Residents fight proposed Ottawa River Parkway light rail route

Light rail tracks along the shore of the Ottawa River would ruin the city's waterfront, says a group of residents which is fighting the proposal.

About 40 protesters carrying signs that read "Save the Parkway" showed up Monday night at an open house at the Nepean Sportsplex about possible routes for Ottawa's proposed light rail network.

One aspect up for discussion is how to connect the city's downtown to Lincoln Fields station in the west end. One option is to run the tracks along the shore of the Ottawa River, but Colleen Moore, who helps lead the protest group, believes that route would impede access to prime parkland.

"People go out there and they enjoy the peacefulness of the river," she said. "Why completely deface it with tracks, and make it more difficult for people to access the green space?"

Inside the open house, city staff told residents the parkway is just one of many options.

But co-chair of Save the Parkway, Wayne Critchley, said the city seems too focused on putting tracks along the river.

"I felt sandbagged," he said. "I felt that it had just been kind of imposed on us very quickly, without adequate preparation."

Ottawa Transit committee chair Alex Cullen said he's glad the residents are expressing their concerns to local politicians and should keep doing so. But he said residents should look at the details of all possible options before passing judgment.

"Well, I think people are over-reacting," said Cullen, who represents Bay ward, the area of the city that includes a large length of the parkway.

He added that it's premature to picture a waterfront marred by gravel beds, fences and overhead wires, and many European cities have been able to incorporate light rail into their park spaces.

"At the end of the day, we all want the same thing — good rapid transit and in a way that doesn't destroy the Ottawa River Parkway."