East end commuters waiting to get on board the light rail train will have to wait another two months after the consortium responsible for building the system recently informed the City that it wouldn't be able to reach it's March 31 target.

The reason for the delay, according to the Rideau Transit Group (RTG), is the need for further testing. If all goes well, the system will be operational by the end of June.

The delay will cost RTG a further $1 million in penalties. When work began in 2015, the initial target date for completion was May 24, 2018. Various issues, including a massive sink hole near the Rideau Centre, made meeting the target date impossible. A second deadline was set for November 2, but that too was missed so a third deadline was set.

The latest delay was deemed necessary in order to conduct additional testing to limit the potential for problems when it becomes operational. The LRT will need to accommodate thousands of communters almost overnight. The plan is to eliminate the existing OC Transpo Express routes and to shuttle riders from Orléans to the Blair LRT station instead where they will board the LRT trains for the trip downtown.

When the Confederation Line is in service, 30 of 34 train cars will be on the tracks at peak service, in 15 sets of double cars. (The last four vehicles are reserved for backup.) The City has said it won't takeover the LRT system until all the vehicles have been approved for use and have passed a 12-day, "flawless� end-to-end trial run, simulating how the train will operate once it begins carrying riders.

The system will be put to its first real test during the first few rush hours. Many commuters are skeptical the transition from bus service to light rail will be smooth and problem free, despite the City's assurances to the contrary, but all the delays don't exactly instill a great dealy of public confidence.

In other news, city council endorsed the next phase of LRT, along with the $4.66 billion price tag, during a special meeting on March 6. Despite a long list of concerns, the vote to proceed with Phase 2 passed by a vote of 19-3. The three dissenting votes were cast by councillors Rick Chiarelli, Diane Deans and Shawn Menard.

While a number of details still have to be worked out betweent he City and the successful bidders, work on Phase 2 will begin later this year. Part of the plan calls for the LRT line to be extended from Blair Station to Trim Road down the centre median of Hwy. 174. The work will include the creation of five stations at Montreal Road, Jeanne d'Arc Blvd., Orléans Blvd., Place d'Orléans and Trim Road. Completion is scheduled in 2024.

(This story was made possible thanks to the generous support of our local business partners.)