The city’s East/West Light Rail environmental assessment is at the stage of having a preliminary recommended route within the approved corridor between Walkley road and Hunt Club road from St. Laurent boulevard and the Rideau River;
The preliminary route follows Walkley road from St. Laurent to the Airport parkway as this route is nearest to the most potential train users;
After the Airport parkway the preliminary route goes south beside the parkway to the hydro lines and then west along the hydro line corridor to Riverside drive and then to the Rideau river;
The alternate route from the Airport parkway and Walkley drive goes along Walkley drive to Riverside drive then south on Riverside to the Hydro lines;
The Walkley/Riverside route is technical feasible but scored slightly fewer points then the Parkway/Hydro Lines route;
The Walkley/Riverside route would serve more potential users as there are residents on both sides of Walkley and Riverside plus it would be near Money’s Bay Park and facilities;
The Walkley/Riverside would avoid a crossing of McCarthy (McCarthy ends at Walkley) and bridge at the Via/CN rail line as the Walkley rail bridge can accommodate both the road and the East/West Light Rail line.
Although it is not certain there will be an East/West Light Rail line, it is important that we make our views known now before decisions are made.
That the HCCO request the city to utilize the Walkley/ Riverside corridor for the proposed East/West Light Rail line.