Province threatens to withhold $60M in Ottawa LRT funding
CTV
The Ontario government is threatening to withhold $60 million in funding for Ottawa’s light rail system due to the problems plaguing Stage 1.
A letter from a senior ministry of transportation official to the city’s director of rail construction says the province has “noted some issues” facing Stage 1 of Ottawa’s LRT project, including the derailments in August and September of this year.
“We would like assurances that provincial funding is being used for assets and infrastructure that are safe and meet industry standards,” says the letter obtained by Newstalk 580 CFRA's Bill Carroll. It was sent to the city on Tuesday evening.
The Confederation Line has been shut down since the second derailment on Sept. 19, with OC Transpo running bus service in its place.
The province is putting $600 million for Stage 1 of Ottawa's LRT and $1.2 billion for Stage 2 LRT, about one-third of the project.
