August 23, 2011
OTTAWA, ONTARIO -Federal, provincial and municipal representatives gathered today to celebrate the extension of the Southwest Transitway, a four-kilometre stretch located between the Fallowfield and Marketplace transit stations in Barrhaven. This project will significantly improve transit service reliability and efficiency and will provide needed new transit services in one of Ottawa’s fastest growing communities.
“Public transit projects like this keep our cities moving, protect our environment and make it easier for families to get where they need to go,” said Pierre Poilievre, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and Member of Parliament for Nepean-Carleton. “Our Government is proud to have contributed to the extension of the Southwest Transitway, a project that has created jobs, stimulated the local economy in Ottawa, and improved the efficiency and reliability of public transit in one of our city’s fastest growing communities.”
“The Government of Ontario is proud to have played a part in bringing essential transit services to even more Ottawa communities,” said Yasir Naqvi, Member of Provincial Parliament for Ottawa – Centre and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Education. “Our support for this project has helped to provide residents with a safer, more efficient and enjoyable commute each day.”
“The new Southwest Transitway is great news for the residents of Barrhaven and for the entire city,” said Councillor Steve Desroches on behalf of Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson. “Transit customers are benefiting from a faster trip and we are already seeing a ridership increase at the Longfields and Marketplace stations, which means fewer cars on our roads. Also, the beautiful station design and public art perfectly reflect our increasingly vibrant community.”
The extension includes construction of new Transitway stations at Fallowfield, Longfields and Marketplace, new underpasses at Strandherd Drive and the future Highbury Park Drive and a new multi-use pathway adjacent to the Transitway. Also included is the expansion and resurfacing of the Fallowfield Park and Ride lot and improvements to the Fallowfield Station Transitway building, which will be completed this fall.
In addition to the official opening, two commissioned public artworks titled Bellwether by artist team Erin Robertson and Anna Williams and Currents by photo and video artist Cheryl Pagurek were also celebrated.
The governments of Canada and Ontario are each contributing one-third of total eligible project costs, up to a maximum of nearly $16.25 million each. The City of Ottawa is contributing the balance of the total eligible project cost of nearly $48.75 million.
Federal funding for this project comes from the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, which is providing funding to over 4,100 infrastructure projects across the country and is managed by Infrastructure Canada.
This project supports Building Together, Ontario’s long-term infrastructure plan to repair, rebuild and renew the province’s roads and highways, bridges, public transit, schools and postsecondary institutions, hospitals and courthouses. Since 2003, the McGuinty government has created and supported 600,000 jobs and invested $62 billion in infrastructure. Through Building Together, Ontario will continue to make significant investments in public infrastructure, starting with an investment of more than $35 billion over the next three years.
Pierre Poilievre, MP for Nepean-Carleton, is joined by his colleagues, MPP Yasir Naqvi, and Councillor Steve Desroches at the official opening of the Southwest Transitway Station in Barrhaven on August 23, 2011.
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For additional information about investments in infrastructure, visit www.creatingjobs.gc.ca.
For further information about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
For more information on how Ontario is revitalizing its infrastructure, visit ontario.ca/infrastructure.
| Vanessa Schneider Director of Communications Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities 613-991-0700 Office of MPP Yasir Naqvi Jackie Choquette 613-302-2603
City of Ottawa Media contact
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