Confederation Line East LRT Extension (Stage 2) [Blair to Trim] | U/C

[Hybrid247]

Originally Posted by kmcamp

The issue isn't that they didn't give a firm date, it's that the schedule has slipped by at least another 6 months at best.

Infrastructure project timelines slip of course, but we are regularly seeing timelines extend 50% as a matter of course across the board, and projects are taking much longer to deliver then they did even 20 years ago. There's something fundamentally wrong in the way we're planning these things. We can't just keep accepting massive overruns in the timeline as fine. My personal belief is that it's due to p3 setups. It incentives builders to underbid then allow timelines to go over time to get the money they actually needed in the first place

My initial comment was in response to roketphish's comment about Amilcar's refusal to provide a "firm date". My point was simply that OC isn't in a position to provide a fixed timeline, as construction progress is in the builder's hands, not OC's.

As for the rest of your comment, I generally agree. Some time and cost slippage is to be expected with massive projects like these, but the degree to which some projects have gone over budget and been delayed in recent years is alarming. Eglinton Crosstown is probably the worst example. As you noted, I think it mostly comes down to how the contracts ares structured. The builders are putting more and more resources into their legal departments whose purpose is to exploit holes and oversights in the project agreements. The extreme levels of value engineering we've seen on some projects is a testament to that.

[hwy418]

Originally Posted by Hybrid247

My initial comment was in response to roketphish's comment about Amilcar's refusal to provide a "firm date". My point was simply that OC isn't in a position to provide a fixed timeline, as construction progress is in the builder's hands, not OC's.

As for the rest of your comment, I generally agree. Some time and cost slippage is to be expected with massive projects like these, but the degree to which some projects have gone over budget and been delayed in recent years is alarming. Eglinton Crosstown is probably the worst example. As you noted, I think it mostly comes down to how the contracts ares structured. The builders are putting more and more resources into their legal departments whose purpose is to exploit holes and oversights in the project agreements. The extreme levels of value engineering we've seen on some projects is a testament to that.

I don't buy that OC or the City don't know the latest completion date. Projects this large have a whole team of project controls staff that make daily updates to the schedule. Why doesn't the City just come out and say the latest version of the builder's schedule says it will be completed on X day. Do that on a monthly basis, look at the trend, and take corrective actions as needed.

[J.OT13]

I honestly prefer if they don't provide an actual date, to avoid false hope. With P1, Line 1, they had several firm dates that weren't met.

[Kitchissippi]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I honestly prefer if they don't provide an actual date, to avoid false hope. With P1, Line 1, they had several firm dates that weren't met.

I disagree. Providing dates creates accountability. If they are not met, reasons should be provided and who or what was responsible for the setbacks. It's the opacity that's causing the public to lose trust, not the fact that the dates are constantly being moved.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

I disagree. Providing dates creates accountability. If they are not met, reasons should be provided and who or what was responsible for the setbacks. It's the opacity that's causing the public to lose trust, not the fact that the dates are constantly being moved.

It suggests that they themselves might not have a real idea of when they could open, which would be an aberration for a project of this magnitude and cost.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

I disagree. Providing dates creates accountability. If they are not met, reasons should be provided and who or what was responsible for the setbacks. It's the opacity that's causing the public to lose trust, not the fact that the dates are constantly being moved.

They had dates with P1 even though it was obvious they would never meet any of them. Ultimately though, it wasn't that late considering the magnitude of the project, and comparing it to similar projects (Eglinton, Trillium). For me at least, the constant false hope made it worse.

[DTcrawler]

In defence of OCT & the City, is it possible that they haven't yet decided what kind of phasing they will do after substantial completion, and thus don't want to provide an estimate just yet because the media will inevitably hold that against them if the estimate changes?

For example, for the Line 2/4 extension, I'm not sure how far in advance the phased 5/6/7 day launch was planned. It's possible they only decided on that closer to substantial completion when they realized a winter / post-holiday launch was the reality. This phased approach will add over a month to the day full service begins on the line.

I wonder if they are still deciding on how to implement lessons learned and inquiry findings from the phase 1 launch into the first extension of the Confederation Line. Remember, this will be the first extension of Line 1, whose initial opening was arguably the most botched infrastructure-launch in the City's history. I would expect they're going to be ULTRA calculated with how they handle the east extension's opening.

[rocketphish]

I hope that this doesn't become a trend:

LRT arson: Teen charged over incidents at new Place d'Orléans station

Staff Reporter, Ottawa Citizen
Published Jan 09, 2025 • Last updated 6 minutes ago • 1 minute read

A 14-year-old male from Ottawa has been charged with arson in connection with numerous fires at the new LRT station at Place d’Orléans in late 2024, police announced Thursday.

The blazes, which occurred between Nov. 8 and Dec. 29, caused approximately $7,000 in damage, a police news release said.

The youth, who cannot be named under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was charged with four counts each of arson damage to property and possession of incendiary materials.

They were scheduled to appear in court on Thursday.

The Place d’Orléans station is one of the stops on the eastern extension of the LRT system expected to open later in 2025.

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/lrt-a...rleans-station

[DTcrawler]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

I hope that this doesn't become a trend:

Just direction-less kids doing what they do. At least it was "only" $7K in damage, which these days probably amounts to one of the trash cans near the station entrance.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by DTcrawler

Just direction-less kids doing what they do. At least it was "only" $7K in damage, which these days probably amounts to one of the trash cans near the station entrance.

