Ottawa eyes $740,000 purchase of decommissioned rail corridor in west end
The city of Ottawa is set to purchase a former CN Rail corridor in the west end, which could be used for transportation or recreational purposes in the future.
A report for the Finance and Economic Development Committee recommends purchasing the 32.5 kilometre Beachburg Subdivision corridor for $740,000.
The corridor starts in the western Greenbelt, and extends northwest through Kanata terminating at Morris Island Drive, just east of the Ottawa River. It passes south and west of Department of National Defence Facilities, near existing employment and residential areas of Kanata, and has seven bridges and 52 culverts.
"The rail corridor has been decommissioned, has not been used for many years, and the railway tracks and ties have been removed," says the report for the Oct. 5 FEDCO meeting.
"The corridor is used and maintained by the West Carleton Snowmobile Trails Association (WCSTA), which has a 20-year license with CN that expires in 2038."
Staff say purchasing the corridor to Morris Island Drive enables the city to provide a potential connection to a location near the conservation area.
"The acquisition of the corridor lands and bridge will provide an opportunity for the city to improve the road network at this location and upgrades to the Carling Avenue Cycling project without having to independently acquire the land," said the report.
The city of Ottawa's Official Plan Rights-of-Way Protection Policy states that the city will purchase surplus railway rights-of-way and consider purchasing railway corridor properties as they become available, and reserve them for future transportation and infrastructure purposes.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ottawa public school board, 3 Toronto-area school boards launch lawsuit against social media giants
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and three school boards in the Toronto-area have launched legal action against social media giants, accusing them of "disrupting students' fundamental right to education."
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 mm among weather alerts in effect for 7 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres, air quality advisories and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Ukrainian child asylum seekers in St. John’s get class of their own
Roughly 50 children will gathered in a St. John’s classroom for the first time on Saturday for unique lessons on Ukrainian language, culture and history.
Donald Trump assails judge and his daughter after gag order in N.Y. hush-money criminal case
Donald Trump lashed out Wednesday at the New York judge who put him under a gag order that bars him from commenting publicly about witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and jurors in his upcoming hush-money criminal trial.
A fight to protect the dignity of Michelangelo's David raises questions about freedom of expression
Michelangelo's David has been a towering figure in Italian culture since its completion in 1504. But in the current era of the quick buck, curators worry the marble statue's religious and political significance is being diminished.