Ottawa’s LRT construction boss stepping down this fall

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The director of the City of Ottawa’s rail construction program, Michael Morgan, is stepping down from his role this fall.

In a memo to the mayor and council on Wednesday, general manager of transit services Renée Amilcar said Morgan had indicated that he would be leaving his post to “pursue other opportunities.”

Richard Holder City of Ottawa LRT Construction Program
Richard Holder, City of Ottawa director of engineering services, will assume the position of director of rail construction on an interim basis following the departure of Michael Morgan. Photo by City of Ottawa/YouTube /ott

He will remain in the role until early fall “to provide support through the transition,” with director of transit engineering Richard Holder assuming the rail construction position on an interim basis.

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Part of Transit Services’ Departmental Leadership Team, the memo said, Morgan had built “a strong, experienced team” who would continue to move forward with the opening of O-Train Lines 2 and 4 and the completion of the east and west extensions of Line 1.

Ottawa’s light rail transit system has been plagued with issues since its launch in 2019. Earlier this week, OC Transpo announced it would be reducing O-Train service during “non-peak” hours starting Aug. 26, just weeks before federal government employees are mandated to return to offices three days a week.

In her memo, Amilcar said the Stage 2 South extension project was of “immediate and paramount” importance to Ottawa. She said Holder was very familiar with the project, given his previous role as manager of systems and operations integration for the rail construction program, and was “actively engaged” in the commissioning process.

“An executive recruitment process has already been initiated for a new director of the rail construction program, and I will keep council informed as it progresses,” Amilcar’s memo said.

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