(Appearing in the June 7, 2006 edition of the Ottawa Citizen)

Re: Critics try to derail the train, June 2.

Before I follow columnist Ken Gray’s advice on light rail to “build it,” I want to know precisely what I am voting to build. Until the specific proposals are released on June 14th we can’t be sure exactly what is planned.

We do know that the proposals will be different from the Rapid Transit Expansion Plan Council approved in 2003. The fear is that as the project has been expanded. costs have grown to the point where other transit projects will have to be delayed.

At the end of 2005, there were 101,356 people in Kanata, Stittsville and Bells Corners. Yet these communities do not have a rapid transit route that goes all the way downtown.

Barrhaven, with 51,700 people, already has a rapid transit route that runs all the way downtown. For most people in Barrhaven, the existing transitway provides faster service than they can expect from light rail.

The light rail route to Barrhaven was not supposed to be built until 2020. Extending the transitway from Pinecrest to Bayshore, which will help provide a rapid transit link all the way from Kanata to downtown, is an immediate priority.

Building a light rail line extension we don’t need until 2020 makes no sense, if it means postponing a rapid transit route to the west end that was first identified as an immediate need in 1998.

Peggy Feltmate, Councillor
Kanata Ward

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