It could become the biggest infrastructure project in London’s history.

It’s among city council’s top priorities this term.

It could also be the most important issue for Londoners in the Oct. 19 federal election.

If voters aren’t even thinking about it, they should be — because the city’s ­proposed rapid transit system is speeding ahead, and it’ll take more than $100 million in federal cash to help make it happen.

Asked about it by The Free Pressduring a whistle-stop Liberal rally here Wednesday, Justin Trudeau became the first Big Three federal leader to explicitly pledge support for the project.

Saying “it is up to the federal government to be a willing partner in funding the priorities” cities present, Trudeau expressed support for London rapid transit.

“This is something we would absolutely be interested in supporting if it’s the priority London wants to put forward,” he said, adding of potential riders: “So, yes, the Liberal Party will be there for them.”

The city hasn’t determined what technology to use for rapid transit — bus, light rail or a combination of both. It’s a decision due by year’s end.

But the city certainly knows it will need hundreds of millions from other levels of government.

The Ontario government has pledged $15 billion for transit and infrastructure investment outside the Greater Toronto Area and Hamilton.

Federally, though, it’s not as clear. Stephen Harper’s Conservatives have a transit fund, but to qualify, the total project cost must exceed $1 billion — a mark London will likely be nowhere near.

Trudeau’s comments Wednesday were the clearest sign yet that the project could get Ottawa’s attention. The NDP, however, sought to pour cold water on it later in the day, accusing Trudeau of slashing his national public transit pledge by $150 million.

“If he’s breaking these kinds of promises before election day, what promises would he break to Londoners after election day?” Irene Mathyssen, a three-term NDP MP seeking re-election in London-Fanshawe, said in a statement.

Trudeau’s brief visit to London — his first campaign stop in this region, a former Liberal stronghold — focused on London North Centre, where Grit Peter Fragiskatos is challenging Conservative Susan Truppe, who picked off the seat for the Tories in the last election.

The riding was Liberal-held for more than 20 years by MPs Joe Fontana and Glen Pearson before Truppe was elected in 2011.

Deb Matthews, the deputy Ontario premier who represents the riding for the provincial ­Liberals, introduced Trudeau at the event.

Asked about the involvement of provincial politicians in federal races, she made no apologies.

“I have no difficulty (doing this) at all,” Matthews said. “I’m unabashed. I am a Liberal and I am a Justin Trudeau Liberal.”

patrick.maloney@sunmedia.ca

twitter.com/patatLFPress

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THE TRANSIT PLAN

City hall wants two high-speed routes bisecting London over next decade.

Two L-shaped “preferred corridors” have emerged: From north-end Masonville past Western University to the core, then east to Fanshawe College; and from south-end White Oaks Mall north along Wellington Road to the core, then west to ­Wonderland Road and Oxford Street.

Early estimates put cost at $380 million; city has committed $100 million.

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EARLY VOTING

Four days of advance polls open Friday, running through Monday

Early voters can also cast ballots by mail, if completed by Tuesday

For details of both, go to ­Elections Canada’s website, ­elections.ca, or phone toll-free 1-800-463-6868

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TRUDEAU'S LONDON STOP

News and notes from his forray into London North Centre:

The backdrop

The Liberal leader spoke to local supporters at Goodwill Industries downtown, where he donated a basket of goods and reiterated his plan for a child benefit program that is “tax-free and tied to income” and would most help “single parents and low-income families.” He’s vowed to scrap the Conservative government’s universal child care benefit and send the money, instead, to those who need it most.

The Saudi arms deal

He pledged to stay out of Canada’s $15-billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia, which has drawn controversy over the desert kingdom’s human rights record and for which London defence contractor General Dynamics Land Systems Canada, which builds light armoured vehicles, is the supplier. “We will not be cancelling existing contracts,” Trudeau said.

On the niqab

Trudeau called Conservative Leader Stephen Harper’s comments on niqab-wearing Canadians — an issue spawned by debate over whether people’s faces should be covered at citizenship ceremonies — an effort “to stir up divisions and distract and deflect from his failures on the economy.”

On the Trans-Pacific Partnership

The Unifor union has warned the just-concluded Pacific Rim trade pact, involving 12 countries including Canada, could cost a quarter of the nation’s 80,000 auto parts jobs, many of them in Southwestern Ontario. Asked about the deal in the context of the vital regional industry, Trudeau said he’s “resolutely in favour of trade” but pledged if elected to be “a much more active promoter of Canada overseas, drawing in investment and jobs.”

On hand

Among the Liberals at the event were former London West MP Sue Barnes, who was defeated in 2008, and Glen Pearson, who held London North Centre for five years.

Fresh poll

As Trudeau spoke in London North Centre, an Environics poll conducted for the nationalobserver.com website indicated adjacent London West could be in play for the Liberals. The poll of 1,000 eligible voters put Conservative Ed Holder, MP in the last Parliament, and ­Liberal rival Kate Young at 34 and 33 per cent, respectively. (Its margin of error is +/- 2.9 per cent, 19 times out of 20.)