City councillors told OC Transpo officials that many Ottawa residents are getting frustrated with the disruptions caused by ongoing construction of the LRT expansion.
“I’m trying to be Pollyanna to everybody, saying ‘This is going to be great, I can’t wait for Trillium to be open,’ but five years of construction has been part of the community, so I have to pass that on,” Bay Coun. Theresa Kavanagh told the meeting of the city’s Light Rail Sub-Committee Nov. 29.
Ottawa’s transit service has been working on the expansion of the LRT in the east and west ends of the city since 2019. Line 1 will operate between Trim Road and Algonquin station, Line 3 between Trim Road and Moodie Drive, along with Lines 2 and 4 going south from Bayview Avenue.
At Friday morning’s meeting, Richard Holder, the director of transit engineering, would not commit to an opening date for the east-west expansion but said their target is for the middle of summer 2025.
In the west, construction along Richmond Road on the cut-and-cover tunnel is causing traffic detours and chaos.
“The impact of Stage 2 in the west is enormous,” Kavanagh said.
Kavanagh said LRT construction in the west end is happening practically in residents’ “backyards,” in communities like Woodpark.
“When a quiet side street that we used to close off for hockey games is now an arterial road, and people are speeding down it, it’s pretty frightening and it needs extra attention,” Kavanagh said. “We need to consider these communities. Safety is the top concern.”
Kavanagh said the lack of safe and secure access is also impacting local businesses along Richmond Road.
“I have to speak out on behalf of small businesses on 911 Richmond Road (a plaza near the intersection of Woodroffe Avenue), who suffered a great deal and may lose business due to the impact,” Kavanagh said.
“You literally have people crying, and it’s just scaring them,” she said.
Orléans West-Innes Coun. Laura Dudas said LRT construction in the east end is also impacting residents in neighborhoods like Convent Glen-Orléans Wood.
“This construction, while it will bring immense benefits with the LRT and its extension, had a disruptive impact – a destructive impact on residential communities,” Dudas said.
“I’m going to implore OC Transpo and all of the construction groups to be as understanding and as accommodating to our communities as possible. This is so impactful to our quality of life in the east end.”
Despite all of the frustration, Stittsville Coun. Glen Gower encouraged residents to focus on the big picture, emphasizing the potential the LRT will have on movement in the city once it is complete.
“We’re in a little bit of very short-term pain for something that’s going to absolutely transform our city,” Gower said.
In the meantime, OC Transpo will be hosting a “dress rehearsal” of Lines 2 and 4 on Saturday Nov. 30 for staff and their families. OC Transpo’s general manager, Renée Amilcar, said the aim is to simulate service conditions with passengers.
“This will allow us to monitor the system while it’s being used by a large group of people who have never been on Lines 2 and 4 before,” Amilcar said.
Transit Services will be hosting a technical briefing on Dec. 6 to discuss the Trillium Line’s trial results and the opening plans for Lines 2 and 4.
