Federal Budget : Gatineau-Ottawa Tram Project

Federal Budget : Gatineau-Ottawa Tram Project

The Société de transport de l’Outaouais (STO) is concerned by the lack of information about the federal government’s financial participation in the Gatineau-Ottawa tram project in the budget tabled this afternoon.

“Based on the latest signals received from the federal government, we are surprised not to find anything in the budget for this flagship project. Given the rather encouraging indications received over the past few weeks, we will meet with our partners to clarify the situation and determine whether an announcement is being planned for a later date,” indicated STO Board Chair Jocelyn Blondin. “It is quite obvious that with the strong population growth in Gatineau’s west end, we need a tram to meet the demand for public transit over the next 30 to 50 years. Studies have clearly demonstrated that need.”

In addition to being a tool for redesigning the territory, the tram project is a sustainable mobility solution that will help clear up bottlenecks in road traffic in Gatineau’s west end, and at the same time facilitate travel between the two downtowns. It is worth noting that in 2021, a $16 M interim budget was allocated by the government of Quebec to set up the Project Office and make it possible to launch certain activities, including the required financial arrangements to apply for grants and to recruit staff.

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José Lafleur
Public Affairs Manager
Customer Experience Branch
819 770-7900, extension 6450
sto.ca