Kid should have to pay that back in labour.

[hwy418]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Kid should have to pay that back in labour.

And amend the Youth Criminal Justice Act to allow individuals 12 and over to be named!

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by hwy418

And amend the Youth Criminal Justice Act to allow individuals 12 and over to be named!

Why, though?

[lrt's friend]

There are pros and cons but in the old days, naming embarrassed the family (to better control their brats and preserve their reputation) and was a disincentive to others who did not want to be publicized. Of course, 'bad boys' might actually like the publicity.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

There are pros and cons but in the old days, naming embarrassed the family (to better control their brats and preserve their reputation) and was a disincentive to others who did not want to be publicized. Of course, 'bad boys' might actually like the publicity.

I don't think a 14 year old lighting fires is thinking about any of that. The problem is once named it follows them forever. I did stupid stuff like that though not on that level and glad it doesn't follow me forever.

[RogueNacho]

Any updates on how construction and testing are going? They had some trains running the line around Christmas but nothing since. I see the odd crew out on the line every other day doing some minor touchups and adjustments but otherwise it's been all quiet on the east end. Are we still hopeful for a late 2025 opening?

[kmcamp]

Originally Posted by RogueNacho

Any updates on how construction and testing are going? They had some trains running the line around Christmas but nothing since. I see the odd crew out on the line every other day doing some minor touchups and adjustments but otherwise it's been all quiet on the east end. Are we still hopeful for a late 2025 opening?

It feels like they should be doing more testing soon if they want to open this year. I'm not sure how they plan on finding enough operators to simulate service given the.rest of the line is in operation. Or how they plan on interleaving test trains with real ones at Blair, although at the 10 minute frequency Line 1 is running there's definitely a big enough gap

[FrostyMug]

Originally Posted by kmcamp

It feels like they should be doing more testing soon if they want to open this year. I'm not sure how they plan on finding enough operators to simulate service given the.rest of the line is in operation. Or how they plan on interleaving test trains with real ones at Blair, although at the 10 minute frequency Line 1 is running there's definitely a big enough gap

I wonder as well. Every time I drive past they are adjusting the catenary or using the emergency phones they have along the line or working on something with the rails/bed. You'd think with all the fuss they made about testing line 2 in winter conditions that testing at least a little bit now while it's cold and snowy would be a priority. But nothing. I think it was three weeks ago there was a train on the bypass siding by Costco but that is the only unit I have seen beyond Blair in months.

[J.OT13]

I occasionally see trains parked at Montreal, but that's it. Considering it's been a year since the first train movement, I'm disappointed we're not seeing more testing.

[rocketphish]

Final work 'well underway' on LRT east end extension, Amilcar says

Elizabeth Payne, Ottawa Citizen
Published Mar 16, 2025 • Last updated 9 minutes ago • 2 minute read

Six years after Ottawa’s LRT Line 1 began operating with 13 stations running along 12.5 km of track through central Ottawa, a completion date for its eastern extension is coming into focus.

Extension of the Confederation Line to Trim Road will make it easier for commuters in the city’s expanding east end to travel in and out of the city.

Final construction activities and train testing are underway and nearing completion on the extension from Blair Road station to Trim Road, according to an update from transit service general manager Renee Amilcar for the city’s March 17 transit committee meeting.

The major remaining fleet activities include software upgrades and operator training, said Amilcar.

The eastern extension is anticipated to open by the end of the year, although no opening date has been set. The initial goal for the extension, which will add five stations, was 2022.

As construction and train testing near completion, the major remaining fleet activities include software upgrades and operator training, said Amilcar.

Communications rooms and device configurations are ongoing at all stations in the east extension and communications testing is expected to be complete by the end of March. In addition, Amilcar said, eight of 22 needed safety certificates for elevators and escalators at the stations have been obtained. Certifications for the remainder are progressing.

Other ongoing work includes the communication-based train control system. Amilcar said the system is “well advanced with multiple trains continuing to run in loops.” Boundary testing between the existing Stage 1 and Stage 2 territories has been completed.

Amilcar said correction of trackwork deficiencies is progressing, and finishing work at Montreal, Jeanne d’Arc, Convent Glen, Place d’Orleans and Trim stations is expected to be completed by the end of March.

Grading, drainage, guardrail installation and landscaping at the stations is expected to be complete by the end of the second quarter of 2025, the end of June.

The final steps before opening include substantial completion, trial running and final safety approval.

The report offers no exact date for completion but Amilcar said the city will “continue to apply the knowledge gained from previous work, lessons learned and current operations on Line 1,” in addition to recommendations from the public inquiry.

Completion of the western extension of the Confederation Line will be further down the road. Station construction, roadway work and other work continues, Amilcar said.

Meanwhile, just over two months since the O-Train Line 2 and Line 4 began running with five-day service, the trains to the city’s south end and the airport began running seven days a week as of Sunday.

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local...n-amilcar-says

[AuxTown]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I occasionally see trains parked at Montreal, but that's it. Considering it's been a year since the first train movement, I'm disappointed we're not seeing more testing.

The optimist in me (and after reading that article above) I think the initial testing must have gone very well and they are waiting until the final push to really run schedule testing etc. I don't like that they won't give an estimate for the west extension, but what I can see from the 417 seems to be progressing well!