A joint investment of C$163.5 million (US$119.4 million) between the government of Canada and the government of Québec will fund the planning phase of the structuring electric public transit project between the west of Gatineau and downtown Ottawa, Québec, Canada.
The structuring project will meet the present and future mobility needs of residents of the cities of Gatineau and Ottawa by offering a reliable, high-performance public transit service that promotes connectivity to employment, commercial and university hubs.
“This joint investment finances the essential studies for a structuring transportation project in Gatineau, aimed at meeting the present and future mobility needs of Gatineau and Ottawa residents with a reliable, high-performance public transit service. By improving access to jobs, businesses and post-secondary educational institutions, it will also boost the attractiveness of surrounding neighborhoods, encouraging the creation and densification of housing,” said Sean Fraser, Canada's minister of housing, infrastructure and communities.
“Our government continues to invest in structuring projects to support sustainable mobility throughout Quebec. Thanks to this investment, our teams will be able to continue their work to deliver the best project to meet the needs of the population. The eventual implementation of an electric public transit system in the region will enhance sustainable mobility and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Deputy Premier of Quebec and Minister of Transports and Sustainable Mobility Geneviève Guilbault.
Two routes are being analyzed for the Quebec portion of the project:
- The northern axis, which includes Chemin Vanier, then du Plateau and Saint-Raymond boulevards.
- The southern axis, which includes des Allumettières and Wilfrid-Lavigne boulevards, then Chemin d’Aylmer.
From the intersection of Saint-Raymond and Alexandre-Taché boulevards, the two axes will share a common section, which will continue on Alexandre-Taché and de Lucerne boulevards, then on Laurier Street. It will cross the Ottawa River via the Portage Bridge and end on the Ottawa side.
The government of Québec is investing C$98.1 million (US$71.6 million) through the Programme d'aide gouvernementale aux infrastructures de transport collectif. The government of canada is investing C$65.4 million (US$47.7 million) through the Public Transit Infrastructure Stream of the Canada-Quebec Integrated Bilateral Agreement on the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, which supports the planning, building, expansion and upgrading of urban and rural transit networks.
The C$98.1 million (US$71.6 million) granted by the government of Quebec and the C$65.4 million (US$47.7 million) granted by the government of Canada will be used to further studies on the Quebec portion of the project, including the environmental impact assessment, the preliminary design, as well as planning activities related to the engineering of the preparatory work. Their conclusions will be used to determine, among other things, the number and location of stations and the choice of rolling stock, as well as to specify the timetable and potential cost for construction of the project.
“This is great news for the people of Gatineau. It's an absolutely essential project for the city of Gatineau, a structuring project for transportation, regional development and the fight against climate change. The investments announced today underline the commitment of all levels of government to this project and I thank them for it,” said City of Gatineau Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette.
