“Will it get more people out of their cars? Probably not. That’s the dilemma.”

The city isn’t prepared to really change things, to make the fares more attractive to get people to travel on transit. So that’s the big question. It’s the elephant in the room.” – Chris Stoney, Carleton University, School of Public Policy and Administration “I think it’s going to have an incredible impact, which will make the city more livable and become a more pleasant place to be and a better place to work. It’s going to assist in the development of the central core. We want intensification, and we’re trying to make sure suburban sprawl is cut down. And so I think with LRT, you’re going to see improved transit links in the intensification of the inner-core phase, which will then reach out to suburban areas.” – David Collenette, former federal minister of transport and chair of the transportation committee formed by former mayor Larry O’Brien “Ottawa has been so dominated by thinking about private cars, and we do have a good bus system, but it isn’t anything as rapid as the light rail will be. It won’t work for everyone, but it will allow people to go quickly on public transit. I also think another important question is how they’re gong to link public transportation with the Gatineau side. There’s an enormous number of people who go across the river every day. I think it will enhance the reputation of Ottawa as an important capital city, especially when you think of the terms of the National Capital Commission district that, yes, makes us look like a big city that sees itself as a big city, an international capital city with things to offer visitors.” – Caroline Andrew, University of Ottawa’s Centre of Governance