The Ottawa Light Rail Transit Commission of Inquiry (CERTLRO) held a second public meeting yesterday before hearings began on June 13. Several dozen citizens came to the Shaw Center to describe their experiences with the OC Transpo light rail system. For its part, the Commission’s team studied the progress of its work.
Since taking office in January, the CERTLRO about 90 witnesses were interviewed under oath and received more than a million documents to inform its work. It is estimated that more than 10,000 are related to its mandate, which aims to clarify the many glitches observed since the train was operational in 2019. Only phase 1 of the light rail will be reviewed.
The CERTLRO expected to hear 40 to 50 witnesses between June 13 and July 8. By law, testimony received at commission hearings cannot be used in future legal proceedings, except in cases of perjury.
Panels of experts on various topics are also planned after the conclusion of the hearings.
Smells, slippery dock and head trauma: users are very sad
Slippery platforms, smell of sewage at Parliament station, poor station design: many complaints about the OC Transpo train on Thursday, again.
The train has been in service for three years, and the smell of sewage is still there! launched Luka Yeskiw to Commissioner William Hourigan. He also took time to thank each speaker, emphasizing the importance of coming to testify to CERTLRO.
He lamented the problems incurred in slippery harbors during the winter. I have noticed cracks in the docks, and water flow problems. Even today at Tunney’s Pasture Station there are large puddles of water on the platform, which is likely due to the design of the outdoor platforms, Mr. continued. Yeskiw.
” Many of us are here tonight because we feel like we’re talking to a brick wall and haven’t been heard from for the past two years. “
Jonathan McCoy, for his part, had motor problems, and also regretted the fact that the platforms were often slippery. When it was too crowded, I often waited for two or three elevators just to get on the train or get out of the station. It was slippery, so if I climbed the stairs, I put myself in danger of falling. he sighed.
Another user recounted an experience that led to head injury. He argues that due to the arrangement of stations where there is interconnection in the bus network, people rush to board their bus that literally runs to the station. Someone ran into me, and since then I have had a concussion. I was a teacher, and I lost my memory. said Raj Doobay, who intervened by telephone. He said he wanted to testify that he could not get compensation, but so that this situation would not happen again.
Throughout the meeting, Commissioner William Hourigan insisted that all testimonies were welcome and necessary for the work of CERTLRO. Anyone interested in the investigation team may contact [email protected] or by calling 1-833-597-1955.
Source: Radio-Canada