Frustration with LRT system
Yesterday I attended a special Transit Commission meeting to give an update on OC Transpo, LRT, and our public transportation system. The LRT has been plagued this month with problems that required trains to be pulled out of service, leaving fewer trains available for rush hour commutes. It should be pointed out that the system had been working well for much of the last few months of its operation, but the recent delays have caused transit riders a longer and more unpredictable commute. Transit riders in Bay Ward have already made it clear to me that their major concern is still the bus service. The late and missing buses mean long stands in winter weather.
I have asked residents to continue emailing me their specific bus route concerns so we can bring them to OC Transpo management. I raised resident concerns again yesterday at the Transit Commission meeting. I also raised the fact that we cannot forget about the need to improve service for ParaTranspo users. As well, I have been asking for a meeting with General Manager John Manconi on expanding the GPS capability on buses so riders can have more accurate information. Mr. Manconi acknowledged that he had cancelled this meeting three times due to the LRT delays this past week. I will continue to ask for a meeting with the Mr. Manconi.
Work on LRT Stage 2 has begun as we can see from the removal of trees along the route. We need to restore confidence in the transit system as this investment in our city transportation infrastructure expands. I was disheartened to see the memo sent to Councillors outlining the technical standards of the top bidders on the Stage 2 project. I share the concerns of many that the choice was made with the lowest bidder. The same bidder that also had below threshold technical scores, and unfortunately, Councillors were not aware until after the vote. The documents are included in this week’s Bulletin. Stage 2 is coming and I will continue to speak out to ensure that we have a quality system for our residents.
