City choosing new firm for 'independent' LRT safety review
The firm chosen to conduct an independent safety review of the city’s LRT system won’t conduct the review after all in light of questions about its independence.
The city announced Friday that the firm STV Inc. would be hired to conduct an “independent” third-party review of the LRT system, which is shut down after two derailments in six weeks.
But STV provided consulting services during LRT construction, leading critics to suggest their review would not be truly independent.
On Tuesday, city manager Steve Kanellakos said STV would no longer be retained as the independent safety expert.
“While the objectivity and expertise of STV is not in question in any way, I also recognize that public trust related to all aspects of the Confederation Line 1 is low right now,” he said in a memo.
“I do not want any perception challenges to get in the way of residents’ confidence in the findings and verification of the independent reviewer.”
No timeline for LRT to resume
The two-year-old, $2.1-billion-dollar Confederation Line has been out of service since a Sept. 19 derailment near Tremblay Station. No one was injured, but the train, track and rail infrastructure were damaged. It was the second derailment on the line in six weeks.
City officials say the LRT will not return to service until the independent safety review is finished.
Officials said earlier this month that it could be out of service for up to three weeks. But in an interview on Tuesday, Kanellakos said the city doesn’t have a timeline and he can’t predict when service will resume.
“To me, safety doesn’t have a timeline,” he said in an interview. “This thing's not going back and I'm not signing off on its reinstatement until we're satisfied that it’s safe.
“Until we get to the root cause and we figure out what actually happened and what are the things to manage and mitigate and make sure this doesn't happen again, I can't put a prediction on that.”
Searching for new firm
Kanellakos said his memo that STV was not involved in the Confederation Line design and hasn’t provided service to Rideau Transit Group or its subcontractors.
“That said, I believe the confidence and integrity of the safety of our Light Rail Transit system is paramount and that enhancing public trust in that system is and must be as much of a priority for considerations of confidence and integrity as LRT operations,” he said.
The city must now find a new independent firm to conduct the safety review. Kanellakos said that work is underway.
One challenge, he noted, is that there are only so many engineering firms with relevant expertise out there, and many of them were involved in planning and building the project.
“There are very few firms with the necessary expertise that have not been engaged in some aspect of the City’s LRT project,” his memo said.
“We made a short list of other possible firms that are clean and can meet the spirit of the motion of the transit commission,” he added in an interview. “We're now inquiring to see which ones can get here and how fast they can get here.”
The Transit Commission motion, passed last Monday, directed the city to hire an independent expert to confirm the safety of the plan to return the LRT to service.
Riders frustrated
Transit users on Tuesday expressed frustration at the ongoing LRT outage, saying they were having to build more travel time into their plans.
“It’s just too bad,” rider David Hemings said. “I don't know why the city has got itself into this jam.”
Added rider Daniel Seminario: “It's making it really difficult for us to travel, transport our kids and our groceries.”
Other OC Transpo passengers expressed concerns about the safety of the LRT service when it resumes.
“Now we're wondering is it safe to go on now after several incidents?” said Marie Colonnier. “You're a little bit leery, you know? You're cautious. I might want to see it go awhile before I actually board.”
- with files from Katie Griffin, CTV News Ottawa
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, Ontario police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.
Motion to allow keffiyehs at Ontario legislature fails
A motion to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh within Queen’s Park failed to receive unanimous consent Thursday just moments after Ontario Premier Doug Ford reiterated his view that prohibiting the garment in the House is divisive.
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
Taylor Swift's new album allegedly 'leaked' on social media and it's causing a frenzy
A Google Drive link allegedly containing 17 tracks that are purportedly from Swift's eagerly awaited "The Tortured Poets Department" album has been making the rounds on the internet in the past day and people are equal parts mad, sad and happy about it.
Calgary man charged with manslaughter in death of toddler
Calgary police say Winston Campbell, 45, has been charged in the death of a two-year-old girl in 2022.
Allman Brothers Band co-founder and legendary guitarist Dickey Betts dies at 80
Guitar legend Dickey Betts, who co-founded the Allman Brothers Band and wrote their biggest hit, 'Ramblin' Man,' has died. He was 80.