No. GC002/02For release - June 14, 2002
OTTAWA — A study to examine the expansion of transit in the City of Ottawa will move forward, thanks to $100,000 in funding from Transport Canada and $100,000 from Green Municipal Funds.
The announcement was made today by Mayor Bob Chiarelli, together with Transport Minister David Collenette and President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) John Schmal.
Mayor Chiarelli also announced that Totten Sims Hubicki Associates (TSH) and Earth Tech Canada Inc. have been selected to carry out the study. The contract is worth approximately $600,000. The City of Ottawa is contributing the balance of funding.
The rapid transit study will focus on the benefits and the costs of expanding the rapid transit service (light rail and bus) along existing and newly established corridors.
"Transit is key to developing a sustainable transportation system. The consultant team was chosen for their previous experience in the planning and development of transit systems in Canada and around the world," said MayorBob Chiarelli. "This investment today will take us closer to the City's goal of developing a truly progressive, environmentally friendly transit-oriented culture."
Transport Canada is supporting the study through its Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program. The $600 million federal program makes funds available for highway construction, intelligent transportation systems, and for initiatives which better integrate the transportation system.
"The Government of Canada is pleased to assist the City of Ottawa in finding ways to address urban congestion, reduce air pollution, lower greenhouse gas emissions and better integrate passenger transportation systems," said Transport Minister David Collenette. "The federal government's contribution to this study is one more example of our overall commitment to assist the provinces and municipalities with their responsibilities for improving urban transit."
The federal government endowed $250 million to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in 2000 to establish the Green Municipal Funds. The Funds stimulate environmental projects to cut pollution, reduce greenhouse gases and improve municipal services.
"Environmentally friendly public transportation is essential for achieving a community's long-term health, viability and quality of life," said Mr. Schmal. "We are pleased to support Ottawa's efforts to find effective strategies to cut greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality by reducing private vehicle use."
"The Government of Canada is pleased to help the City of Ottawa in its efforts to plan and find solutions to the transportation challenges of growth and polluting emissions," said Eugène Bellemare, Member of Parliament for Ottawa-Orléans. "The study supports Ottawa's commitment to manage growth and build a healthier and cleaner environment."
The study will prioritize corridors, identify appropriate technologies within specific corridors, consider frequency and ridership, and determine implementation costs.
"We are delighted to begin one of the most important transportation planning projects ever undertaken in Ottawa," said Dan Bolger, Project Manager from Earth Tech. "Public involvement will be integral to the study. Together with the City, we will be asking citizens to help develop and evaluate criteria such as technical feasibility, community health and safety, and cost to ratepayers, as well as provide feedback on alternative options."
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For more information, please contact:
Anthony Polci,Director of Communications,Office of the Minister of Transport,Ottawa, (613) 991-0700
City of Ottawa, Communications & Marketing, 580-2450
Federation of Canadian Municipalities (More information about the Green Municipal Funds is available on the FCM Web site: www.fcm.ca
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at www.tc.gc.ca/e-news and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada.
This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual disabilities.
