into 2031 but this will shape the city 100 years from now. Essentially this is a generational decision; it's a city-building decision."
International experts have reviewed the plan and like what they see. It's set to be made public in early March and then debate can begin. The final plan is set to be completed by spring 2009.
With a report from CTV's Chris Day
