Ford to formally pledge province's share of LRT Stage 2

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is expected to formally announce $1.2 billion in provincial funding for Ottawa's light rail expansion duringa news conference at an east-endtrain yardFriday morning.

City officialswere expecting the Progressive Conservativesto honour the former Liberal government's pledgeto help extend the city's initial LRTnetworkto the eastern, western and southern suburbs, adding44 kilometres and 24 stations.

• $1B from province for Ottawa's LRT phase 2 in question
• Watson meeting Ford to cinch LRT cash

Ford had voiced support for the light rail expansion during last spring's provincial election, and Mayor Jim Watson has been optimistic that the money was on its way.

"We've had a number of really great conversations, the premier and I, over the last couple of months, and when I left his office a couple of weeks ago, I left with a really good feeling that he's going to come and deliver some good news for the City of Ottawa," Watson said Thursday."I don't want to scoop him, but we'll see him shortly."

City needs cash in hand

While city officials had been assured the provincial money was coming, they need the money in hand before signing the multi-billion-dollar contracts for Stage 2 LRT.

The province and the federal governments are each contributing $1.2 billion to the project, which should have equated to one-third of the total cost.

But last month,both residents and councillors were stunned to learn the price taghad ballooned by more than $1 billion to $4.66 billion.

Local taxpayers will have to pick up the additional cost through a number of measures, including increased transit levies and long-term debt.

Ford's announcement takes place at 11 a.m. atBelfast Yard.