#OttCity transit commission begins. There have been two LRT derailments since it last met in June. This morning Transportation Safety Board officials are again on the Confederation Line, investigating. #ottnews
cbc.ca/news/canada/ot…
cbc.ca/news/canada/ot…
Chair Allan Hubley opens #OttCity transit commission thanking John Manconi. It's the transportation GM's last meeting before retirement.
Hubley speaks of how Manconi met LRT's launch issues "head on", his creative problem solving, how he improv relationships with unions.
Hubley speaks of how Manconi met LRT's launch issues "head on", his creative problem solving, how he improv relationships with unions.
.@jchianello spoke with transportation GM John Manconi about his career last Thursday, before this derailment. Here's her piece that was published this morning: cbc.ca/news/canada/ot… #ottcity #ottnews
As they go through the agenda, on #4, Coun. Menard asks, "Is RTM here to take questions today?"
Hubley asks to let the commission get though the agenda, "let us run the meeting here."
The contractor's not here to answer inquiries and motions, Hubley tells him.
Hubley asks to let the commission get though the agenda, "let us run the meeting here."
The contractor's not here to answer inquiries and motions, Hubley tells him.
"Yesterday was a difficult day for our customers yet again," says Manconi of yesterday's LRT derailment
He says Nicolas Truchon, CEO of Rideau Transit Group, is on the transit commission virtual call to take questions. #ottnews #ottcity
He says Nicolas Truchon, CEO of Rideau Transit Group, is on the transit commission virtual call to take questions. #ottnews #ottcity
Manconi underscores many times there is no "root cause" yet but he wants to offer a "preliminary" idea of what happened.
(I remember several months ago, when city gave a reason - a misaligned screw, I believe - they had to come back with caveat that TSB didn't find that)
(I remember several months ago, when city gave a reason - a misaligned screw, I believe - they had to come back with caveat that TSB didn't find that)
On yesterday's derailment:
It does not appear to be an axle-bearing matter, says Manconi.
Manconi: What appears happened -- not signed off -- is a sander that is used on these vehicles.. that dispenses sand... bracket could have become dislodged. #ottnews #ottcity
It does not appear to be an axle-bearing matter, says Manconi.
Manconi: What appears happened -- not signed off -- is a sander that is used on these vehicles.. that dispenses sand... bracket could have become dislodged. #ottnews #ottcity
Before LRT will return to service, Manconi says an independent safety expert (not city staff) will have to review Rideau Transit Maintenance's plan.
"We're not tone deaf, we know there's concern about safety and confidence out there," says Manconi. #ottnews
"We're not tone deaf, we know there's concern about safety and confidence out there," says Manconi. #ottnews
Manconi also told city manager Steve Kanellakos that he's "mobilizing an integrated team of experts to come in and do another umbrella layer review, end-to-end of the entire system" on top of the Mott MacDonald work to see if there are any gaps. #ottcity #ottnews
These are all bills that will go to Rideau Transit Maintenance.
"They're in default. The system's not operating the way it's supposed to operate," says Manconi. #ottcity
"They're in default. The system's not operating the way it's supposed to operate," says Manconi. #ottcity
During the slide presentation #OttCity's Troy Charter went into detail about:
- August 8 derailment (cbc.ca/news/canada/ot…)
- Sept 19 derailment (cbc.ca/news/canada/ot…)
- August 9 double-decker in a ditch (cbc.ca/news/canada/ot…) #ottnews
- August 8 derailment (cbc.ca/news/canada/ot…)
- Sept 19 derailment (cbc.ca/news/canada/ot…)
- August 9 double-decker in a ditch (cbc.ca/news/canada/ot…) #ottnews
On the August 8th derailment, Charter said at first it was thought one of 10 axles on the train car went off the track. Only after it was jacked up to be rerailed, did they realize a wheel had "detached" from the axle. #ottcity #ottnews
More on those axles...
As for yesterday's derailment, it doesn't appear to involve axles.
That said, Charter mentioned yesterday's train was one of the 10 cars that was back in service after having axle repairs after August 8th. #ottcity #ottnews
That said, Charter mentioned yesterday's train was one of the 10 cars that was back in service after having axle repairs after August 8th. #ottcity #ottnews
And that double-decker that went in the ditch?
Troy Charter: cause was a steering system component. They found some bolts (where arrow is) that need torquing with specification had come loose.. in this vehicle, it came off.
#ottnews #ottcity
Troy Charter: cause was a steering system component. They found some bolts (where arrow is) that need torquing with specification had come loose.. in this vehicle, it came off.
#ottnews #ottcity
Coun. McKenney tabled a motion, asking for two separate task forces, including one on how to get a safe, reliable transit system from hereon in. #ottnews #ottcity
Chair Hubley tabled a motion related to what Manconi referred to: not re-starting the LRT until RTG's plan is reviewed by an independent expert. #ottcity
My web story so far from today's transit commission meeting:cbc.ca/news/canada/ot….
More will come given all the questions and concerns being raised now.
#ottcity #ottnews
More will come given all the questions and concerns being raised now.
#ottcity #ottnews
Manconi has touched on the busy, crowded R-1 buses he's hearing about, acknowledges there are nervous riders out there.
Manconi says he's asked to "throw every bus we have at it" to increase capacity. #ottcity
Manconi says he's asked to "throw every bus we have at it" to increase capacity. #ottcity
Glen Gower asks what capacity % are you using during the pandemic?
