Gatineau LRT

The Gatineau LRT is a planned 26 km (16 mi) light rail system proposed by the Ville de Gatineau to be located in Gatineau, Quebec as well as Ottawa, Ontario.[1] The system will be operated by Société de transport de l'Outaouais (STO), Gatineau's public transportation service. The system is planned to begin operation in 2032.[2][3] Preliminary estimates put the cost of the project at CA$2.1 billion, though this estimate does not include the Ottawa portion.[1] The Ville de Gatineau is looking to the Government of Quebec to fund 60 percent of the project and for the Canadian federal government to fund 40 percent of the project.[1]

Tramway Gatineau-Ottawa
Overview
OwnerVille de Gatineau
LocaleGatineau, Quebec and Ottawa, Ontario
Transit typeLight rail
Operation
Operation will start2032 (planned)
Operator(s)STO

Project updates

2023

In February 2023, the NDP backed the project and called upon Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party of Canada to pledge the necessary funding.[4] In March 2023, an agreement to fund various transit projects in Quebec, including Gatineau LRT, was announced by Mayor France Bélisle.[5] Between January and June 2023, four project staff members, including the director of the project, resigned from their positions, as the federal government had yet to officially announce funding of the project.[6] On June 16, 2023, it was revealed by TVA Gatineau-Ottawa that there was friction between the mayors office and the board of directors of the STO, who accused Mayor France Bélisle of interference in the project.[7]

2024

An environmental impact study is expected to take place in the winter of 2023–24 and will be followed by public consultation for each of the impacted neighbourhoods.[8]

Project timeline
  1. Studies (2011–2021)
  2. Planning (2022–2025)
  3. Preparation (2026–2027)
  4. Implementation (2028–2032)

Source (STO):[8]

Ottawa proposal

The eastern terminus of the system would be in Ottawa near Lyon Station, allowing riders to connect with the Confederation Line, with alternative plans having it terminate further east in Ottawa.[1] The system would cross the river over the Portage Bridge.[1] Although early plans called for the LRT to travel across the Prince of Wales Bridge and the Alexandra Bridge, the Portage Bridge was later identified as the best crossing for the LRT by a study conducted for STO by engineering firm WSP Global.[9] An analysis showed that connecting the system to Ottawa across the Prince of Wales Bridge would have overwhelmed Bayview Station, its originally planned terminus.[10] The Ottawa section is planned to run along Wellington Street or through a tunnel beneath Sparks Street.[1] According to a survey of Ottawa and Gatineau residents conducted by STO, 60% of respondents preferred the tunnel option.[11] On November 16, 2020, Ottawa's transportation committee granted approval for the Spark Street tunnel to be built for the Gatineau LRT, while still leaving the Wellington option open as a possibility.[12] On August 13, 2021, the National Capital Commission endorsed the idea of the tramway running down Wellington Street.[13]

Loop proposal

A group known as 'Supporters of the Loop' have proposed the creation of a rail transit loop between the downtowns of Ottawa and Gatineau which the Gatineau LRT would connect into.[14][15] The loop would run along Wellington Street in Ottawa, turn north on an undetermined street (possibly Mackenzie Avenue, Sussex Drive or Dalhousie Street), cross the Ottawa River on the Alexandra Bridge, run along Laurier Street in Gatineau, before connecting back to Ottawa via the Portage Bridge.[14] The group's supporters include former Ottawa mayors Jim Durrell, Jacquelin Holzman, and Larry O’Brien.[14] Ottawa mayor Jim Watson has said that while it is an interesting idea, his own priority is to build Stage 3 of the O-Train.[15] On November 16, 2020, Ottawa's transportation committee passed a motion requesting the federal government provide funds for a feasibility study on the transit loop and on having Wellington Street converted into a pedestrian mall.[12]

References
  1. Chianello, Joanne (May 15, 2020). "Gatineau wants to run light rail over Portage Bridge". CBC News. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  2. "STO confirms Gatineau will get light rail". CBC News. January 31, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  3. "Gatineau reveals $2.1B LRT plan, eyes 2028 launch". CBC News. June 20, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  4. "NDP backs calls for federal funding for the Gatineau-Ottawa tramway". Canada's NDP. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  5. Raymond, Ted (March 29, 2023). "Federal and Quebec governments reach agreement in principle to fund Gatineau tram project: Mayor". CTV News. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  6. ICI.Radio-Canada.ca, Zone Politique-. "Vague de démissions au bureau de projet du tramway de Gatineau". Radio-Canada.ca (in Canadian French). Retrieved 2023-06-20.
  7. Malouin, Étienne (June 16, 2023). "Une lettre de la STO qui ne passe pas pour France Bélisle". TVA Gatineau (in Canadian French). Retrieved 2023-06-20.
  8. "Project phases" (PDF). June 12, 2023.
  9. "Portage Bridge best choice for main transit link, STO says". CBC News. May 29, 2019. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  10. Willing, Jon (September 25, 2019). "Prince of Wales Bridge will never be used as a rail link, mayors say". Ottawa Citizen. Archived from the original on May 20, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  11. Porter, Kate (September 2, 2020). "Sparks Street tunnel preferred route for Gatineau tram". CBC News. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  12. Chianello, Joanne (November 16, 2020). "Sparks Street tunnel for Gatineau LRT gets committee's OK". CBC News. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  13. "NCC endorses Gatineau transit connection on Wellington Street". CBC News. August 13, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  14. Willing, Jon (October 26, 2020). "Group renews call for Ottawa-Gatineau rail loop and transformation of Wellington Street". Ottawa Citizen. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  15. Willing, Jon (October 28, 2020). "Ottawa-Hull rail loop isn't at the top of Mayor Watson's list of transit priorities". Ottawa Citizen. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
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