The Gatineau LRT (Tramway Gatineau-Ottawa, or TramGO) is a planned 26 km (16 mi) light rail system proposed by the Ville de Gatineau to be located in Gatineau, Quebec as well as Ottawa, Ontario.[1] The system will be operated by Société de transport de l'Outaouais (STO), Gatineau's public transportation service. The system is planned to begin operation in 2032.[2][3] Preliminary estimates put the cost of the project at CA$2.1 billion, though this estimate does not include the Ottawa portion.[1] More recent estimates are upwards of $3.5 billion.[4] The Ville de Gatineau is looking to the Government of Quebec to fund 60percent of the project and for the Canadian federal government to fund 40percent of the project.[1]
Project updates
2023
In February 2023, the NDP backed the project and called upon Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party of Canada to pledge the necessary funding.[5] In March 2023, an agreement to fund various transit projects in Quebec, including Gatineau LRT, was announced by Mayor France Bélisle.[6] Between January and June 2023, four project staff members, including the director of the project, resigned from their positions, as the federal government had yet to officially announce funding of the project.[7] On June 16, 2023, it was revealed by TVA Gatineau-Ottawa that there was friction between the mayors office and the board of directors of the STO, who accused Mayor France Bélisle of interference in the project.[8] In July 2023, the city confirmed its support for the project.[9]
2024
An environmental impact study is expected to take place in the winter of 2023–24 and will be followed by public consultation for each of the impacted neighbourhoods.[10] In late March 2021 TVA Gatineau-Ottawa reported that the federal government had confirmed it would fund the pre-construction portion of the project.[11] However, there was no direct mention of funding for the project in the 2024 federal budget, which the STO described as "concerning".[12] La coalition S’allier Pour le Tramway called it a "slap in the face for the region", and the interim mayor of Gatineau, Daniel Champagne, said he was "extremely disappointed".[13] On June 27, 2024, the Government of Quebec and the Government of Canada announced $163.5 million in funding for the planning of the tramway between Gatineau's west end and downtown Ottawa.[14]
The eastern terminus of the system would be in Ottawa near Lyon Station, allowing riders to connect with the Confederation Line, with alternative plans having it terminate further east in Ottawa.[1] The system would cross the river over the Portage Bridge.[1] Although early plans called for the LRT to travel across the Prince of Wales Bridge and the Alexandra Bridge, the Portage Bridge was later identified as the best crossing for the LRT by a study conducted for STO by engineering firm WSP Global.[15] An analysis showed that connecting the system to Ottawa across the Prince of Wales Bridge would have overwhelmed Bayview Station, its originally planned terminus.[16] The Ottawa section is planned to run along Wellington Street or through a tunnel beneath Sparks Street.[1] According to a survey of Ottawa and Gatineau residents conducted by STO, 60% of respondents preferred the tunnel option.[17] On November 16, 2020, Ottawa's transportation committee granted approval for the Spark Street tunnel to be built for the Gatineau LRT, while still leaving the Wellington option open as a possibility.[18] On August 13, 2021, the National Capital Commission endorsed the idea of the tramway running down Wellington Street.[19]
Loop proposal
A group known as 'Supporters of the Loop' have proposed the creation of a rail transit loop between the downtowns of Ottawa and Gatineau which the Gatineau LRT would connect into.[20][21] The loop would run along Wellington Street in Ottawa, turn north on an undetermined street (possibly Mackenzie Avenue, Sussex Drive or Dalhousie Street), cross the Ottawa River on the Alexandra Bridge, run along Laurier Street in Gatineau, before connecting back to Ottawa via the Portage Bridge.[20] The group's supporters include former Ottawa mayors Jim Durrell, Jacquelin Holzman, and Larry O’Brien.[20] Ottawa mayor Jim Watson said that while it was an interesting idea, his own priority was to build Stage 3 of the O-Train.[21] On November 16, 2020, Ottawa's transportation committee passed a motion requesting the federal government provide funds for a feasibility study on the transit loop and on having Wellington Street converted into a pedestrian mall.[18]
