Ottawa (November 10, 2008) - The draft Transportation Master Plan (TMP), the City of Ottawa’s long-term vision for transportation and transit, was tabled today at a special joint meeting of the Transportation and Transit committees. The report provides recommendations for the construction of future transit and road infrastructure throughout the city. Highlights of these recommendations include $3 billion in transit investment to build over 40 kilometres of new Light Rail Transit (LRT) and, $666 million for road projects during the early investment period.

“Council has already made a number of important decisions related to how people and goods are going to move around the city in the future,” said Transit Committee Chair, Councillor Alex Cullen. “In this, the final step in completing the TMP, we are going to build on these past decisions to ensure our residents have the best possible mobility choices now and in the future.”

The TMP recommendations include:

• Transit: An amended version of Implementation Scenario 3. Under this scenario, the City would invest approximately $2.5 billion in 40 kilometres of new light rail transit (LRT) track and vehicles to services these lines. This scenario also recommends that a further $500 million be spent on bus rapid transit (BRT) technology and additional bus lanes.
• Roads: While the draft TMP gives higher priority to investments in transit, it also recommends that the City proceed with a limited number of road projects. Specifically, projects that are necessary for planned development or that address capacity issues. Based on affordability analysis and the results of public consultation, the City is proposing that $666 million be spent on road projects during the early investment period. The final package of priority road projects is $84 million less than the list originally proposed in September.
• Cycling and Pathways: Council approved a Cycling Plan in June 2008, and the TMP has been update to include all proposed new cycling paths and facilities. Staff are preparing a Pedestrian Plan for tabling at Council in 2009 that will focus on projects that will encourage walking as opposed to the use of an automobile, and improved mobility for the disabled.

“The recommendations put forward in the draft TMP demonstrate that the City is flexible in its decision-making process, and that feedback from our residents and businesses can make a difference,” explained Transportation Committee Chair, Councillor Maria McRae. “Council now has the opportunity to review the recommendations knowing that they have been discussed by residents, and that all technical, financial and operational variables impacting the implementation of our plans have been considered.”

The draft TMP will be open for public discussion and input. Public delegations are invited to attend the joint Transportation and Transit Committee meeting on Wednesday, November 19. Council is scheduled to review and deliberate the final TMP on Wednesday, November 26.

For more information on the TMP, visit ottawa.ca/tmp or call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401).

For more information:
3-1-1