WATCH ABOVE: The city is requesting more documents from signalling contractor Thales before it takes over control of the Metro LRT Line.
EDMONTON — The city said Tuesday it “remains cautiously optimistic” that the Metro LRT Line will open this spring, but added it still needs more documents from signalling contractor Thales.
Thales provided most of the required documentation to the city on the March 23 handover deadline, including a safety certificate. But, the city said Tuesday it needs some additional documents before it can consider the handover complete.
READ MORE: City is still ‘cautiously optimistic’ Metro LRT Line will open this spring
City officials passed that request on to the signalling contractor and “expects that it will provide a timely response.”
“The signalling system is essential to the overall safe operation of the Metro Line,” said the city in a news release.
“The city’s primary duty is to public safety and handover of the signalling system cannot be completed until the city has received the necessary documentation to sufficiently evaluate all safety aspects.”
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A spokesperson for Thales told Global News they are not surprised by the city’s news release and the company continues to work with the city to fulfil the contract.
Once the handover is complete, the city estimates it will take six weeks to complete staff training and other preparations before opening the Metro Line for public use.
READ MORE: Opening of Edmonton’s Metro LRT Line to NAIT delayed yet again
The Metro Line was originally expected to be ready for passengers in April 2014. In December 2013, the city announced the opening date would be pushed back to June 2014. In March 2014, the date was pushed back to the end of the year. Then in October 2014, the opening date was yet again pushed back. At that time, transportation officials said the Metro Line would be up and running by early 2015. And most recently, in December 2014, the city announced the signalling system handover was delayed, but that an early 2015 opening was still scheduled.
“Without question, these delays are unacceptable to city council,” said Mayor Don Iveson in January.
“We will be doing everything within our power to hold accountable those responsible, in due course.”
Iveson says city administration has heard “loud and clear” the frustrations from council and the public on how the project has been managed.
The new LRT line is expected to add 13,200 weekday passengers to the LRT network and add destinations like NAIT, the Royal Alexandra Hospital and MacEwan University to the system.
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