Cumberland City Councillor Stephen Blais, an ardent proponent of light rail to Orléans, is pleased to announce that a future LRT link has cleared it’s first and substantial hurdle.

“An Orléans LRT connection will sharply decrease commute times for East End residents,” says Blais. “Orléans has the highest ridership of public transit in the City – we’ve bought into public transit and it’s time for the City to buy into LRT for Orléans.”

The 2008 City of Ottawa Transportation Master Plan does not envision LRT to Orléans until sometime after 2031.

However, City Council approved a motion by Councillor Blais to undertake a feasibility study to provide LRT solutions to Orléans at the earliest opportunity within the transit affordability model.

“I am pleased that my colleagues understand the merits of undertaking the work needed to make LRT to Orléans a reality,” adds Blais. “While this complex process will take time, I am confident Orléans and Cumberland taxpayers will now realize the benefits of LRT.”Facts:

• Orléans is the largest of Ottawa’s suburban communities.
• With 35% of trips using public transit Orléans has by far the highest ridership of any of the suburban communities and outpaces the City average of 20%.
• Orléans has the lowest projected employment growth and household to job ratio of any of the suburban communities.
• The 2008 City of Ottawa Transportation Master Plan does not envision LRT to Orléans until sometime after 2031.