Introduction

Proponent

Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton

Location

Regional Municipality of Ottawa Carleton, along the CPR corridor

Type

Transit

Reference Number

9878

Contact

Environmental Approvals Branch, 416-314-8001

Toll free 1-800-461-6290

Current Status

Environmental assessment: approved, June 21, 2000

Project Summary

The purpose of the undertaking is for the construction and operation of a Light Rail Pilot Project on an existing Canadian Pacific Railway Line (CPR) and the construction of up to eight Light Rail Pilot Project transit stations.

Project History

  • Environmental assessment: approved
    • Date submitted:  September 17, 1999
    • Expiry of public comment period for Ministry Review: March 1, 2000
    • Decision date: June 21, 2000
  • Terms of reference: approved
  • Date submitted:  October 8, 1998 (PD 4/11/98)
  • Expiry of public comment period:  December 4, 1998
  • Decision date: June 16, 1999

Environmental Assessment 

The Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton (RMOC) is seeking approval for the construction and operation of a Light Rail Pilot Project on an existing Canadian Pacific Railway Line (CPR) and the construction of up to eight Light Rail Pilot Project transit stations. The length of the corridor is approximately 10 km and runs from the West Transitway in the north to Hunt Club Road in the south. The Terms of Reference for this proposal was approved on June 16, 1999 and the environmental assessment was submitted to the Ministry for review and comment on September 17, 1999.

The proposed undertaking is intended to support and enhance Ottawa-Carleton Transpo’s bus operations and the Transitway, which will remain the primary rapid transit system. As a first step in implementing the rail-based rapid transit components of the transit network, the RMOC has initiated the Light Rail Pilot Project on the CPR corridor to establish the feasibility of wider use of light rail in Ottawa-Carleton. Transit in the CPR corridor was identified as an important component of the transit network in order to serve both the post-secondary education market at Carleton University and the extensive employment markets at Carling Avenue/Booth Street and Confederation Heights. As a pilot project, the purpose of the undertaking is to determine the potential for rail based rapid transit, implemented on existing rail lines to help meet the forecasted growth and targets in public transit rider ship for the next 25 years, as identified in the Region’s Official Plan and Transportation Master Plan. The government review of this EA was completed on January 26, 2000, at which time the review was released for public comment. This project was approved on June 22, 2000.

Terms of Reference

Description of the undertaking being considered

The Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton (RMOC) proposes to undertake an Individual Environmental Assessment (EA) of a Pilot Light Rail Transit project, including stations, along the CPR corridor.

In July 1997, RMOC Council adopted a new Regional Official Plan and Transportation Master Plan that included, as one component, 40 km of diesel-powered rail-based rapid transit along existing rail lines 1. This rail transit network is intended to support and enhance OC Transpo’s bus operations and the Transitway, which will remain the primary rapid transit system. As a first step of implementing the rail-based rapid transit components of the transit network, the RMOC has initiated the Light Rail Pilot Project on the CPR corridor to establish the feasibility of wider use of light rail in Ottawa-Carleton.

Location/Study area

The project is located entirely within the RMOC. The Pilot Project would use the existing CPR corridor known as the Champagne Corridor (hereafter referred to as "the CPR corridor") from the West Transitway in the north to Hunt Club Road in the south. Generally, the study area for the environmental assessment will include the lands adjacent to the corridor as well as the lands needed for and adjacent to any new infrastructure required (e.g. station locations). Specific study areas will be based on the land requirements for the new infrastructure and the geographic extent of those effects anticipated to be most significant (i.e. air quality, noise and vibration).