Operating costs for new Trillium Line expected to be $3.5 million a month
The Trillium Line will cost $3.5 million to operate when the new north-south light-rail line opens next spring.
In an email to councillors obtained by CTV News Ottawa, staff say the price tag for the line includes $2.1 million for maintenance costs and more than $1 million for staff, energy and facility costs.
Troy Charter, director of Transit Service Delivery and Rail Operations, told councillors the average cost for maintenance of Line 2 and Line 4 (the Trillium Line) might vary depending on a number of factors.
"All Capital Lifecycle payments are in addition to the costs identified and are highly variable month to month and year to year," Charter says.
"In addition to these, once fully operational the City will accrue costs for Operators, Controllers, utilities, fuel and other miscellaneous operating costs."
TransitNext was chosen by council to build and maintain the rail line between Bayview Station and Riverside South, with a link to the Ottawa Airport.
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
- Sign up now for our nightly CTV News Ottawa newsletter
Transit Services general manager Renee Amilcar announced on Friday that the launch of the Trillium Line has been delayed until April at the earliest.
OC Transpo pays approximately $5 million a month to Rideau Transit Group/Rideau Transit Maintenance for operations of the current Confederation Line.
A report presented earlier this month showed the city is anticipating maintenance and energy costs to increase more than $14 million a year.
Staff presented the transit service long-range financial plan, which outlined $6.6 billion in budgetary pressures over the next 25 years. The costs for the Confederation Line and the Trillium Line will be $210 million a year in 2027.
The report says the operating costs for the Trillium Line will be $44.9 million in 2027, up from $18.4 million in 2019. Staff say energy costs estimates are up $8.9 million, while the maintenance payments for TransitNext have increased $5.9 million.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre kicked out of Commons after calling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 'wacko'
Testy exchanges between the prime minister and his chief opponent ended with the Opposition leader and one of his MPs being ejected from the House of Commons on Tuesday -- and the rest of Conservative caucus walking out of the chamber in protest.
Baby, grandparents among 4 people killed in wrong-way police chase on Ontario's Hwy. 401
A police chase which started with a liquor store robbery in Bowmanville Monday night ended in tragedy some 20 minutes later when a suspect fleeing police entered Highway 401 in the wrong direction and caused a pileup which killed an infant and the child's grandparents, as well as the suspect, investigators say.
BREAKING Hosting Vancouver's FIFA World Cup games could cost half a billion dollars
Hosting seven games in Vancouver during the 2026 FIFA World Cup could cost more than half a billion dollars, according to an updated estimate provided Tuesday.
Man dies after suffering cardiac arrest while waiting in ER, widow wants investigation
When an ambulance took David Lippert to the hospital in March of 2023, the 68-year-old Kitchener, Ont., executive was hoping to find out why he was feeling weak and unable to walk. Some 24 hours later, he was found unresponsive in the ER.
Sword-wielding man attacks passersby in London, killing a 14-year-old boy and injuring 4 others
A man wielding a sword attacked members of the public and police officers in a northeast London suburb Tuesday, killing a 14-year-old boy and injuring four other people, British authorities said.
Freeland previews omnibus budget bill, proposed capital gains tax change left out
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will be tabling yet another omnibus bill to pass a sweeping range of measures promised in her April 16 federal budget, though left out of the legislation will be the government's proposed capital gains tax change.
WATCH Arnold Schwarzenegger spotted filming in Elora, Ont.
The name of the project has not been officially released although it’s widely believed to be the Netflix series FUBAR.
Conservatives push motion calling for Carney to testify, say it's about 'accountability'
The federal Conservatives made good on their promise to push for former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney to testify before MPs, resulting in a heated political debate in Ottawa on Tuesday.
London Drugs stores remain closed, 'cybersecurity incident' may have breached personal data
London Drugs says it is working with third-party security experts as the company tries to reopen dozens of stores across Western Canada that were shuttered by a cybersecurity incident Sunday.