Ottawa’s new western light rail transit (LRT) will be fully buried under the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway, announced representatives from the city and the National Capital Commission (NCC) on Friday.
The forested areas surrounding the parkway will be maintained and a park of national significance will be developed along the shoreline of the Ottawa River, according to a press release by the City of Ottawa.
In December 2014, a working group made up of representatives from the NCC and city council began meeting to balance the NCC’s environmental and Ottawa’s budgetary needs for the development of the LRT.
“This is a historic agreement that comes as a result of a very constructive dialogue over the past 100 days. I want to thank all of the Working Group members for their hard work and creativity, which has led to the identification of this solution,” said Jim Watson, the mayor of Ottawa.
The decision clears the way to begin construction on the second stage of LRT. The group will continue meeting to resolve any further land use issues that may come up as the process continues, according to the press release.