Sorry kids: LRT Stage 2 wont be open for start of school year, says OC Transpo

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Good morning! 

It’s hard to believe there is only one week of summer vacation left for most. I hope you will all make the best of it. It seems the warmer weather is back at last.

It’s been a quiet news weekend for once so this will be a bit shorter of a newsletter. Phase 2 of Ottawa's light rail transit system will not be up and running before Carleton University students go back to school in September. While progress is being made, countless delays have resulted in frustrated riders. When the system does launch, it will mean OC Transpo’s biggest route overhaul in its history. The changes will be good for some and negative for others. 

Capital Pride festivities wrapped up in Ottawa this weekend. Despite the controversy this year's celebration has seen, the fight for LGBTQ+ rights has never been so important. I want to share this piece I recently wrote for the Kitchissippi Times looking back at Ottawa’s LGBTQ history.

It’s hard to believe so much of the progress made is relatively new. Same-sex marriage was not legalized yet when I was born. Even today it’s still illegal to be gay in about 70 countries — about one-third of the world.  As I combed through newspaper archives, I was fascinated by some of the local stories I unearthed. 

Have a great start to your week. 

—  Charlie Senack, [email protected]. 

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Monday: 28 🌡️ 17 | ⛅

Tuesday: 29 🌡️ 17 | ⛅

Wednesday: 21 🌡️ 11 | 🌧

WEEKLY LOOKOUT

New garbage rules: The City of Ottawa is reminding residents they have six weeks to adjust to new garbage rules that are set to be implemented Sept. 30. Then, households will be limited to three bags of garbage every two weeks. a garbage item could be a garbage bag, a 140-litre container or a bulky item. Current limits are six items. All of this is being done to limit the amount of waste going into the Trail Road waste facility, which is nearing its capacity. [CTV]

Reduced service: Kids are going back to school and that means OC Transpo is changing its service hours. Starting Monday, the O-Train will run less frequently during off-peak hours. The Confederation Line will run every 10 minutes from 9 am to 3 pm and 6:30 pm to 11 pm on weekdays. Its current schedule is every five minutes. Route #2 buses that service Carleton University will be increased, with peak period service operating every 10 minutes, and midday and evening service every 12 minutes. Routes #7 and #25 will return to their regular non-summer schedules. [CTV]

Building up: Ottawa’s planning and housing committee will vote on a proposal that would see more than 200 new housing units built near the future Sherbourne LRT station in the city’s west end. Theia Partners and Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services (OAHS) are teaming up to construct a six-storey building as well as a 16-storey highrise at 30 Cleary Ave. The property is currently occupied by the two-storey First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa church, a four-storey retirement home and a one-storey daycare centre. Those buildings would remain in place.  [Ottawa Business Journal]

TRANSIT

Still no clear answer to when Phase 2 LRT will open

The issue: There is still no clear answer as to when Phase 2 of Ottawa’s light rail transit system will open. There was some hope the connection between Bayview Station to Limebank Road and the airport in the south would be running in time for the return to school, but that won’t happen, reported CTV. 

"Overall, project progress is going well as the City and TransitNEXT move to the trial running. Prerequisites for trial running include obtaining building occupancy permits at all stations, track acceptance, and ensuring the operational reliability of the system. Testing and commissioning activities are advancing, including testing of vehicles, signals, train control systems, and switches. Both the City and TransitNEXT have worked together, along with oversight and input from the Independent Certifier, to ensure a thorough framework is in place for Substantial Completion that satisfies the requirements of the Project Agreement,” said a recent report to the Light-Rail Transit Subcommittee. 

Clear answers could come this week: The committee is expected to get an update on progress during a meeting on Aug. 29. While eight to 10-week testing is taking place, a 21-day testing period will occur when the system is officially handed over. That means it will be at least another month before the trains are open to the public. 

• Some good news: City staff said all 13 stations have retained their permits and certificates have been issued for elevators. 

Better connectivity: Once the Phase 2 Trillium line is open, it will connect transit riders from Bayview Station in central Ottawa to Limebank Road in Riverside south. A separate line will run from South Keys station to Uplands and the Airport. The train service will provide a boost to Carleton University students and those travelling to Preston Street. 

