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Gatineau, however, seeks a better deal than Ottawa got: It wants federal and provincial governments to pay the whole shot. Ottawa didn’t even get close to that. Local residents were supposed to pay one-third of phase one ofLRT, although our share ended up being larger. We are on the hook for one-third of the cost of the next round of expansion, too. Proposed extensions toKanataandBarrhavenare just dreams, because the city can’t afford its share.

In relying on public money to meet transit needs, both local governments are following a traditional track. Perhaps some big capital costs could be avoided by allowing a private sector company to own and operate light rail, but that’s not attractive to cities that use the profitable commuter main lines to subsidize less-used parts of the service. So private involvement may be limited.

If all goes well, Gatineau trains might connect with our LRT – in a decade. Gatineau is late to the light-rail party, reflecting the piecemeal approach our region takes to transit planning.

Ottawa and Gatineau transit should be one seamless system. It is easy to imagine an interprovincial transit authority, but this would take real co-operation from the federal government and both provinces – the same people who have been unable to add another bridge across the Ottawa River.

A decade is a long time, and other developments, such as the impact of driverless cars, may disrupt bureaucrats’ vision on both sides of the river. Or, the transit planners and politicians may buckle down, shed their differences, and work together. Let’s hope they do. Let’s make true regional rail transit a reality.