The City of Gatineau unveiled an ambitious vision Wednesday for $2.1-billion light-rail line that includes two links with Ottawa’s own rapid-transit network.
The 26-kilometre rail system would link Aylmer in the west with central Plateau and cross both the Alexandra and Prince of Wales bridges into Ottawa, connecting with the city’s Confederation Line.
Gatineau would still need to secure provincial and federal funding for the project, which the municipality envisions would open in 2028.
City documents say the LRT line is meant to serve the approximately 45,000 Gatineau residents who work in Ottawa, representing roughly 38 per cent of the city’s total population. Officials expect the proposed line to reduce congestion on Gatineau’s roadways and reduce the number of STO buses heading into Ottawa by 60 per cent.
Public consultations cited by the municipality show 47 per cent of residents are in favour of an LRT line in Gatineau. City statistics project a 22 per cent population increase over the next 15 years, with a 50 per cent associated rise in mobility demands.
