Stage 2

Stage 2 will change the way we move around Ottawa. http://www.stage2lrt.ca/ ----------------- Mayor Watson – Mayor’s Message/Descriptive Transcript [Mayor Watson, speaking from his office at City Hall.] Hi, I’m Jim Watson, Mayor of the City of Ottawa, and it gives me great pride to welcome you to Stage 2. [Images of light rail transit construction in Ottawa.] As we speak, we are building the Confederation Line, the 12.5-kilometre first stage of Ottawa’s world-class light rail transit system. [Computer animation of Confederation Line.] This system will reduce commute times and take riders downtown, quickly and reliably. [Map of Confederation Line showing station locations.] When the Confederation Line launches in 2018, light rail will connect Tunney’s Pasture in the west, to Blair Road in the east, with thirteen beautiful stations . . . [Computer animation of light rail vehicle assembly.] and a best-in-class vehicle that is being assembled right here in Ottawa. [Mayor Watson, speaking from his office at City Hall.] But stage 1 of LRT is just the beginning. [Map of Stage 2, showing three planned light rail transit extensions] In 2013, City Council approved a new Transportation Master Plan, which called for an expansion of our rail network to the east, west, and south, together. [Video of locations that will be connected by Stage 2: Shenkman Centre, Bayshore and South Keys shopping centres.] Called Stage 2, together these three extensions will add almost 30 kilometres and 19 new stations to our rail network, all by 2023. [Mayor Watson, speaking from his office at City Hall.] And we want to start the construction of Stage 2 right after we open the Confederation Line. [Video of locations connected by eastern extension: Place d’Orléans, Jeanne d’Arc signage, La Cité, residential areas] In the east, Stage 2 will extend light rail transit to Place d’Orléans, bringing 95 per cent of all Orléans, Blackburn Hamlet and Beacon Hill residents within five kilometres of rail. [Video of Parliament as camera moves west followed by images of Bayshore and Algonquin College.] Heading west, Stage 2 will extend the Confederation Line to Bayshore and Baseline at Algonquin College. [Video of O-Train vehicles passing on Trillium Line. Image of Vimy Memorial Bridge and Gladstone street sign.] Stage 2 will also expand the Trillium Line south to Bowesville and, supporting the fast growing communities in Riverside South, while adding stations along the way at Gladstone and Walkley. [Computer animation of light rail vehicle entering station] When we launch Stage 2 in 2023, Ottawa’s light rail network will stretch more than 40 kilometres and boast 32 stations. [Video of locations connected by Ottawa’s light rail transit system: South Keys, Rideau Centre] We will have connected our post-secondary institutions, six shopping centres, countless hotels, important arts and cultural destinations and the communities in which we live. [Mayor Watson, speaking from his office at City Hall.] The connection will be fast, comfortable, reliable and 70 per cent of Ottawa residents will live within five kilometres of this light rail transit system. [Video of OC Transpo buses.] Our public transportation system is already the most used for a city of its size in North America. [Video of people getting off O-Train at Bayview station. Video of of O-Train on Trillium line.] Light rail transit will help us build on that, making it faster, easier and more environmentally sustainable to get around in our city. [Images of Ottawa: Cycling, skating on canal, Byward Market] We will be able to see and do more, connect with more people, and create a city that is a global model for quality of life. There is no better investment to make in our city. [Mayor Watson, speaking from his office at City Hall.] Today, I am asking you to support this vision for Ottawa and join me as a champion of Stage 2. And I am asking our provincial and federal partners to help us make Stage 2 a reality. I’m ready for Stage 2. Are you?