City planners take their transit options road show to Ottawa's burgeoning south end Thursday night.

It's a part of the city that will have to rely mainly on bus service for the next quarter century, if the plans are adopted as is.

The fourth and final open house is scheduled for 6-8:30 p.m. at John McRae High School in Barrhaven, Thursday.

Each of the multi-billion dollar transit proposals the city has presented includes building a downtown tunnel and light rail in various forms.

The proposals also include expanded bus transitways to the east, west and southern corners of the city.

The options:

Coun. Peggy Feltmate told CTV News that Wednesday's open house in Kanata attracted good crowds, despite bad weather early in the day.

Feltmate says many of those on hand want the city to "think big" when it comes to mass transit, noting acceptance of the need for a downtown transit tunnel. She says some west-end residents are also calling for light rail service to be extended to Scotiabank Place.

Ottawa Councillor Clive Doucet, however, doubts that his colleagues will get moving on any of the plans.

"I don't see this council capable of making stuff happen," Doucet told CTV News.

Doucet is one of council's most ardent supporters of expanded mass transit; but he fears these latest options will have the same fate as the signed north-south light rail plan councillors cancelled in December 2006.

That plan was years in the making and its cancellation led a consortium of companies to sue the city.

Doucet says he doubts council will agree to a new plan during the current term, without the Ontario government stepping in to "make something happen."

Residents can have their say on the transit options - or suggest others - by calling 311 or visiting the City of Ottawa's website by March 31.

City planners say they'll announce the preferred transit option April 16. Councillors will decide how to move forward in May.