Additional $60 million needed for Stage 2 LRT
Ottawa city councillors are being asked to approve another $60 million for the city’s Stage 2 LRT project, as a completion date for the project remains uncertain.
A report to the city’s finance and economic development committee asks for $35 million to be added to the project’s utility budget, and another $25 million to its contingency fund.
The funds would cover changes that weren’t envisioned when council approved the $4.6-billion project in 2019.
“During the course of design and construction, a number of improvements were added to the project scope that were not originally contemplated when establishing the project agreement and specifications,” the report says.
The additional $60 million would be funded by development charge debt, water rate reserves and transit debt.
The increases fall under two main categories.
The first is the $35 million for the utility budget, which covers things like hydro and gas main relocations.
The second is $25 million more for the LRT’s contingency fund.
The initial Stage 2 project included a contingency fund of $152.5 million, about 3.3 per cent of the project’s budget. Such a fund is built-in to provide for unforeseen costs and changes to a project.
However, the project has spent $132 million of that money so far, and staff say the remaining $18 million will not be enough to cover it.
“With consideration that the originally contemplated contingency fund was intended to be allocated throughout the entire project lifecycle through to completion, the remaining amount of approximately $18 million will be insufficient to deal with expected remaining pressures,” the staff report says.
"Additional funding requirements will be assessed again in 2023."
The city’s finance and economic development committee will vote on the matter at its June 28 meeting.
Stage 2 LRT is the largest infrastructure project in the city’s history and it’s unclear when it will be completely finished.
The Trillium Line to Riverside South is now due to be finished in May 2023, nine months later than originally scheduled.
The eastern line to Trim Road is scheduled to be complete in 2024. Tracks are being laid on the route.
But the city said in April that labour and supply chain issues were putting pressure on finishing the western extension by its scheduled completion date of 2025.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Manitoba mom praises quick-thinking fire department for freeing daughter stuck in playground equipment
A Manitoba mother is praising firefighters for their quick work in helping her daughter who got stuck at a playground in Lorette, Man.