LIFT THE LID ON THE LRT
In the grand scheme of things, a six-month delay on Phase 1 of the LRT isn’t catastrophic. Yes, it will cause real pain to some downtown businesses that have lost customers because of years-long construction outside their doors. But for most of us, waiting until November to hop a train at Tunney’s or Blair Station won’t be some grave exercise in human suffering.
What this week’s disclosure of the new “delivery” date for LRT service highlights, however, is the odd culture of secrecy around the project — most of it, in our opinion, utterly unnecessary. Between now and November, both the private Rideau Transit Group and the city of Ottawa can and should do better. Voters must demand openness from our local politicians as they head into (re)election season.
We start from the premise that most Ottawans feel good about light rail and are eager to support it. Yet from the start, RTG has been shy of engaging with the public, and city spokespeople haven’t filled the communications void. Instead, the mayor has simply repeated the on-time-on-budget mantra, even after common sense suggested the 2016 Rideau Street sinkhole could cause major delays.
Until now, the public was also left with the wrong impression about “late” penalties. For months, the city promoted the notion that if RTG didn’t meet its initial May 2018 deadline, a $1-million late fee would apply to the private consortium. Only now has the city government explained that this is not precisely so. Under the contract terms, it won’t, in fact, collect that sum.
It’s not that the city desperately needs it — although an extra million could help fill potholes for those still driving even after light rail is running — but that the democratic principles of transparency haven’t been respected.
So here’s a recommendation: Starting this month, RTG brass, city transportation manager John Manconi and the mayor should hold monthly press briefings in which they offer a clear progress update and answer all questions from local media. The session should be livestreamed so taxpayers, other councillors and would-be councillors can tune in. Such clear, frequent updates would enhance the information available on the Confederation Line website.
The federal government took a similar approach when it first started trying to fix the Phoenix pay system: regular media updates in which senior officials fielded tough questions. Of course, the LRT is nowhere near that sort of disaster; on the contrary, it’s a success story just awaiting completion. Let’s get everyone out of their holes and speaking frankly and frequently to the public.
In short, stop trying to take us for a ride. We’d rather ride the train.