By far the MOST IMPORTANT issue facing us within the City of Ottawa at this point in time is the ill \u2013 conceived LRT project. In far too many ways it is our \u201celephant in the room\u201d, a project that has been a mistake from the start. Let\u2019s have the City for once tell the truth \u2013 that is a \u201cSubway Project\u201d. Without a doubt this project was merely an attempt by a group of municipal politicians to create a \u201clegacy\u201d for themselves \u2013 i.e. \u201cwe created Ottawa\u2019s Subway\u201d.<\/p>\n
History of the Issue<\/span><\/p>\n We have all watched in astonishment at the incompetence of Council as this transportation \u201cmega project\u201d has unfolded. As usual, our representative, Mr. Thompson, flip-flopped with Council on this issue. First he voted for the \u201cnorth \u2013 south route\u201d, then when some public opinion turned against it, he voted with Larry O\u2019Brien and the other councilors against it in 2006. (Ottawa LRT Timeline<\/a> )<\/p>\n What was the problem at the time? The project had met its approvals and been signed off on. However, Bob Chiarelli and others acted so miserably and with such secrecy about the process that it sparked concerns. We can recall Bob Chiarelli even swearing at councilor Glen Brooks in discussions regarding the project. Unfortunately, only a very few people were included in the \u201cinner circle\u201d of the details regarding the project. Therefore, this \u201ccloud of incompetent bureaucracy\u201d led to the cancellation of the project at a cost of approximately $36.7 million dollars to us, the municipal taxpayers.<\/p>\n In many ways, the \u201cnorth \u2013 south route\u201d would have been better for our area. It not only brought public transportation closer to our area, but also, it included the completion of the mad needed Strandherd \u2013 Armstrong bridge. Indeed, we would have been traveling over this bridge for some time now if our representatives had not cancelled the project. Also, it would have came in at a cost of less than half of the current undertaking. (North \u2013 South LRT a lost opportunity<\/a>)<\/p>\n It now appears that primarily due to the fact that they had essentially nothing to show for all the cost and time spent pontificating regarding the \u201cnorth \u2013 south route\u201d that they came up with this new \u201clegacy attempt\u201d. Moreover, prior to the election in 2010, I can recall Jim Watson not even being sure he wanted this project. Now he and his band of misfit Councillors have brought into this so deeply they are learching into additional \u201cphases\u201d of this nonsense.<\/p>\n An Inconvenience<\/span><\/p>\n This is definitely the wrong project at the wrong time for us as taxpayers and the Cities transportation system. First, it will not take one<\/span> car off our clogged roadways leading in and out of the city whenever it is completed. Moreover, it will cause significant disruption to the transportation system while it is being constructed as the proposal calls for part of the existing transit way to be ripped up and buses re-routed up to the already crowded Queensway. Indeed, many people will be extreamely inconvenienced on their trips for perhaps years as this mess is being constructed. (LRT to create highway havoc in Ottawa<\/a>) Furthermore, the end product will greatly increase the inconvenience and cost of any trip into the City. We now know that it will be a \u201cseparate\u201d cost for the LRT part of the trip outside of the bus portion. Many people will be forced to get off the bus, get on to the LRT, and then get back on the bus for the rest of the trip. So not only will the cost of the trip be increased, but also, the time involved in the trip will undoubtedly be lengthened. Moreover, the image of everything connecting exactly on time is only a “pipe dream”.<\/p>\n Structural Concerns<\/span><\/p>\n During the 2010 election, I clearly stated in my campaign information my concerns regarding this project. As a geography major and someone who has studied geological structures, I expressed my deep reservations about this undertaking at all in the stated area, As you know, Ottawa is part of the St. Lawrence Lowland fault line and sesmic activity including earthquakes of varying degrees can and will occur. In my opinion, digging down to this depth in this particular area can only compromise the compacting that has occurred over time. (A monorail such as the Chicago El would have made more sense considering this).<\/p>\n In February of this year, the first signs of problems have unfortunately already \u201creared their ugly head!\u201d As you know, a giant sink \u2013 hole developed at the corner of Laurier and Waller. Although the City tried to deny it, this was clearly caused by the boring that was taking place underneath for the LRT. What did the planners think the name Sandy Hill meant??? This is merely the first of many potential problems that could occur with this project. Buildings near the dig already have felt the ground shaking from the boring. As you know, they are attempting in some areas to dig under high-rise buildings that already exist. Under these buildings I have concerns with regard to the fibre \u2013 optic cables, water mains, septics and so on being compromised. More delays and cost over-runs will undoubtedly occur. Please trust me, the LRT during the next few years could potentially evolve into Ottawa\u2019s version of the \u201cBig Dig\u201d (please refer to Boston\u2019s \u201cBig Dig\u201d<\/a> to see what can occur with a project of this magnitude).<\/p>\n Costs<\/span><\/p>\n Now we come to the most significant aspect of this for us as taxpayers, the various costs involved with this project. To this council and Mr. Watson, money is no object, 2.1 BILLION<\/strong><\/span> is just the start<\/span> of their LRT dream!<\/p>\n In fact, they are even now already spending our money on making plans for the 2nd and 3rd phases of this plan. Money they don\u2019t have!<\/strong> (council rubber stamps<\/a>) Mr. Watson, in interviews, says that he hopes<\/span> to have money for this from different levels of government. Absolutely no<\/span> mention is ever<\/span> made of our<\/span> role in the costs of these projects! Did we elect them asking them to do this? Have they ever consulted us?<\/p>\n I thought it might be interesting to try to calculate and demonstrate what 2.1 BILLION<\/strong><\/span> actually means. As an example, if you placed $1 dollar (a Looney) on the table every second of every day (i.e. 60 loonies a minute 3,600 an hour and so on), it would take you approximately 66.5<\/strong> years of doing this to reach 2.1 BILLION<\/strong><\/span>. As you can see, this is our<\/span> money and it represents a lot<\/span> of it!!<\/p>\n
\n(Many road closures planned for LRT build<\/a>)<\/p>\n
\n(Massive sinkhole halts Ottawa lrt tunnel<\/a>)<\/p>\n