Lines 2 and 4 of the Ottawa light rail transit (LRT) system are opening as of January 6.
The much-anticipated lines have undergone rigorous testing over the last several months and are finally launching to riders. Officials are launching the system in a phased approach allowing riders and operators to get used to the addition.
The lines will begin a five-day service on Jan. 6 (Monday through Friday) and will continue for a minimum of two weeks. Buses will run seven days a week in case of any issues.
Late November, TransitNext told members of council it achieved substantial completion of Stage 2 of the O-Train South Extension. Following a review process, the Independent Certifier issued a Substantial Completion Certificate on Nov. 26, confirming the system is safe and reliable.
The system needed to operate in 98.5 success percentile before opening.
The LRT has been delayed multiple times over the construction, with the latest date being extended in fall 2023.
Line 2 will stretch to Limebank from the already-established Greenboro station, adding an additional 16 kilometres of track. Line 4 from South Keys will then travel to the airport, adding four kilometres of track.
Stage 2 of the LRT is being touted as a way to change the city’s dependency on personal vehicles and blend together communities. As the system develops over the next several years, more lines will open and give Ottawa residents more options to travel across the nation’s capital.
