Downtown Ottawa Transit Tunnel

Light rail transit from Tunney’s Pasture to Blair Station, including a downtown tunnel

Identifying a solution from the core out has guided the development of a new transit vision for Ottawa. A transit tunnel through the downtown is the key feature of the new Rapid Transit Network, and is among the priority projects approved by Council by a vote of 22-2 on November 28, 2008.

The tunnel will bring a faster, more efficient, environmentally friendly and world-class - transit system to Ottawa.

Notice of Completion of Environmental Project Report

The Project

The City of Ottawa has completed an Environmental Project Report in accordance with Ontario Regulation 231/08 for the Downtown Ottawa Transit Tunnel (DOTT): Tunney’s Pasture to Blair Station via a Downtown LRT Tunnel.

The City of Ottawa is proposing a new 12.5 km electric light rail transit (LRT) line from Tunney’s Pasture Station in the west to Blair Station in the east via a downtown transit tunnel. Thirteen stations are proposed, four of which are in the 3.2 km tunnel which will be located under downtown Ottawa between Bronson Avenue and the University of Ottawa. The remaining nine stations will be located at-grade within the existing Transitway corridor, which will be converted from bus rapid transit to electric light rail transit technology. To support operation of the line, a new maintenance and storage facility is also planned to accommodate a fleet of new electric light rail vehicles. This facility will be located at Belfast Road, west of St. Laurent Boulevard and south of the existing VIA rail corridor.

Public consultation formed an integral part of the planning of the DOTT project. Public consultations during the preliminary planning stage of the project were held on February 26, June 22 and October 26, 2009. A Public Open House was held during the environmental assessment stage of the project on February 23, 2010. Meetings with stakeholders representing agencies, businesses and the general public were held throughout the course of the planning and environmental assessment stages of the project.

The Process

The environmental impact of the DOTT project was assessed and an Environmental Project Report prepared according to the transit project assessment process as prescribed in Ontario Regulation 231/08, Transit Projects and Greater Toronto Transportation Authority Undertakings.

The Environmental Project Report for the DOTT project is now available for a 30-day review period starting June 11, 2010 on the project website: www.ottawalightrail.ca and at the following locations:

Locations for 30-day Review Period

There are circumstances where the Minister of the Environment has the authority to require further consideration of the transit project, or impose conditions on it. These include if the Minister is of the opinion that:

• The transit project may have a negative impact on a matter of provincial importance that relates to the natural environment or has cultural heritage value or interest; or,
• The transit project may have a negative impact on a constitutionally protected Aboriginal or treaty right.

Before exercising the authority referred to above, the Minister is required to consider any written objections to the transit project that he or she may receive within 30 days after the Notice of Completion of the Environmental Project Report is first published.

Interested persons are encouraged to review this document and provide comments by July 10, 2010. Comments and concerns may be directed to the project contacts listed below. If you have unresolved concerns, you have the right to submit an objection to this transit project to the Minister of the Environment no later than July 10, 2010 (135 St. Clair Avenue West, 12th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M4V 1P5, Fax: 416-314-7337, E-mail: Minister.moe@ontario.ca Attention: Minister of the Environment).

Although not required, a copy of the objection is requested to be forwarded to the Director and project contacts listed below.

Director
Environmental Assessment & Approvals Branch
Ministry of the Environment
2 St. Clair Avenue West, Floor 12A
Toronto, ON M4V 1L5
Attn: Kevin Plautz, Project Officer
Email: kevin.plautz@ontario.ca
Phone: 416-314-7213 or 1-800-461-6290
Fax: 416-314-8452

Dennis Gratton, MCIP, RPP
Manager, Rail Planning
Infrastructure Services and Community Sustainability
Rail Implementation Office
City of Ottawa
110 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, ON K1P 1J1
Tel: 613-580-2424 ext. 27890
E-mail: dennis.gratton@ottawa.ca

Under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Environmental Assessment Act, unless otherwise stated in the submission, any personal information such as name, address, telephone number and property location included in a submission will become part of the public record files for this matter and will be released, if requested, to any person.

First published: 11 June 2010

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