The trains along the Confederation Line will be running in Ottawa by the end of November.
Ottawa mayor Jim Watson made the announcement on Tuesday morning.
Watson, speaking at the Finance and Economic Development Committee meeting, said that the Rideau Transit Group would be handing the keys over on November 2nd.
The 2.1 billion dollar Light Rail Transit project has always been slated to launch in 2018 but the handover was supposed to happen on May 24th.
The RTG explained that the delays in construction had a lot to do with the massive Rideau sinkhole.
Transit boss, John Manconi said that RTG won't be getting more money or payments and could be facing financial consequences for the late work.
Manconi also explained that there would be many safety checks done on the line before the LRT opens for the public.
As expected, lots of questions and pushback on what feels like lack of $$ penalty for missing original date. #ottnews pic.twitter.com/G20KlIi1Lu
— Stefan Oliver Keyes (@Stefan_Keyes) February 6, 2018
Update on #LRT phase 2 expected later this year. Questions about 6-month delay on Phase 1 creating risk to next phase #ottnews pic.twitter.com/ZPhEvtGubp
— Stefan Oliver Keyes (@Stefan_Keyes) February 6, 2018
Cont'd: response suggests contract written to protect reasonable delays w/ adequate notice. New date means no chance to collect penalty 2x
— Stefan Oliver Keyes (@Stefan_Keyes) February 6, 2018
Coun. @KeithEgli asks million-dollar question on the no million-dollar-pentalty for missing May 24th deadline.... More to come #ottnews
— Stefan Oliver Keyes (@Stefan_Keyes) February 6, 2018
ICYMI #ottnews https://t.co/qoCbQoXkIE
— Stefan Oliver Keyes (@Stefan_Keyes) February 6, 2018
New knowledge there won't be a million-dollar penalty for missing May deadline will be likely point of contention needing added explanation pic.twitter.com/TZDNNZORSa
— Stefan Oliver Keyes (@Stefan_Keyes) February 6, 2018
CORRECTION: room now being told #RTG will only lose a million $$ IF they miss the November date...NOT for missing the May date. #ottnews
— Stefan Oliver Keyes (@Stefan_Keyes) February 6, 2018
Counc. @dianedeans concerned about extra operational costs to city to keep buses on the road when they expected #LRT to be running #ottnews
— Stefan Oliver Keyes (@Stefan_Keyes) February 6, 2018
Counc. @dianedeans also being told if they miss the next deadline it is another million-dollar loss to them #LRT #ottnews pic.twitter.com/f0C2p3Neej
— Stefan Oliver Keyes (@Stefan_Keyes) February 6, 2018
How can it be over budget when we have a fixed price contract ?
— Jim Watson (@JimWatsonOttawa) February 6, 2018
Councillor @dianedeans asking for more info/clarity on financial impacts. Response suggests a million dollar loss to #RTG. pic.twitter.com/ZVefuBePaA
— Stefan Oliver Keyes (@Stefan_Keyes) February 6, 2018
Manconi right now reassuring the room about confidence of new date after disappointment from learning May deadline will be missed #ottnews
— Stefan Oliver Keyes (@Stefan_Keyes) February 6, 2018
Manconi adds #RTG facing financial consequences for late work. #ottnews #LRT #confederationLine
— Stefan Oliver Keyes (@Stefan_Keyes) February 6, 2018
#RTG won't be getting more money/payments as a result of the delay. In other words, late launch won't cost more, says Manconi #ottnews #LRT
— Stefan Oliver Keyes (@Stefan_Keyes) February 6, 2018
Manconi says they are being firm with #RTG that they DO NOT want a phased opening. In other words, won't go if only partially ready #ottnews
— Stefan Oliver Keyes (@Stefan_Keyes) February 6, 2018
#RTG has given written notice blaming #sinkhole for "shift in construction schedule" #LRT #ottnews
— Stefan Oliver Keyes (@Stefan_Keyes) February 6, 2018
MORE: @OC_Transpo GM John Manconi reiterating "safety is paramount" ... and is going over the conditions that need to be met #ottnews #LRT
— Stefan Oliver Keyes (@Stefan_Keyes) February 6, 2018
MORE: LRT is a $2.1 Billion project. This phase will run from Tunney's to Blair. Delays blamed on construction setbacks like #sinkhole
— Stefan Oliver Keyes (@Stefan_Keyes) February 6, 2018
CONT'D: this is a huge 6-month delay from the expected May 2018 launch date. #ottnews #LRT #HappeningNow
— Stefan Oliver Keyes (@Stefan_Keyes) February 6, 2018
BREAKING: Mayor @JimWatsonOttawa says LRT trains running by end of November...keys handed over on November 2nd #ottnews @ctvottawa pic.twitter.com/JTTUJFRSQl
— Stefan Oliver Keyes (@Stefan_Keyes) February 6, 2018
