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Approving the ambitious $3-billion plan to extend light-rail service by 2023 was a historic moment for Ottawa, Mayor Jim Watson said Wednesday.

“After years and years of debate, we’re actually moving forward to get the train going farther east, farther west and down south,” he said, adding the work will build on the success of the Confederation line currently under construction.

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Council’s unanimous approval means the city can formally move ahead with its funding requests to other levels of government and submit a trio of environmental assessments — one each for the three extensions — to the province for approval.

Councillors also agreed to transfer $7 million to the stage 2 LRT project account so staff can proceed with preliminary implementation plans.

Phase two would see:

• The Confederation line extend west by 13 kilometres from Tunney’s Pasture station to Baseline and Bayshore stations, with 10 new stations, and east from Blair station to Place d’Orléans with four new stops. A further extension to Trim Road, at an added cost of $160 million, was not included in the initial plan but will continue to be explored.