The City of Ottawa is facing 13 civil suits related to last January's devastating bus crash and has received notices of 18 more.

Close to one year after the fatal double-decker bus crash at Westboro station, OC Transpo says an independent safety review of the Transitway is underway and will continue into 2020.

Mayor Jim Watson sat down with Global News for an end-of-year interview last week.

Aissatou Diallo, 42, faces three counts of dangerous driving causing death and 35 counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm in the deadly collision in Ottawa on Jan. 11, 2019.

The double-decker bus, on an express route from downtown to the west-end suburb of Kanata, slammed into the roof of a shelter, cutting through the right side of its upper deck and crushing a number of seats.

Police and the city both say they have to stay tight-lipped while the Westboro bus crash investigation continues so the probe remains "uncompromised."

According to Coun. Allan Hubley, the change comes due to a request from those involved in the crash and their families.

The interim payments are being made in order to help families immediately to avoid waiting through the litigation process and will be funded by the city's insurer.

The candlelit tribute will begin outdoors at 7 p.m. at 65 Stonehaven Dr. in Kanata, according to the Bridlewood Community Association.

The bus crash on Jan. 11 claimed the lives of three civil servants and left 23 other people injured, some critically. A proposed class-action suit was filed six days later.