OTTAWA — After frequent service outages, two derailments and plenty of spoiled commutes, Ottawa residents are about to get a detailed look at what went wrong with the city's embattled light rail transit system.
A public inquiry that began in November last year is scheduled to release its final report on Wednesday.
The Ottawa light rail system opened to the public in September 2019, a year later than planned, and glitches began right away.
From doors not closing properly to near-constant repairs, many riders were unhappy with the system that replaced several OC Transpo buses. It was eventually shut down temporarily after derailments in August and September of last year.
Former citizen transit commissioner Sarah Wright-Gilbert said she hopes the long-awaited report will hold those involved accountable.
Wright-Gilbert said she was "literally mystified" as to how the problems could happen with a brand new system that had the green light to begin operating.
"I think this new term of council, and this new mayor need to make the right moves (concerning light rail) to start off on the right foot."
Laura Shantz, a member of the board of directors of Ottawa Transit Riders, an organization dedicated to improving public transit, wants clear answers about how and where the light rail system went wrong — particularly given plans to expand the rail network.
"We know that the city is interested in extending LRT further again, and we need to make sure that we are learning our lessons and not repeating the same mistakes," said Shantz.
Ottawa city council has already initiated legal action against Rideau Transit Group, a consortium of companies awarded the $2.1-billion contract to design and build the system and provide ongoing maintenance.
On Monday, city manager Steve Kanellakos resigned from his position, citing the coming release of the report as the reason.
In a letter addressed to City of Ottawa employees, Kanellakos says he believes the report will be very critical of the city and its staff, and that it's best to have new leadership to implement recommendations.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 29, 2022.
———
This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
Cindy Tran, The Canadian Press
