Diane Allingham with Carol Workun, Executive Director & Nick Masciantonio, Board Chair

Courtesy of Councillor Katherine Hobbs

Dear Neighbours,

Today we announced a refined design for the western extension of the Confederation Line LRT which serves Kitchissippi. I have secured $80 million in design changes including burying the line near residences, enhancing access to the pathways, and a new green roof on Cleary Station. The changes go a long way toward a plan that works for Kitchissippi residents. Please be sure to watch this video to learn all about the design for this critical piece of city transit infrastructure for our community:

How did we get here?

Delivering transit from Lincoln Fields to the Transitway trench has never been resolved and has relied on using the NCC’s Sir John A MacDonald Parkway for decades.

In 2012 we presented a series of options and we heard from residents that the they did not want rail on the Parkway or the Byron Linear Park.

On April 25th, 2013 we presented the City’s preferred solution and heard your feedback. We value this feedback and it has guided the changes we are announcing today.

What we heard

On April 25th, we had a 5 hour open house where we heard loud and clear many residents’ top concerns about the line:

• We are going to see trains running through our backyards
• We will be able to see Cleary Station and it will be very noisy
• We are going to lose our pathways along the Parkway
• There will now be further restrictions to access the Parkway
• There will be significant tree loss around Dominion Station
• I won’t use light rail, it is only a rapid line is for Kanata and not local residents

How we’ve responded

Working with City staff and our consultants over the last eight weeks, we’ve addressed these issues head-on with a series of changes to the design of the line:

• Residents will not be able to see any light rail vehicles from their homes as they will be buried and covered over, blending into the existing landscape
• Cleary Station will be covered with a green roof
• Cleary Station will be a gateway for pedestrians to access the network of pathways on both sides of the Parkway via a new grade separated crossing
• All pathways will be maintained and improved
• The light rail line will be extended underground for another 700 metres, eliminating the noise and visual intrusion of the train while improving the landscape and access to the adjacent Parkway lands
• Dominion station will be relocated over the existing trench and will be upgraded to a full station, improving access for Westboro, Westboro Beach and Richmond Road businesses
• The new station at Cleary gives 2900 residents in McKellar Park and Westboro with direct and under 10 minute rail service to downtown within a 5-10 minute walk of their home

What’s in it for you and your neighbours?

• New access to the rapid transit network, providing a new station at Cleary for McKellar Park and a much improved station at Dominion for Westboro, Westboro Beach and Richmond Road
• Underground service through residential areas, eliminating noise and visual pollution issues, as well as improving landscaping and maintaining river views for all
• New safer grade separated access to the pathways on both sides of the Parkway at new gateways at Dominion and Cleary stations

Where do we go from here?

On Monday, June 17th from 3 to 8 PM we will be holding a drop-in open house at City Hall where you can have a face to face conversation with myself, other Councillors and City staff about any issue related to the Western LRT extension. I hope to see you there.

On July 10, Transportation Committee will vote on the improved design and this public forum will allow you to let the committee members know your views on this new plan.

The City’s Western LRT website has more information.

I look forward to hearing from you as we move forward with this process and continue to improve the plan for our LRT in Kitchissippi communities.

Thanks,

Katherine

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