Ottawa Light Rail Inquiry: Critics and Disappointment at 1st Public Meeting

In front of the judge at the Court of Appeal for Ontario and commissioner William Hourigan, in a large ballroom of the Shaw Center in downtown Ottawa, six people came forward, despite the 15 registrations announced. Their calm tone certainly did not mask their disappointment with the light rail network, a disappointment that was palpable in all the testimonies.

I came by bike, I didn’t want to take any chances! joked Ken Ruben, the first speaker to be called to the microphone. The resident of Ottawa made several proposals relating mainly to the management of light rail transit.

Your inquiry is our inquiry. he concluded by addressing Commissioner Hourigan, who wanted to tell him that he was in complete agreement with this statement.

Campaign break for MP Joel Harden

The NDP member for Ottawa Center in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Joel Harden, had also registered as a speaker. People absolutely want this system to work. There is an opportunity for public transit in this city. launched the deputy. He denounced the recurring problems of the light rail system.

” Sewer smells at Rideau station. Already damaged wheels. Doors that don’t work. Five derailments, including one with 12 people on board. I believe that it is the latter who provoked this commission. […] I am disappointed that it was not the City of Ottawa that requested a commission of inquiry. »

Joel Harden also denounced the opacity surrounding the project, deploring that City councilors had been kept in the dark for too long regarding the management of light rail.

The MP’s speech was followed by that of John Redins, a man with a disability. The latter wanted to present his experience with light rail, from the announcement of its construction until today. Para Transpo was not allowed to use the reserved lanes during the construction of the light rail. [Par la suite]whenever there was a problem with the train, it left people with no alternative, launched the one who has always used public transport. In winter, even the toilets freeze! he concluded.

Impacts even where the train does not pass

Laura Shantz is a resident of Vanier, does not have a car and has always taken public transit. Even if the train does not go to her neighborhood, she was exasperated by its repeated malfunctions. Every time a train isn’t running, that’s a lot of buses that are removed from our community. [pour pallier les problèmes], explained the mother of the family to commissioner Hourigan.

I have to reassure my children, and tell them that no, the train is not going to catch fire, it is not going to derail. And afterwards, they point me to a new event, where the train caught fire, where it derailed, Ms. Shantz continued.

” We have lost confidence as travellers. We have lost confidence in our municipal administration. »

For Evan Saslove, who specializes in public transit planning, the setbacks of light rail are a huge disappointment. I wanted to be one of the first to board the train, which I did. I ignored deadlines. I knew the investment was worth it. In all honesty, I don’t believe so anymore. said sorry to the microphone the one who lives near a station of phase two of the light rail. We want light rail to make our lives easier, not harder.

Forty witnesses summoned

For Christine Mainville, lead counsel for the commission of inquiry, the two public meetings were essential to the work of those who began their investigative work at the beginning of the year. It helps us to give the context, it helps us to clarify what the concerns of the people are. she said on the sidelines of the event. For any commission, it’s important to understand how it has impacted people and what the problem is. Because obviously, when there is a commission of inquiry, there is a problem somewhere!

To date, some 40 witnesses have been called to the public hearings of the CERTLROOttawa Light Rail Transit Commission of Inquiry. Among these, the public will recognize the faces of Jim Watson, Mayor of Ottawa and Catherine McKenney, who represents the Somerset district. Representatives of Alstom, Thales and the Rideau Transport Group will also be heard.

After the second user meeting scheduled for this evening, the CERTLRO hearings will resume on June 13 at the University of Ottawa. Hearings will be open to the public. This marathon – the CERTLROOttawa Light Rail Transit Commission of Inquiry will sit from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. five days a week until July 8 – should lead to the publication of a report next August. Commissioner Hourigan may then ask for an extension of time until November if he lacks time.

Anyone interested in sharing feedback with the commission, even outside of the two evenings set aside this week for public statements, can reach the investigation team at [email protected] or by calling 1-833-597-1955.