Western extension still years away: While the Trillium line will almost certainly open this year, the Confederation line extension still has years of work left. The trains, which will travel from Tunney’s Pasture station to Algonquin College and Moodie Drive in the west won’t be completed until at least 2027. Even then construction crews admit that’s only an estimate, reported the Ottawa Citizen. 

• “As with any construction project, there are unknowns. The main items we had to navigate with constructors is site conditions, rock quality, soil conditions. It’s been a challenging few years, with COVID and other factors,” said Jacelyn Daigle, the City of Ottawa’s construction manager for Stage 2 LRT. 

The east rail extension to Trim Road from Blair was initially scheduled for completion this year but now that isn’t happening. Crews are hopeful it will open sometime in 2025. 

St. Laurent ceiling stability a concern before corrosion, report shows

The issue: In May, the St. Laurent LRT station closed for a few days after it was noticed that some ceiling panels dusted with concrete chunks were being supported by "detached" and "heavily corroded" metal framing. The damage was right over where the passenger trains would pass. Internal emails discovered by the CBC show city staff began raising alarm bells about the condition of the ceiling before the damage was noticed. 

It’s unclear when the debris started to fall, but the last time it was checked was in February 2023, more than a year before it was noticed. In January 2024, concrete chunks from from the tunnel onto the tracks below. 

• “I am concerned about the stability of the structure and raised it as a safety concern this afternoon. I showed the pictures ... and we all agreed there are concerns about the specific areas that show significant signs of corrosion,” said manager of rail systems Matt Pieters in a May 16, 2024 email. 

It’s believed the trains stopped the following day after a chunk of concrete was found on one tile. After the risks were addressed, the city said the tunnel was safe and that further rehabilitation work would occur next year. After reading some of the documents, Barrhaven East councillor Wilson Lol, who used to work for OC Transpo as a bus operator and then in communications, said it seemed they initially downplayed the situation.  

One engineer's report said the ceiling was in fair-poor condition. Even just hours before its reopening, staff found a surprise piece of ceiling frame dangling over the platform which the report said was “a safety hazard.”

Different rules for different stations: While Parliament, Rideau, and Lyon stations had their suspended ceiling tiles inspected every two weeks, a May 8 email from Rideau Transit Maintenance said that didn’t occur at St. Laurent Station because "no loose/fallen ceiling panel issues have been reported."

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OTTAWA BY THE NUMBERS

🌪️ 2: The number of tornadoes confirmed to have touched down southwest of Ottawa on Wednesday. [CTV]

🔫 13: The age of a boy charged after two people were shot with an air gun in Gatineau. [CBC]

🏡 22: The number of federal office buildings the government is looking to turn into affordable housing in Ottawa. Canada-wide, 56 properties are on the list. [CTV}

NEW LOCAL JOBS

Check out the new open positions in Ottawa.

1. Operations manager at Randstad Canada

2. Parliamentary guide at Library of Parliament

3. General accountant at OTUS Group  

4. Climate change associate at Pwc Canada

5. Mobile application developer at Solink

Local jobs are selected by the Lookout team and are not paid ads, unless specifically noted. 

THE AGENDA

👜 If you go to the Museum of Nature with a bag, expect it to be checked before entering. The temporary precaution comes after the popular tourist destination received a threatening email earlier in the week. Ottawa Police searched the property and found no security risks. [CTV]

🚔 Ontario Provincial Police have confirmed that excessive speed is what killed two young men during a motorcycle crash on Aug. 2. The incident which occurred on Highway 416 near Highway 417 took the lives of former Gatineau Olympiques goalie Creed Jones and another unidentified person. [Ottawa Citizen]

🍔 J.P. Dominic Mignac, a former Skip the Dishes driver, has been found guilty of stabbing a Burger King customer in Vanier who was “hungry and unhappy” after the courier allegedly skipped the line. He was convicted of assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm and aggravated assault in relation to the March 10, 2022 incident. [Ottawa Citizen]

