No. H046/13
For release - April 19, 2013
OTTAWA – Pre-construction work began today on the Confederation Line transit project with the City of Ottawa officially handing over the site of the future maintenance and storage facility, a 16-hectare site on Belfast Road, to the Rideau Transit Group. Mayor Jim Watson, accompanied by Royal Galipeau, Member of Parliament for Ottawa—Orléans, Madeleine Meilleur, Member of Provincial Parliament for Ottawa–Vanier, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services and Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs, City Councillors and Antonio Estrada, Chief Executive Officer, Rideau Transit Group were present for the occasion.
"Our government is proud to invest in the Confederation Line project. The start of preliminary construction work is great news for Ottawa," said MP Galipeau. "This project will create jobs and economic growth in Ottawa and, once complete, the Confederation Line will cut commute times, reduce traffic congestion and result in cleaner air."
"Investing in public transit is essential to our future prosperity," said MPP Meilleur. "The Ontario government's investment in the Confederation Line is an excellent example of how transit infrastructure projects can help build our communities and our economy."
"Today is an exciting milestone for the Confederation Line project. This site currently houses aging storage structures but will soon be replaced with a state-of-the-art facility that will host the assembly, maintenance and operations of our new Confederation Line trains," said Mayor Watson. "Today is the start of the most important construction effort in our city's history. The pace of activity surrounding the Confederation Line project is increasing with construction sites across the city beginning over the coming months."
As part of its winning proposal, the Rideau Transit Group will build a world-class Centre of Excellence for vehicle assembly, maintenance and operations which will generate 100 jobs during the construction period. Once in service it will employ 50 permanent skilled trade workers and professionals.
"Rideau Transit Group is fully committed to the Confederation Line Light Rail Transit project. We will be strong community partners for at least the next 35 years," said Mr. Estrada. "I can tell you that we are very excited to begin the work in earnest. We are committed to ensuring we mitigate the impact of works on mobility and provide timely updates as we begin to ramp up activity."
Mayor Watson and Mr. Estrada took part in the official handover of the maintenance and storage facility property. The first steps at the new site will be to demolish and recycle materials from the existing buildings wherever possible. Work will then begin to build the base for the new maintenance yard and train yard.
The maintenance and storage facility is expected to be complete by 2015. Operational testing will commence in 2017 and full service will occur in spring 2018.
Funding for the Confederation Line is being provided by the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, and the City of Ottawa. The Government of Canada is contributing $600 million through the Building Canada Fund. The City will also allocate up to $161.5 million of its federal Gas Tax Fund transfers to this project. The Government of Ontario is contributing up to $600 million. In addition, the City will allocate $287 million of Provincial Gas Tax funding to the capital infrastructure. The remaining project budget funds will come from development charge revenues and transit reserves.
– 30 –
For more information:
City of Ottawa
Media contact
613-580-2450
Public inquiries
ottawa.ca
3-1-1
Patrick Searle
Minister's Office
Ontario Ministry of Transportation
Toronto
416-327-1815
Bob Nichols
Communications
Ontario Ministry of Transportation
Toronto
416-327-1158
Geneviève Sicard
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa
613-991-0700
Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons living with visual disabilities.
