The Baseline Road Rapid Transit Corridor is a project that will bring about significant changes to our community. However, those changes will come at a high cost, with potential impacts including increased noise, vibration, traffic congestion, and safety issues. More so, this project could result in the loss of green spaces that contribute to our community's quality of life. As residents, we have not been adequately involved or informed about these proposed changes. Therefore, we seek to halt the development of the Baseline Road Rapid Transit Corridor and the “Baseline/Greenbank Transit priority intersection improvements”, until such concerns are effectively addressed and the residents' voices are factored into the planning process.

Take a stand for our community. Sign the petition to prevent the implementation of the Baseline Road Rapid Transit Corridor.

As outlined in a recent letter in the Ottawa Citizen, some 173 homes, 44 commercial, and 10 government properties will be impacted. There will be 15 expropriations. Trees will disappear. A strip of land will be taken from the Central Experimental Farm.

The budget estimate was $161 million in 2019 dollars. A quarter of a billion dollars is more likely.

The goal, according to the city, is improved east-west transit. Once complete, rush-hour bus riders will enjoy “an estimated saving of 6.5 minutes between Baseline Station and Heron Station.”

The current  situation has changed vastly since the project was conceived:

1. Light rail was just a concept in 2012. When the LRT is finally running smoothly, it should reduce car traffic.

2. The Queensway will be a continuing mess. Lanes will be added to Highway 417 between Highway 416 and Maitland Avenue, starting in 2025.

3. Construction of a rink on LeBreton Flats and a hospital on Carling Avenue will create new downtown bottlenecks.

4. Many public servants now work from home part-time, a major workplace evolution not anticipated in 2012. Traffic patterns are changing.

More information regarding this project can be found at: 

https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/public-engagement/public-engagement-project-search/baselinegreenbank-transit-priority-intersection-improvements#section-a9e988e0-b3e6-46f6-aec8-71309e2c2c9f

The effects of these changes will have far reaching on-going negative impacts to all Ottawa residents who travel both on Baseline as well as on Greenbank. This costly proposal is based on 2012 data/projections so is very outdated. There will be only one lane open to car traffic during construction which will be a minimum of 2 years. However, what is very alarming is that car travel will be permanently losing the third lane along Baseline.  Traffic is already very heavy especially during peak hours along this corridor but with the present third lane projected to be designated bus lanes only, on a permanent basis, one can only imagine the increased chaos.
This multi million dollar project needs to be put on hold and reassessed based on current traffic projections and data as well as impact studies on bordering communities. The timing for any city construction needs to be considered. Not only is this project costly and poorly designed but construction is to begin in 2025.
 As Tax payers, we deserve the right to have a voice and be part of the process.