Rapid transit for Aylmer

Lakeview Terrace Residents’ Association president shows openness to the tramway solution

In coming months, Aylmer will face an important crossroad when the STO unveils its plans to develop rapid transit for the city’s west end.

This spring, Hull-Aylmer MP Greg Fergus boldly suggested building a tramway from Aylmer towards the east by running tracks along Aylmer Road. Such a plan would certainly have an impact on many residents, especially those who live in the Lakeview Terrace neighbourhood, a community located next to Aylmer Road.

“We are keeping abreast to what the STO will propose this fall for the future rapid transit system,” said Jocelyn Plourde, Lakeview Terrace Residents’ Association President. “I’m certainly not an expert in this field, but what I’m very much hoping for is that the STO agrees to carry out a proper comparative analysis between buses and tramways. What I’m worried about is that the STO will make an analysis that will simply state that they need more buses in Aylmer. I hope they won’t take as an example the most expensive tramway construction project in history and compare it to the cheapest expansion of bus routes in history.”

Mr Plourde stated that if it turns out that a tramway project is “much, much” more expensive than adding additional buses, he would likely favour the bus option. However, if the price difference between the two projects is somewhat comparable and the tramway option generates more advantages, then it becomes rather “interesting to consider.”

Mr Plourde notes that, currently, the service from Aylmer towards the east needs to be improved. “Certain things were proposed and they have the potential of improving the service, but as for the long-term projects for the west end, they seem rather weak. The city spent close to $250 million for the Rapibus in the east end of Gatineau and I’m hearing that for the west the STO will simply add more buses. Is this really the long-term plan?!”

The STO will host public consultations to discuss the rapid transit system for the west in the near future. No date has been scheduled regarding the consultations. Stay tuned.