Ottawa LRT return-to-service plan disappoints councillors, advocates
Partial service expected to resume by mid-November
An early November return for Ottawa's light rail line would be the best-case scenario, but Ottawa city councillors and transit advocates call the plan released Monday disappointing, unrealistic and lacking in detail.
City manager Steve Kanellakos told councillors Rideau Transit Group (RTG), the consortium that built the Confederation Line, is proposing a partial return to service by Nov. 1 that would see up to seven trains, plus one spare, back on the tracks.
That timeline is contingent on the maintenance arm of the consortium carrying out an "intensive inspection program on the vehicle fleet," which would put a partial return to service "within the first two weeks of November," according to the city.
Ottawa has been without its light rail system since a train derailed on Sept. 19 before entering Tremblay station.
Coun. Theresa Kavanagh, a member of the city's transit commission, says she's happy to have an approximate date for the return of LRT, but she hopes maintenance work isn't rushed.
"I think we're all kind of nervous after what happened with two derailments. Is this good enough? I don't think I'm in a hurry unless I know for sure things have been well tested," she said.
Coun. Riley Brockington also tweeted Monday he wanted the LRT builders to "take the time to do this right."
'Not a terribly realistic timeline'
Coun. Diane Deans, who does not sit on the transit commission, said she lacks confidence in the consortium and its November timeline.
"They missed three start dates for the service when we started out because they never had realistic timelines, and to me, this is probably not a terribly realistic timeline either," she said.
Deans also called for more details of how RTG will resume service, labelling Kanellakos's announcement a timeline instead of a return-to-rail plan.
"The devil's always in the details, but we need to see the details. We need to be confident that the restorative actions that they're taking are going to ensure that our citizens are safe when they get on the train," she said.
RTG thinks Nov 1 is doable for partial return to service, the City counters with an estimate of mid-November.<br>We need to see a detailed report that outlines that both the rail infrastructure and trains themselves are safe for passenger use. <br>Take the time to do this right. <a href="https://t.co/oJcIhNknKI">https://t.co/oJcIhNknKI</a>
—@RiverWardRileyRiders fed up with LRT, crowded buses
During the LRT shutdown, transit riders have struggled with overcrowded, unreliable replacement buses, which could be the reality for another month.
"For me, [the November timeline is] disappointing," said Laura Shantz with Ottawa Transit Riders. "There's already been a huge blow to confidence, whether it lasts one more day or one more month."
Shantz said many riders have already turned to other options, such as carpooling or purchasing their own vehicle, to commute without transit.
The plan will be discussed at the transit commission meeting on Wednesday.
