City councillors complained Friday of “destructive impacts” on communities and “jarring” disruption of daily life by rail construction in a meeting where municipal managers gave an update on the Stage 2 LRT project.
Transit staff presented the update to the city’s light rail sub-committee, bringing news of several promising developments on a project that will dramatically expand the city’s rail network. But the meeting also drew complaints from councillors whose constituents’ lives have been severely affected by rail construction.
Much of the focus was on Line 1, which runs through the heart of downtown, and is being expanded in the east, west and south. In the east, construction is progressing on five new stations that will extend the line from its current terminus at Blair Road all the way to Trim Road on the edge of Orléans.
Richard Holder, the project’s director of engineering services, said he couldn’t give a specific opening date for the extension, but that the city is “looking at the middle of summer.”
Completion of that work will be welcome news for east-end councillors Laura Dudas (Orléans West-Innes) and Tim Tierney (Beacon Hill-Cyrville), both of whom lamented the impacts that construction is having on their wards.
The new eastern segment of the LRT is being built in the median of Hwy. 174, which has caused a significant number of lane closures and reductions throughout the project.
“This construction, while it will bring immense benefits, has had destructive impacts on residential communities,” said Dudas. She asked transit staff to “be as understanding and as accommodating to our communities as possible.”
In the west, Bay Coun. Theresa Kavanagh said her ward has been greatly disrupted by the construction of the cut-and-cover tunnel that will carry trains under the Byron Linear Park. That work coincides with a significant overhaul of nearby Richmond Road, all of which has made for a major disruption of the neighbourhood.
“The impact of Stage 2 in the west is enormous,” said Kavanagh. “It’s jarring, and it’s changing side streets into arterial roads.”
Nevertheless, the ongoing construction has led to significant progress. Holder said almost all the new track in the west end has been laid, from Tunney’s Pasture station to the Confederation Line’s new twin termini — Moodie station near Bells Corners and Algonquin station in Nepean. Once the rails and the overhead wires that power the trains have been installed, testing could commence by the summer.
Despite all the complaints about Stage 2, Stittsville Coun. Glen Gower said it’s important to focus on the final product. He effused: “This is the most transformational project our city has ever had.”
The first substantial portion of Stage 2 to be completed will be the new Trillium Line, which is due to reopen after more than four years of upgrades. The route runs from Bayview to Limebank stations, past Carleton University and including a new spur line to the Ottawa airport.
An official date for opening Trillium Line won’t be announced until Dec. 6, but the upgraded and extended route will carry its first passengers during a “dress rehearsal” on Nov 30.
