Ontario Construction News staff reporter
New funding was announced this week to support construction of a new LRT station at the Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW).
The city says the design of the station will be closely coordinated with the Airport Authority to construct the airport passenger terminal expansion, including the entrance and lounge directly, together.
Construction is underway and is expected to be completed in summer 2022
“Today’s announcement and the confirmation of funding for the Airport Terminal Station will help us fulfill our commitment to build the station and ensure that YOW’s passengers, airport employees and surrounding communities are well served by reliable, predictable light rail service well into the future,” said Mark Laroche, president and CEO, Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport Authority.
“Connecting the airport with the city centre and beyond by rail will be an important selling feature as the aviation and tourism industries recover and we work to bring major events and conferences back to Canada’s Capital Region.”
The federal funding is $6.4 million for the construction of a light rail transit (LRT) station at the airport. The total cost of the airport LRT station is $16.9 million. The Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport Authority is the project manager and will provide the remaining funding for the project.
“The construction of the LRT station will ensure that YOW is better connected to our growing National Capital Region, making our community more resilient and sustainable, said Ottawa South MP David McGuinty, calling the project “critical infrastructure that will create hundreds of jobs and help with our economic recovery.”
The airport LRT station will be a three-story elevated structure connecting the airport terminal at the north end of Level 3 to the LRT station platform. The station will provide fully accessible connectivity for all users of the LRT who travel to and from the Ottawa Airport. Construction of the station is underway and is expected to be completed in summer 2022.
In addition, the Airport Authority will receive $5.7 million from Transport Canada’s Airport Relief Fund to help maintain continued airport operations and essential air services.
“The construction of the light rail transit station at the Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport will reduce traffic congestion and improve accessibility and connectivity to the airport by offering an environmentally sustainable direct link between downtown Ottawa and the airport,” said Omar Alghabra, minister of transport.