Ottawa's Sports Crisis: Calls for Bank Street O-Train Subway Grow Louder

 Iconic Ottawa sports broadcaster for Radio TSN 1200, AJ Jakubec, has some strong thoughts and emotions to share about the city of Ottawa-Gatineau and the possibility of a Bank Street O-Train Subway between Billings Bridge Shopping Centre and  Portage & Terrasses de la Chaudière in Gatineau. "I moved here in 2003," Jakubec states, reflecting on the city's growth. "There should always be talks on how to improve the city; you would have liked to have seen it as part of the original plans."

 Expanding on these thoughts, Jakubec questions the efficacy of current solutions and highlights Ottawa's unique position as a national capital. "It feels like Ottawa-Gatineau is at a point with our population at 1.66 million, where that’s when Montreal and Toronto built their key Subways/Metros. We are a G7 nation; it’s our capital. We want this to be an attractive place for not just us, but for people to visit, whether they are Canadians or international travelers."

 He continues, emphasizing the current access issues and the transformative potential of a new line: "How easy is it to get to the center of our town? It’s not very easy. We need something North and South. We would have A, B, C, and D all points covered, and we could have that with Confederation Line 1 and the Bank Street O-Train Subway. I would hope to see it in my lifetime.”

 Ottawa's success is strangling its streets - and nowhere is this more evident than on Bank Street on game day. Whether it’s the RedBlacks at Lansdowne, Atlético Ottawa drawing record crowds, or the Senators heading to LeBreton Flats, the capital’s growing population and booming sports scene are colliding with a transportation network that isn’t built for this level of intensity.

 As gridlock worsens and downtown densification accelerates, the call for a Bank Street O-Train Subway is growing louder, led not just by transit advocates but by a chorus of local podcasters, broadcasters, sports executives, and city councillors who see the writing on the wall: Ottawa needs a backbone beneath Bank Street.

 With the Ottawa-Gatineau population reaching 1,660,269 as of March 1, 2025, and approved high-rise developments promising significant densification in the city core, the need for a robust transit solution becomes undeniable.

 The pressure isn’t just intensifying; it’s becoming unmanageable - a situation only exacerbated by the City of Ottawa’s recent announcement that the Bank Street Transit Study has been delayed yet again, now until September 2025. This latest postponement comes despite overwhelming evidence and increasingly vocal public sentiment that a Bank Street O-Train Subway is a far superior option for future-proofing Confederation Line 1 and the inner core of Ottawa than simply adding more buses to an already gridlocked core with limited vehicular access.

 Lansdowne Stadium is now busier than ever - no longer just the home of the RedBlacks and the Ottawa 67’s, but also hosting Atlético Ottawa, the Ottawa BlackJacks, the PWHL Ottawa Charge, and the new Ottawa Rapid FC. Each event sends thousands of fans spilling directly onto Bank Street, further straining already overburdened infrastructure.

 Former Ottawa Senators executive Brian Crombie highlighted to me several years ago how the Bank Street O-Train concept follows the successful model of other major cities. “It would be spectacular for the Ottawa Senators and Redblacks to have a North/South rail transit on the main line of the city,” he said. He also pointed out, “Almost all major sports venues in North America usually have a form of transit that goes with it.” Ottawa is behind the curve, and as stadium events increase in frequency, the need for efficient transport options becomes impossible to ignore. 

 Chris Hofley, former OSEG Senior Communications Leader, told me as far back as July 18, 2022, “With the number of people who visit Lansdowne every year, OSEG is in favour of better, cheaper, and more environmentally responsible ways to support the number of people who come to Lansdowne in general.” The urgency of improved transportation is not just about convenience; it’s about sustainability and long-term viability.

 Matt Robinson, host of the prominent Tall Can Audio Podcast, echoes these concerns, emphasizing that the current traffic and gridlock on Bank Street make the commute downtown “really unpleasant.” He envisions a subway running every four or five minutes, encouraging year-round use and making the downtown far more accessible. Robinson also proposes making the Bank Street O-Train free on game days for hockey, football, and soccer. “The more cars we get off Bank Street is a huge plus for everyone in the core,” he explains, highlighting the potential for chaos when multiple teams play or concerts are held on the same day. For sports franchises, he believes the Bank Street O-Train would be a “grand slam win... when it comes to their long-term viability.” Making it easier for fans to get to and from games, he adds, benefits franchises, fans, and the city alike.

 The idea is gaining traction across the airwaves and within the community. In addition to his comprehensive early remarks, AJ Jakubec stated on air this past May, "It would have been great to see an O-Train go underneath (Bank Street) if you're doing that, sending it up Bank Street (Billings Bridge to Portage & Terrasses de la Chaudière in Gatineau).”

 Adding to this chorus, Mitch Kedrosky from CFRA 580 stated on air back on December 23, 2023, “It's not a bad idea, it is a pretty important street.” Even earlier, on December 13, 2022, Andrew Pinsent of CFRA 580 weighed in on air, noting that “With a downtown arena, we are talking about for the future right, that comes into play too, right - if you have Gatineau residents that are able to hop on and get here more efficiently.” These media figures aren’t alone in their consideration of an underground solution.

