City, NCC usually in sync

Re: City won’t win the fight it picked with the NCC, July 12. As chair of the city’s transportation committee, I read Mohammed Adam’s column on the future western extension of light rail with interest and some disappointment as he failed to acknowledge some of the more productive and positive language expressed concerning relations between the city and National Capital Commission at our last committee meeting.

For example, we passed a motion on that day which directs staff to continue to work with the NCC on its concerns expressed in the motion that was approved by the NCC board on June 28.

The very text of the NCC motion is embedded into the motion that the committee approved.

Further, in the lead-up to the vote to recommend the Richmond Underground route to council, I spoke of the long and successful partnership between the city and the NCC, and our willingness to continue to work with the NCC going forward through the functional and detailed design phases — as it is at the design stage that we can get innovative and can apply all the tools and resources necessary to address both community and NCC concerns while respecting our budget.

The fact that the motion was carried unanimously speaks volumes as to the potential for joint success of this city-building endeavour. The city has its mandate, as does the NCC, but it is important to remember that the recommended corridor to extend light rail scored highest according to criteria developed by working hand-in-hand with the NCC.

I said at the meeting, while it often takes some time, more often than not, the city and the NCC do work in sync. And I am confident that will be the case for this project. KEITH EGLI, Councillor, elected representative to Ward 9 Knoxdale-Merivale, Ottawa