Tunnel or no tunnel?

Recently, a local media outlet contacted all of the candidates running for city council to ask them their position on the transit tunnel for downtown Ottawa.

Here is my response:

It is a particularly difficult question for the residents of Ward 9, Knoxdale-Merivale, because the current LRT plan does not touch our ward. However, a downtown tunnel will help alleviate traffic issues in the city core especially during rush hour when many of the residents living in Ward 9 are returning home from work, in their cars.

Its the beginning of a new century and like other major metropolitan cities in North America, this is a good time for the City of Ottawa to plan and lay the foundation for a competitive, sustainable and prosperous city in the 21st Century. There is no doubt that a tunnel will be needed at some point in the future if it's not needed already, so while it is an expensive endeavor, I believe it's important to get mega-projects like this right, from the beginning. A tunnel will never be as inexpensive as it is now.

Therefore, I believe a tunnel is necessary and must be a priority in any transit plan for the City of Ottawa. However, the current deep tunnel plan may be more expensive than is necessary and I would like to see other options, fully costed, put on the table before the City makes its final decision.

Please let me know what you think about this issue by either posting a response in the comments box below or by writing to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Thank you,

James O'Grady
Candidate for Ottawa City Council
Ward 9: Knoxdale-Merivale