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Changing trains twice to get to the airport from downtown is still better than having no rail connection at all, the head of Ottawa’s airport authority said Friday after the city formally unveiled its ambitious plan for expanding the light-rail transit network.

The plan includes a four-kilometre spur to the airport, but riders would have to change trains at South Keys station. Those heading downtown would have to make a second connection onto the Confederation line at Bayview station. The total trip would take about 40 minutes.

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“It is what it is,” said Mark Laroche. “We still think it’s better than what we are able to offer now and that ridership will pick up.”

Including the airport link adds another $155 million to the city’s $3-billion project.

The provincial government has offered to split the cost of the airport extension with the federal government, which has yet to make any formal funding commitment toward the project.