On the eve of a crucial vote on light rail, the city says the company that wins the bid for the project will have to invest hundreds of millions of dollars to build and maintain the light rail system for the first 15 years it's in operation.
"The report says between (300) to 400 million dollars in essence to guarantee the operation of the whole system for 15 years is going to be covered," Mayor Jim Watson said Wednesday.
That money is factored into the $2.1 billion budget. While the winning bidder will have to come up with the cash, the city will pay the money back in increments over the next 15 years.
The city will also pay out about $2 million to losing bidders. In exchange, the city will be able to keep the ideas and plans submitted in their proposals.
"This is part and parcel of the bidding process. We did it last time, every other municipality does it," Watson told reporters.
To save money on the light rail project, the city is opting for a revised plan that calls for a shallower tunnel along Queen Street instead of Albert Street.
The train stations will also be less elaborate with smaller platforms. However, those platforms may be expanded in the future if ridership warrants it.
"The initial intention of the stations was quite ambitious in terms of the size and scope, the aesthetics, and everything else. And I think there's a reality check that comes in," Coun. Rainer Bloess said.
City council will vote on whether to go ahead with the light rail project on Thursday.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's John Hua
