Councillors want downtown buses back until LRT is more 'dependable'
Buses again replaced LRT trains on east end of line Tuesday afternoon
Three Ottawa city councillors are calling on OC Transpo to restore bus service through thecoreuntil the transit agency can ensurethe new light-rail system is "dependable."
Coun.Jeff Leipersaidan LRT breakdown Tuesday which left commuters trudgingthrough snow was, in his mind, the"straw that breaks the camel's back."
"We saw social media discussions about people waiting for some long times in the cold, people being asked to walk on sidewalks that didn't look plowed," he told CBC's Ottawa Morning Wednesday.
"The train needs to work before we can ask people to continue relying on it."
It was -10 C at 4 p.m. at the Ottawa airport, with a wind chill making it feel like -19.
Train service between St-Laurent and Blair stations came to a haltfor approximately one hour Tuesday because of a stopped train at Cyrville station.
OC Transpo ran backup buses between the stations.
Councillors Catherine McKenney, Carol Anne MeehanandLeipertweeted to express their frustration.
"After careful consideration [Coun. Jeff Leiper] and I are calling for the restoration of all R1 busses until the trains are dependable," Coun. McKenney wrote in a Tweet.
R1 buses run along the Confederation Line route when rail service is disrupted, mirroring the routes which used to be served by retiredbusessuch as the 95.
After careful consideration @JLeiper and I are calling for the restoration of all R1 busses until the trains are dependable. #LRT
—@cmckenney
I feel horrible for commuters tonight delayed in the cold by another train failure. Its time to bring back the suburban routes until some period of virtually flawless performance is achieved. @JimWatsonOttawa, we need to initiate discussions on how to do this. @cmckenney
—@JLeiper
I agree. Serious solutions are needed now. City has to act because according to transit Chair Allan Hubley RTG maintenance is not taking problems seriously. https://t.co/iHnGlYegF6
—@MeehanCarolAnne
The transit agency said 17 buses were used for Tuesday's replacement service, which also saw Routes25, 30 and 39 begintheir routes at St-Laurent the 30 and 39usually begin at of Blair.
Since the LRTtook over for major bus routes Oct. 6, more than a dozen delays have prompted OC Transpo to run backup buses.
With files from CBC Radio's Ottawa Morning