 As far back as November 26, 2020, Ottawa City Councillor Shawn Menard (Capital Ward 17) stated, “If we are going to increase density in the urban core, we need alternative efficient transportation options along Bank Street. Congestion, emissions, and local economic development would all be improved through new transit to Bank Street.”

 On June 24, 2022, then-candidate and now Councillor Laine Johnson (College Ward 8) specifically expressed her support for investment in rail for Bank Street due to increasing density and future needs. She said, “trying to get to and from Lansdowne is always challenging and getting worse, and its going to become an issue for all Ottawans. I think we can be responsible and connected to each other. The current system is not serving the Bank Street communities properly. We are excited for a faster mode of transportation through the Bank corridor. I would certainly support rail investment as a transportation mode in Bank Street; it’s about working on a collaborative approach and building our city. I’m happy to work with other wards if they can help me with our specific needs in College Ward. I think Bank Street has an essential need, and for climate & congestion reasons, Bank makes a lot of sense for the next rail investment. We really need to complete Confederation Line 1 before we embark on Bank Street, though.”

 Councillor Riley Brockington (River Ward 16) has been a strong advocate, stating on January 23, 2022, that the current situation around Lansdowne is “completely dysfunctional,” a “traffic disaster,” and that the city needs an LRT down Bank Street. He emphasized, “We need Lansdowne 2.0 to be a success, and how are you going to get people there?” Brockington also highlighted that Bank Street is the City of Ottawa’s oldest main street and needs improved infrastructure.

 Also advocating for better transit for the area is Councillor Marty Carr (Ward 18), who told me on June 17, 2022, while a candidate running for office, that she understands the "frustrating Bank Street congestion" and why the Bank Street O-Train is needed due to Billings Bridge being a protected major transit hub.

 During a Parkways For People public event with OSEG and local city councillors on January 30, 2023, the Glebe Community Association’s Carolyn Mackenzie specifically asked, “Could we run a subway, could we run an LRT underneath Bank Street?” adding, “And I'm hearing a lot about the possibility of an underground LRT extension.” This widespread support underscores the project’s logical appeal and its foresight for future urban development.

 Josh Lemoine, host of The Stepover Podcast, a podcast dedicated to Atlético Ottawa and soccer in the capital, enthusiastically supports the project, believing a rail tunnel under Bank Street would be “incredible, not just for teams, but for the entire city of Ottawa.” Beyond the immediate benefits to sports and transit, Lemoine also sees a future where Bank Street itself is reimagined. “Especially if we then take space from cars on Bank Street,” he muses, “I could see dedicated bike lanes, expanded sidewalks, more spacious patios, more vibrant communities along the length of the tunnel.”

 Brandon Plant, award-winning host of Sens Talk Podcast, further solidifies the argument, pointing out, “If you are talking about people going to games in the downtown core at LeBreton Flats for the Senators or RedBlacks at Lansdowne 2.0, Bank Street LRT would be huge - it’s a major street in the city.”

 City staff have been asked to explore options for Bank Street, and councillors like Riley Brockington and Shawn Menard have already signaled that the time for serious action is now. Crucially, the path to major transit infrastructure funding often requires agreement between provincial and municipal levels, a key consideration as the Government of Canada's long-term plan includes a permanent transit fund of $3 billion per year starting in 2026.

 Adding to this potential, the provincial Ontario government, under Premier Doug Ford, announced a budget with $61.1 billion for public rail transit projects, available over 10 years. An Issues Advisor for the Ministry of Transportation told me in April 2022 that this money can be used for “major subway construction” and can be used as “funding for City of Ottawa projects such as the Ottawa LRT”. If the city delays further, Ottawa risks suffocating under its inertia, with clogged streets leading to declining game attendance and frustrated residents stuck in traffic.

 A Bank Street O-Train would not only solve the commute crisis around Lansdowne and LeBreton Flats, but it would activate the full potential of Confederation Line 1. Ottawa-based economist Neil Saravanamuttoo told me in June 2022, in response to the transit network effect, that "investing in proper Bank Street infrastructure can have a big impact on the viability of Confederation Line 1." Linking a north-south subway spine to the existing east-west transit corridor would create a true backbone for the National Capital Region.

 As Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Ward 2 Orléans West-Innes, Laura Dudas, told the Ottawa Citizen on January 2nd, 2025, when discussing the recently reopened Trillium Line 2: "While this is a cause for celebration on many fronts — resumed service for post-secondary students; new stations linking the southern areas of our city; unlocking future development potential; and renewed connections to areas like South Keys and along Bank Street."

 This isn’t just a rail line. It’s a commitment to a livable, walkable, unified city on both sides of the river - one where fans, families, and businesses can all thrive.

 The time for deliberation is over - Ottawa must act now. Every delay inches us closer to a city paralyzed by its success, where gridlock discourages sports fans, businesses suffer, and transit remains stuck in the past. The voices are unified, the case is clear, and funding opportunities are on the horizon. The city must prioritize a Bank Street O-Train Subway between Billings Bridge Shopping Centre and  Portage & Terrasses de la Chaudière in Gatineau before Ottawa’s booming sports scene and urban growth outpace its ability to function. City officials, provincial leaders, and Ottawa residents—this is the moment to push for a transit system worthy of a world-class capital. Without it, we’re dooming the future of sports, entertainment, and everyday life in the core to relentless congestion. Ottawa deserves better. Ottawa needs better. Let’s build it.