Mayor Sutcliffe speaks with TSB about safety of Ottawa's LRT system
Only days after a heavy warning from the Transportation Safety Board on the safety of Ottawa's light rail transit system, the mayor now says he’s concerned, but will continue to ride the train.
Mark Sutcliffe says he followed up with the TSB about their letter to the city on Feb. 3.
"I’m concerned about the technical issues that our system has been experiencing," Sutcliffe said.
Sutcliffe said he had a conversation with TSB officials to get a better understanding of the context of their findings and the line in their report that stated it still poses a safety risk.
"If anybody was saying that we should discontinue the service while these issues are being sorted out, then we would do that, of course," Sutcliffe said on Friday.
In a letter dated Feb. 3 and released Wednesday, the Transportation Safety Board issued a warning about the axle bearing assembly on Ottawa's Confederation Line trains. Problems with the assembly led to a derailment in August 2021 and additional problems in July 2022.
The TSB said the parts will "continue to pose a risk to safety" until OC Transpo and Rideau Transit Maintenance resolve the issues "to protect the travelling public."
Sutcliffe insists the system is safe for riders.
"I’ve been reassured that the system is safe. I took the train yesterday myself and I felt very comfortable doing that," he said.
"What we know is that there are a number of mitigation measures in place and they are addressing the issues on a short-term basis while we work on a solution."
Meanwhile trust is waning for some who take the LRT daily.
"Trust has been a long-term issue with our LRT system," said Laura Shantz, a member of the Ottawa Transit Riders. "Here have been a lot of incidents that have happened over the last several years now that have eaten away at rider trust and that’s going to take a long time to rebuild."
For those who rely on this system, there isn’t always an alternative affordable way to travel.
"I certainly am troubled, to say the least," said Midas Chin, a frequent transit user. "I currently live in Kanata so I rely heavily on the train and public transit to get from place to place."
On Thursday, Ottawa’s head of transit services vowed the city’s LRT system is safe, telling councillors that the city and OC Transpo took the time to review the letter from the TSB and ensure enhanced safety measures are aligned with the suggestions from the safety board.
With files from CTV News Ottawa's Michael Woods
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
Blind Sask. boy heading to international braille competition hopes to increase accessibility for visually impaired
A Saskatchewan boy who qualified for an international braille competition in Los Angeles next month hopes he can inspire change in his home province.
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.