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The following rebuttal was submitted in response to David Reevely’s Dec. 20 column critical of a plan to widen Highway 417:

Here we go again: another critical investment in Ottawa’s transportation infrastructure criticized by Ottawa Citizen columnist David Reevely.

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This time, Mr. Reevely suggests it’s a bad idea for the provincial and federal governments to widen Highway 417 because then more cars would use it. Also, the project is unnecessary because we’re building a train. And finally, he contends, the money could be used elsewhere. On footbridges, for example.

It’s important to remember that the province’s role is to work with the city and the residents to build a transportation system that helps move people around the community. It may be difficult for those who walk to work downtown to appreciate commuting by other means from longer distances.

I suspect people driving on the 417 during rush hour will be thrilled to learn the highway will be widened to accommodate the increased traffic. I also suspect drivers are pleased with the train line being built. Once complete, those who can make the switch to the train, will. Others, for a variety of reasons, won’t. Successful cities such as Ottawa need transportation options (roads, transit, active transportation) and that is exactly what the provincial Liberal government is delivering.