City unveiling $725-million light-rail plan

The winning bid to build Ottawa's north-south light-rail transit line will be made public at city hall on Wednesday.

For most city councillors, it will be their first real look at the design and financial details of the $725-million proposal, the city's most expensive infrastructure project ever.

The unveiling comes just two days after a coalition of business groups and public transit advocates called on council to delay construction until after this fall's municipal election, saying the project has been rushed and there are too many unanswered questions about it.

• FROM JUNE 12, 2006: Group wants brakes on light-rail project

Some councillors have already made up their minds about the plan. Knoxdale-Merivale Coun. Gord Hunter has been opposed to the project from the start. He says a silent majority of residents is starting to voice some serious concerns.

"What's in it for us, other than seeing our taxes go up? Where's the benefit? It's just not there," Hunter said.

Other councillors are already sold on the idea.

Jan Harder's growing Bell-South Nepean Ward stands to benefit greatly from light rail, especially since the recent announcement that the north-south line would extend into the heart of the ward's Barrhaven community.

She says the move to suspend construction until after this fall's election is just politicking.

"I am not going to allow an election year to derail a seven-year process. If I don't think it's a good plan, then certainly I'll make that decision."

Even those councillors who say they haven't made up their minds were skeptical about the plan going into Wednesday's meeting. Coun. Diane Deans, for instance, wants to see the complete financial details, and wonders whether changes made along the way might have jeopardized the project.

"What impact will [the project] have on ridership, and, at the end of the day, is this worth the money that we're going to spend?"

Councillors and the public will have about a month to consider the bid before it goes to a vote.

That's not enough time for some, but too much for others who are already issuing dire warnings that a delay could cost taxpayers an extra $80 million.