🩺 Almost 400 healthcare professionals from Ottawa hospitals signed a letter to the healthcare officials criticizing their move to withdraw from the Capital Pride Parade after it stood in solidarity with Palestine. The letter criticized the hospital CEOs for dehumanizing Palestinians at a time when the country is being blocked from receiving medical supplies. [Ottawa Citizen]

🔥 Human remains were found after a Friday morning house fire in Eganville. The fire was not considered suspicious and the identity of the victim had not been released. [CBC]

🏳️‍🌈 The pride parade attracted thousands to downtown on Sunday for the annual festivities. This year the parade has a shorter route after police were concerned about safety following Capital Pride’s statement supporting Palestine in the ongoing Middle East conflict. Marchers carried pride flags alongside Palestinian flags, with many attendees saying it has always been a political rally. [CBC]

EVENTS

What to do this week

👑 Queer History Walking Tours of Ottawa, Tuesday: Join drag king Morgan Mercury (plus special guests!) for a fun and educational walking tour of Ottawa, exploring our rich queer history! At Dundonald Park, 516 Somerset St W. Tickets start at $5.00. 

🧑‍🎨 Family Paint Party, Wednesday: Join artist Savannah Robinson for an exciting Paint Nite event at Casa Mexico in Kanata! Unleash your inner creativity and let your imagination run wild as you create a beautiful painting while sipping on delicious cocktails and enjoying authentic Mexican cuisine. At Casa Mexico, 7 Kakulu Rd, Kanata. Tickets are $39.00.

🧘🏿‍♀️Yoga & Wine at the Vineyard, Wednesday: End your day with a relaxing yoga session surrounded by the picturesque vineyard, while sipping on Domaine Perrault wine. At Domaine Perrault, 1000 Perrault Rd. Tickets are $22.63. 

🎤 Jimmy Buffet Night, Friday: Transport yourself to a tropical paradise with Jimmy Buffett Nite at Bar Robo! Join us for an evening filled with laid-back vibes, live music by the sensational Angelo Leo band, and all the Margaritas you can handle. At Queen St. Fare, 170 Queen St. Tickets are $22.63.

🛼 Social Rollerskating: Ottawa Quad Session, Friday: At Norm Fenn Gym - Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr. Tickets are $9.31. 

🎸 Rock en Español by UNO, Saturday: The Best of the First 11 Rock en Español Shows on Their 5th Anniversary. At The Rainbow Bistro, 76 Murray St. Tickets are $22.00. 

😹 Battle Of Wits: A Comedy Game Show, Saturday: Battle of Wits is a comedy game show featuring Canada's best comedians going head to head to out-wit one another. Expect the unexpected. At Cultures Comedy Club, 291 Dalhousie St. Tickets start at $17.31.

🪩 2010s Dance Party by Dreams of Captain Venue X Dee-Tee, Saturday: Get ready to groove to the biggest hits of the 2010s at Dreams of Captain Venue X Dee-Tee's Dance Party - it's gonna be lit! At The Captain's Boil, 354 Elgin St. Tickets are $11.98.

🌮 Persian Summer Bash Party, Saturday: Celebrate the vibrant Persian culture with us at the summer bash of the year! Get ready for a night filled with lively music and delicious food. At Multiverse Hosting Services, 2490 Fifth Line Rd Dunrobin. Tickets are $24.76.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• The North Lanark Highland Games returned for its 39th year. [CTV]

• The third annual summer car show took place in Elizabethtown-Kitley. [CTV]

• The Ottawa Safety Council is looking for crossing guards for Westboro, Barrhaven, Riverside South, and Orleans. [Kitchissippi Times]

• Ice sports are becoming a popular activity for Queer people. [Kitchissippi Times]

• The opening night of Come From Away at the National Arts Centre on Thursday was a true celebration.  [Ottawa Business Journal]

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COMMUNITY PHOTO

Karen Vallevand shared this beautiful photo of a sunrise along the Ottawa River. Want your photo to be featured next week? Email one to [email protected]