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Investing in Ottawa's Rapid Transit Network:
Transportation Master Plan Projects Newsletter
Summer 2009
Last year City Council overwhelmingly approved the 2008 Transportation Master Plan's (TMP) long-term vision for transportation throughout the city. The TMP supports the Official Plan's growth management strategy and identifies the rapid transit network as well as road, pedestrian and cycling facilities required to serve a projected population of 1.14 million people by 2031.
Light rail transit (LRT) will have more impact on the shape of the city than the establishment of the Greenbelt. These are exciting times in the City of Ottawa and we want to ensure that you have the latest news on these significant projects. As a result, we will be distributing a newsletter quarterly to provide up-to-date information on TMP projects. This first newsletter will focus on Council's directions for transit implementation including:
Downtown Ottawa Transit Tunnel Planning and Environmental Assessment Study
The downtown tunnel is the key component of a faster, more reliable and affordable transit solution for Ottawa.
The Downtown Ottawa Transit Tunnel Planning and Environmental Assessment (DOTT) study was initiated concurrent to the TMP process. As part of Council's approval of the TMP, the scope of the project was expanded to Tunney's Pasture in the west and Blair Station in the east.
The first open house for the DOTT study was held February 26, 2009 where participants were introduced to the project's planning objectives and provided with an overview of alignment and station opportunities along the route. The 150 attendees were asked to provide feedback during the open house or online.
Following the open house and consultations with key stakeholders, the Downtown Ottawa Transit Tunnel (DOTT) Planning and Environmental Study (Interim Report) - Corridor Alignment and Station Alternatives was presented to Transit Committee on May 6, 2009. The interim report focused on the:
- Technically preferred alignment, station locations and preferred station layout
- Most prominent issues raised during the consultations and staff response to these issues
- Next steps in the tunnel study including key consultations, presentations to Committee and Council, as well as the process for the environmental assessment portion of the study.
The recommendations were approved by City Council on May 27, 2009. A second open house is planned for June 24, 2009 to solicit public input on the LRT maintenance facility and storage yard.
For more information, please visit ottawa.ca/tunnel or contact Dennis Gratton, Senior Project Engineer, Transportation Planning, at 613-580-2424, ext. 27890 or e-mail DOTT@ottawa.ca.
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Western Corridor LRT Planning and Environmental Assessment Study
The development of the Western Corridor LRT between Baseline and Tunney's Pasture stations (or Bayview Station) will provide a key link to residents traveling from the west and southwest to downtown. A candidate corridor along the Ottawa River Parkway is identified in the TMP as the second increment of investment. A detailed planning and EA study will be undertaken to determine how best to provide light rail service in the Western Corridor. The study will examine all feasible corridors for a rapid transit facility, including the Ottawa River Parkway and Carling Avenue. Issues and concerns including cost and passenger benefits, aesthetics, accessibility to pathways and the Ottawa River, integration with abutting communities, land use and impacts on natural and cultural environments will all be addressed.
Transit Committee will consider the Statement of Work for the Western Corridor on June 17, 2009. The consultant selection process will begin shortly thereafter. It is anticipated that this study will take approximately 26 months to complete.
For more information, please contact Mona Abouhenidy, Program Manager, Transportation Strategic Planning, at 613-580-2424, ext. 26936.
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Ottawa LRT Technology Forum
The City will be hosting an LRT Technology Forum to discuss light rail transit technology options in the development of the new transit vision.
The Forum will bring together manufacturers, operators and transit experts from across North America to discuss various types of transit systems, best practices and lessons learned, with the objective of identifying optimal rail technology solutions for Ottawa. This event will include presentations from manufacturers, operators and the City as well as discussions with City Councillors, provincial and federal officials and a number of key stakeholders.
Residents are invited to participate in discussion groups and provide comments at the open house or online at ottawa.ca/lrt-forum.
Ottawa LRT Technology Forum
Saturday, June 20
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Ottawa City Hall
Jean Pigott Place
A series of background papers will be available on the website in early June and a report detailing specific technology choices is scheduled to be presented to Transit Committee and Council in August 2009.
For more information, please visit ottawa.ca/lrt-forum or contact Colin Simpson, Transportation Planner, Transportation Planning, at 613-580-2424, ext. 27881.
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TMP Investment Strategy
Council directed staff to review existing financial tools governed by the Planning Act and Municipal Act and to explore and assess other potential funding opportunities. The City retained the services of KPMG who have undertaken a complete review of all financial tools that have been used in other jurisdictions and have provided a preliminary assessment on their applicability for Ottawa's TMP and other top priority projects. This review also includes an estimated assessment on the potential revenue yield each tool could generate.
Staff are currently reviewing this study and will provide a report containing recommendations to Transit Committee in fall 2009.
For more information, please contact Rob Mackay, Manager, Strategic Projects, at 613-580-2424, ext.22632.
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Procurement Strategy
City staff met with Infrastructure Ontario (IO) following Council's direction to examine a range of procurement options and explore any other existing and potential fiscal tools. As part of that process IO has agreed to undertake a preliminary value for money assessment. This process is a systematic, evidence-based assessment of the overall performance of a program's value-for-money that will determine whether savings and efficiencies could be achieved using an Alternative Finance Procurement (AFP) process. Infrastructure Ontario's AFP model uses private financing to build vital infrastructure, on time and on budget, while ensuring appropriate public control and ownership.
Once sufficient project information is submitted to IO, this assessment takes approximately eight weeks to complete. Should the preliminary value-for-money assessment utilizing AFP demonstrate best value, staff will bring forward a recommendation to Council on IO's involvement in the procurement and project implementation assignment. This report will also speak to the project scheduling under an AFP process and key milestones going forward.
An initial report on IO's analysis is scheduled to be considered by Transit Committee in August 2009.
For more information, please contact Rob Mackay, Manager, Strategic Projects, at 613-580-2424, ext. 22632.
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Federal/Provincial Funding Request
The City has the necessary financial capacity to undertake Phase 1 of the TMP provided the federal and provincial governments confirm their intent to provide matching funding.
On March 16, 2009, the Mayor and the City Manager sent a joint letter to federal and provincial government officials requesting an agreement in principle in support of Phase 1 of the City's transit network. This agreement in principle would provide for a high-level funding commitment for the cost of Phase 1 of the rapid transit network, which totals $3.2 billion. The City continues to follow up with federal and provincial partners at all levels on this request.
The City also submitted its list of priority ready-to-go infrastructure projects including several transit items, for consideration and support in April under the Building Canada Stimulus Fund. On Friday June 5, 2009 the Province of Ontario and Government of Canada announced a funding commitment that once partnered with City funds will make an investment of approximately $375M to address Ottawa's infrastructure needs.
This welcome news will provide for a significant boost to our local economy, creating thousands of jobs over the next two years, and addressing the priorities of our community.
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