OC Transpo's Pat Scrimgeour says there is no number. The mask mandate of June 2020 was a recognition physically distancing never fully possible on transit without massive capital investment. #ottcity
OC Transpo's Pat Scrimgeour says there is no number. The mask mandate of June 2020 was a recognition physically distancing never fully possible on transit without massive capital investment. #ottcity
It becomes a balance between crowding here and waiting time there, says Scrimgeour of crowded buses.
On derailments, Tierney said what keeps him up at night is thinking about Stage 2 and faster speeds LRT could hit on straight stretches to the east end.
He also worries, given all routes funnel downtown, the system could be "paralyzed" by future episodes. #ottcity
He also worries, given all routes funnel downtown, the system could be "paralyzed" by future episodes. #ottcity
McKenney asked: Do staff today have confidence we received a well-designed system? Or did we just get the cheapest product possible?
Manconi: you got a system that met all contract requirements, passed testing. We've gone through more challenges than typical #ottcity
Manconi: you got a system that met all contract requirements, passed testing. We've gone through more challenges than typical #ottcity
McKenney also asked about the 12 days of testing pre-launch -- but as @jchianello reported then, not consecutive: cbc.ca/news/canada/ot…
McKenney: Would you make a different decision? Was there political pressure by mayor's office to get LRT running without 12 straight days?
McKenney: Would you make a different decision? Was there political pressure by mayor's office to get LRT running without 12 straight days?
Manconi: I've been at this 32 years. I'm not going to respond to the political interference piece.
Would we change (decision to launch) now? No. No testing could have projected a bracket would go loose on a sanding unit after millions of passenger miles. #ottcity
Would we change (decision to launch) now? No. No testing could have projected a bracket would go loose on a sanding unit after millions of passenger miles. #ottcity
Brockington picked up on Tierney's thoughts about a train going much faster than they've gone in these derailments. What if going 80km/h?
RTG CEO Truchon: "I would hate to speculate."
Brockington: That's where public confidence comes in. #ottcity #ottnews
RTG CEO Truchon: "I would hate to speculate."
Brockington: That's where public confidence comes in. #ottcity #ottnews
"OC Transpo is a system in crisis," Coun. Deans tells city manager Steve Kanellakos
Council and commission haven't been told of a replacement for Manconi who retires in a week and a half, she says.
"That's shocking," she says. #ottcity #ottnews
Council and commission haven't been told of a replacement for Manconi who retires in a week and a half, she says.
"That's shocking," she says. #ottcity #ottnews
Kanellakos says he's negotiating with a candidate, it's taken longer than expected. He hopes to announce that person soon but they won't take the job before Manconi leaves. #ottcity
"We should never have accepted this system," says Deans.
"Some in this organization might try and spin it as one bad week.. it's been a continuous set of problems the likes of which.. I don't think you could point to any other system in N Am that's had this level of incompetence"
"Some in this organization might try and spin it as one bad week.. it's been a continuous set of problems the likes of which.. I don't think you could point to any other system in N Am that's had this level of incompetence"
"We're trying to restore trust in this city. That's going to be very hard to do given what we've just been through," said Menard.
"Your refusal to hold an emergency meeting.. was a derilection of duty to residents," he tells Hubley. cbc.ca/news/canada/ot… #ottcity
"Your refusal to hold an emergency meeting.. was a derilection of duty to residents," he tells Hubley. cbc.ca/news/canada/ot… #ottcity
"Will you do your part in helping to restore faith, do the right thing and step down as chair of this commission,"
"Okay, Mr. Menard, you're going a little too far here," says Hubley. #ottcity
"Okay, Mr. Menard, you're going a little too far here," says Hubley. #ottcity
Hubley: more wholesome discussion with more answers today, even without a root cause. Also the commission was polled and decided against a meeting,
"You held a public rally that nobody showed up for but your staff and your best friends so there wasn't a huge outcry." #ottcity
"You held a public rally that nobody showed up for but your staff and your best friends so there wasn't a huge outcry." #ottcity
Dudas: "I'm exhausted by this. All of our riders are exhausted by this. I don't even know that I feel angry anymore because that would imply that I would be surprised by yesterday's news. I wasn't surprised. That's disappointing that we can't even feel shocked at this anymore."
Dudas asked: What is the root cause of all of it? Are we guinea pigs? Do we not have the right backups? Did we buy a lemon?
Manconi tells her to get RTG to call subcontractor Alstom, and CEO Henri Poupart-Lafarge to get an "army" to Ottawa to fix LRT (Seen here in 2019) #ottcity
Manconi tells her to get RTG to call subcontractor Alstom, and CEO Henri Poupart-Lafarge to get an "army" to Ottawa to fix LRT (Seen here in 2019) #ottcity
McKenney: Alstom won't send an army. They're part of RTG, of SNC-Lavalin. It's the "same big ball." McKenney doesn't want #ottcity to send Alstom a letter.
"They're allowing this to happen."
"This city is finished with letters and memos." #ottnews
"They're allowing this to happen."
"This city is finished with letters and memos." #ottnews
Hubley's motion on having an independent safety expert look over RTG's return-to-service plan before LRT restarts, approved 7 to 4. #ottcity #ottnews
McKenney had urged support for a pair of task forces to get at LRT’s problems. City execs noted there could be duplication with a report to come to council in-camera. Wright -Gilbert said public needs a report they see too. McKenney motion fails 5 to 6. #ottcity #ottnews
Tune into @cbcallinaday in a few minutes, on 91.5 FM for a debrief from Joanne.
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