Group wants brakes on light-rail project

Group wants brakes on light-rail project
CBC News

A coalition of business groups and transit experts wants Ottawa city council to put the brakes on the $725-million construction of the north-south light-rail line until after this fall's municipal election.

The call to halt the project came at a news conference on Monday morning, two days before the public release of details of the winning bid for the project, and just two weeks before Ottawa city council is to vote on the plan.

The group includes Ottawa's Chamber of Commerce, several neighbourhood organizations representing hundreds of local businesses and public transit advocates who have, until now, been closely allied with city officials on the plan.

FROM JUNE 1, 2006: Light rail costs veering off track

Construction on Ottawa's biggest — and most expensive — infrastructure project to date is supposed to begin this fall.

But a growing chorus is saying not so fast.

"I think there's a general feeling that the whole decision-making process has been rushed through without enough public consultation, without enough public knowledge, and that there's some very serious concerns about the plans as we know them," said Hume Rogers, a downtown hotel manager who heads a group of concerned business owners on Albert and Slater streets.

Joining the business-related groups in the coalition are Transport 2000, Heritage Ottawa, even Friends of the O-Train — organizations that are in favour of light-rail transit, but say they need to know more about this particular plan.

Though not affiliated with the coalition, mayoral candidate Terry Kilrea has also been calling for a freeze on the project. He's even launched a website to gather support and plans to present councillors with a petition this week.

He says they and Mayor Bob Chiarelli had better listen.

"This is becoming such a major issue that this is going to cost some councillors re-election if they continue on with this train that nobody knows what the cost is going to be," said Kilrea.