Another deadline missed: Keys to LRT won't be handed over today

It's official: the city won't get the keys to an operational Confederation Line on the date expected for the fourthtime.

In July, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson said he expected the new LRT system wouldbe delivered to the city by Aug. 16.

But a memo sent to the mayor and council Friday morning from transportation general manager John Manconisaid 12 consecutive days of trial run testing are ongoing, and that LRT system builderRideau Transit Group (RTG) has made "significant progress."

"This is a complex and rigorous process where high performance standards must be met as a prerequisite to achieving [revenue service availability]and opening the Confederation Line to the public," he wrote.

In spite of thislatest missed deadline, Manconisaid the city continues to expect that the Confederation Line will open to the public in September.

An update fromWatson, transit commission chair Allan Hubley and city staff will be given at a briefing sometime next week, Manconi added. A date has not yet been set.