OTTAWA, Ont. - The head of a mass transit advocacy group thinks the city of Ottawa is being lead down the wrong track, the Canadian Broadcasting Company reported.

David Jeanes of Transport 2000 is concerned about a consultant's report that suggests the city spend $300 million to build an electric light-rail system to replace the diesel-powered O-Train.

Jeanes says the original plan for the O-Train called for the city to extend the service every couple of years at a cost of no more than $30 million each time.

A committee of Ottawa city council will take its first look at the consultant's report Aug. 20.
The $300 million would cover just the first phase of an electric light-rail system.

(The follow story by the Canadian Broadcasting Company appeared on the website ottawa.cbc.ca on July 29, 2003.)