Transit plan neglects south end(Thursday, November 15, 2007 byJake Rupert, The Ottawa Citizen) -- South-end councillors are angry that a list of $450 million in short-term transit priorities being recommended by city staff doesn't include anything for their growing communities - and they are gearing up to force the issue next week. The report recommends completing and extending the city's bus transit way in the eastern and western parts of the city as well as Barrhaven. It also includes reconfiguring Rideau Street between Sussex Street and King Edward Avenue, creating a transit route along Baseline Road between Woodroffe Avenue and Bank Street, and improving stations across the city. However, there is nothing to improve transit links to south Gloucester and Riverside South, where the city is directing growth. These areas would have been served by the now-defunct north-south light-rail plan. It's a situation that angers Gloucester-South Nepean Councillor Steve Desroches, Gloucester-Southgate Councillor Diane Deans and others. "It's like we've decided to abandoned these areas as far as transit goes," Mr. Desroches said. "Residents were promised that there would be rapid transit service, and we're letting them down." Mr. Desroches, Ms. Deans and Kanata Councillor Marianne Wilkinson were doubly angered yesterday because an extension of the current O-Train into the area was recommended in August. But city staff say they don't want to go ahead with the extension right now because the question of what vehicles to run in a downtown tunnel needs to be sorted out first. The councillors say when the report is tabled next week, they will bring forward a motion directing the O-Train be extended immediately. © The Ottawa Citizen 2007 |