No update from city on status of 12-day trial period
Sources indicate problems in trial
Taxpayers were left in the dark Friday about whether their $2.1-billion LRT system would be ready by Aug. 16, with indications that more testing would be required.
The city’s head of transportation issued a written statement saying the public would learn when Rideau Transit Group (RTG) had satisfied the requirements of the trial running period. Otherwise, the city maintained its vow of silence regarding the status of the trial, raising questions about whether a September launch of the 12.5-kilometre rail line was still in the cards.
However, it appears the mandatory testing over 12 consecutive days wasn’t problem-free.
According to sources not authorized to speak publicly about the matter, the testing had to extend past Friday, which was the 12th day of the critical testing period.
In fact, the testing might already have been hampered by minor problems early in the 12-day period, throwing the timeline off-track. It became obvious to city bosses overseeing the transit project the trial would likely need to be extended.
Now, RTG risks missing its Aug. 16 handover to the city. If that doesn’t happen, the city will potentially need to push its public launch into the fall. When the city finally receives the keys to the LRT system, it will take up to four weeks for OC Transpo to prepare for a public launch.
The 12-day trial started July 29, two days after RTG achieved the substantial completion of construction.
RTG needs to run 12 consecutive days of full service before handing the LRT system to the city and achieving “revenue service availability.” That milestone will trigger a $202.3-million payment to RTG.
The city is also in a position to penalize RTG another $1 million for missing the Aug. 16 handover, if the company does, indeed, miss that deadline.
The city applied $1-million penalties for each of the missed deadlines on May 24, 2018, Nov. 2, 2018, and March 31, 2019. RTG previously made a public commitment to deliver the LRT system by the end of June 2019, but that didn’t happen.
During the 12-day trial, if a major problem is identified during testing, the clock would be reset to Day 1. Minor deficiencies are allowed and wouldn’t require a reset.
The trial period shows the city that the LRT system can operate under the requirements of the contract. The testing makes sure the trains meet their frequency targets and the train control and safety systems function properly.
A team consisting of the builder, the maintenance provider, the city and an independent certifier is monitoring the trial. The certifier will have the final say over whether the LRT system is ready for city use.
“As previously noted, the independent certifier will confirm whether the requirements of trial running have been achieved,” according to a statement attributed to transportation general manager John Manconi, sent through the city’s communications office.
“Once RTG has achieved all trial running requirements, staff will inform council, members of the transit commission, the public and media outlets.”