Gatineau reveals $2.1B LRT plan, eyes 2028 launch

Gatineauhas unveiled its ambitious vision fora 26-kilometre, $2.1-billion light rail line that will link the Aylmer and Plateau sectors toits downtownand cross two bridges to connect with Ottawa's growing light rail system.

The cityis releasingpreliminary plans today,launching a process officialshopewill bring electric, above-groundlight rail by 2028.

One line would start at the intersection of cheminEardley and boulevard desAllumetiresin Gatineau's west end and pass through 18 stations.

It would cross the Ottawa River over the Alexandra Bridge, connectingwith Ottawa'sConfederation Line at the future Rideau station.

One spur off that main linewould cross the Prince of Wales bridge, linking a station at boulevardsAlexandre-Tach and Saint-Joseph to Ottawa's Bayview station, itself a link between Ottawa's north-south Trillium Lineand east-west Confederation Line.

A second spurwould do a near-loop through Gatineau'sPlateau neighbourhood, starting at Alexandre-Tachand boulevard Saint-Raymond, then followingboulevard du Plateau and cheminVanier to desAllumetires, passing through12 stations.

The light rail linewould connect to theRapibusline at theAlexandre-Tach/Saint-Joseph station.

In its presentation, the city said it wants a reliable, efficient, environmentally friendly link between the fast-growing west end and Plateau areas and the jobs in Ottawa-Gatineau's core.

Gatineauwill now embark on nearly two years of study and consultationon theplan, and hopes to have a final design ready by March 2020.

After that would come environmental assessments, construction and the launch of the service by 2028.

Gatineaucity council has already approved the planning process, but would also have to approve anyfinal concept.

No funding plan

The project is still at its earliest stage, and it's not clear who will pay for the multi-billion dollar line.

"I don't want to get into that discussion now, we will get there," said GatineauMayorMaxime Pedneaud-Jobin.

"But I think we will find solutions because it's good for all of us."

He said he expects a funding agreement to be signed shortly.Gatineau plans to ask the federal and provincial governments to foot the majority of the bill.

Quebec Premier PhilippeCouillard, who is leading his party into an election on Oct. 1, has pledged to support a light rail line inGatineauthat would connect to Ottawa.

Pedneaud-Jobinsaid he wants to get all political parties running in the next Quebec election on-record as supporting the line.

Hull-AylmerLiberal MP Greg Fergushas long been a supporter of a light rail link between Aylmer and downtown Gatineau.

Ottawa won't pay, mayor says

The City of Ottawa owns the Prince of Wales bridge, but Gatineau and its partners will fully fund any future rail crossing, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson told his council colleaguesin an email forwarded to CBC News. He would not agree to an interview because he had not been fully briefed on the proposal.

"The approach supports both transit agencies' long term objectives of a fully integrated system, reducing the number of buses on our roads, eliminating gridlock and air pollution, and encouraging the use of public transit and active transportation," Watson wrote.

Watson toldcouncillorsthat while he supports Gatineau's preliminary plan, his own long-term transitpriority remainsgetting trains toStittsvilleandBarrhaven.

He promised Ottawa will be consulted at every stage of Gatineau's LRT study, and saidcouncil will evaluate the impact on this city's transit systemwhen Gatineaucompletes itsstudy in 2020.