After hours of discussion and debate on Wednesday, Ottawa Council formally approved the proposed route for the downtown transit tunnel in a 15-6 vote.
The underground section of the city’s planned light rail route spans much of the north end of Centretown, stretching east from LeBreton Flats and under Albert Street to Metcalfe Street. There, it veers north to meet with the Rideau Centre below Rideau Street — unlike the current Transitway, which is aligned with Laurier Avenue and the Mackenzie King Bridge.
From the Rideau Centre the tunnel is to extend south to the University of Ottawa before ending south of the current Campus Station on the Transitway.
The light rail line will then continue on the surface to Blair Road in east-end Ottawa.
There will be two stations in Centretown. The “Downtown West” stop is planned between Lyon and Bay streets, and the “Downtown East” station is to be located at O’Connor Street.
There will also be underground stations at the Rideau Centre and the University of Ottawa.
Somerset Ward Coun. Diane Holmes voted in favour of the plan.
“The longer we delay the more costly it will be,” she said. “Let us move forward.”
Those who voted against the route included Kitchissippi Coun. Christine Leadman and Rideau-Vanier Coun.
Georges Bédard, whose wards will house key parts of the light rail line.
“We have to reconsider the whole tunnel concept,” said Bédard, whose constituency includes the proposed stations at the Rideau Centre and the University of Ottawa. “There seem to be more negatives than positives.”
Leadman preached caution.
“I’m not in a hurry to make a mistake,” she said.
“It doesn’t make any sense in Centretown,” argued Bédard, “It services Laurier Avenue West poorly.”
The route established today will be the subject of an environmental assessment this summer.