A forum for Ottawa residents concerned about the proposed construction of light rail on Byron Avenue.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Ottawa Citizen Editorial on western light rail corridor
The Citizen recently gave a boost to the Carling Avenue route, while also suggesting it might be time to rethink the entire idea of the western extension. Ottawa Citizen editorial
Thank you for setting up a forum through which local residents directly impacted by and potentially benefitting from the various Byron-Richmond options can debate, discuss, and learn more about the plans. It is valuable to hear the thoughts, sermons, and encouragement from those who have been informed for longer than we have. However, it IS our back yard, and it is time for the city and all interested bloggers and poundits to invite and welcome us to the conversation! Label it "NIMBY-ism", perhaps, but wouldn't you rather have an informed and engaged local community? Happy to be part of the broader debate!
I really think that the citizens of Ottawa need to take the NCC to task over this issue. Alternate routes are going to cost many times more and are going to compromise the ability of the route to bring people in from the far reaches of the city in a fast manner. The space in question is already a highway, has questionable value as an integral part of Ottawa's national character and has ample space to add an LRT line while maintaining much of the flora and greenspace. I'm not sure why the Citizen is suggesting capitulation when federal, provincial and municipal tax payers are going to be footing the bill for the NCC's opaque decison making.
Thank you for setting up a forum through which local residents directly impacted by and potentially benefitting from the various Byron-Richmond options can debate, discuss, and learn more about the plans. It is valuable to hear the thoughts, sermons, and encouragement from those who have been informed for longer than we have. However, it IS our back yard, and it is time for the city and all interested bloggers and poundits to invite and welcome us to the conversation! Label it "NIMBY-ism", perhaps, but wouldn't you rather have an informed and engaged local community? Happy to be part of the broader debate!
ReplyDeleteI really think that the citizens of Ottawa need to take the NCC to task over this issue. Alternate routes are going to cost many times more and are going to compromise the ability of the route to bring people in from the far reaches of the city in a fast manner. The space in question is already a highway, has questionable value as an integral part of Ottawa's national character and has ample space to add an LRT line while maintaining much of the flora and greenspace. I'm not sure why the Citizen is suggesting capitulation when federal, provincial and municipal tax payers are going to be footing the bill for the NCC's opaque decison making.
ReplyDelete