The City of Ottawa is close to choosing its preferred company to build the city’s light-rail system and will be taking that choice to the public starting Dec. 5.

In a memo to council, city manager Kent Kirkpatrick said they’re close to chosing which of the three construction and maintenance proposals they’ll be recommending to city staff.

That report will be made public on Dec. 5, the same day a series of public consultations will be launched at Ottawa City Hall.

The report will come before council Dec. 19 with hopes of starting construction in early 2013.

The full public consultation schedule is:

  • Dec. 5 to 19 at Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Ave West (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
  • Dec. 6 at the Rideau Centre, 50 Rideau Street (3 to 9 p.m.)
  • Dec. 7 at Ben Franklin Place, 101 Centrepointe Drive (5 to 9 p.m.)
  • Dec. 10 at the John G. Mlacak Community Centre, 2500 Campeau Drive (5 to 9 p.m.)
  • Dec. 11 at the Gloucester Shopping Centre, 1980 Ogilvie Drive (3 to 9 p.m.)
  • Dec. 12 at the Walter Baker Sports Centre, 100 Malvern Drive (5 to 9 p.m.)
  • Dec. 13 at Place d’Orléans Shopping Centre, 110 Place d’Orléans Drive (3 to 9 p.m.)
  • Dec. 14 at Bayshore Shopping Centre, 100 Bayshore Drive (3 to 9 p.m.)
  • Dec. 17 at Shenkman Arts Centre, 245 Centrum Boulevard (5 to 9 p.m.)

Three groups made submissions to the city in September in hopes of building and maintaining a new east-west light rail system for Ottawa.