Ottawa to focus on public transit by 2046

Ottawa City Council has approved an updated Transportation Master Plan that prioritizes public transit over road construction. The plan is to invest $3.9 billion in transportation infrastructure by 2046, with $2.3 billion going to public transit and $1.6 billion to roads.

Key projects include the third phase of the O-Train light rail extension to Barrehaven and Kanata-Stittsville ($8.3 billion), as well as the construction and expansion of bus rapid transit (BRT) corridors along the Baseline-Heron, Cumberland, South Transitway and other routes.

New road projects will be implemented only where public transit cannot handle the load or access to new areas is required.

By 2046, Ottawa's population will reach 1.4 million people, with the number of daily trips increasing by 1.2 million. The city aims for 48 per cent of those trips to be made through sustainable modes of transport: walking, cycling, public transit and carpooling.