This is the second part of my update on Transit Committee on 12 March. The first part can be found here.
Staff presented an update on Stage 2 LRT at that meeting. Stage 2 East achieved substantial completion right before the meeting, which is a big step forwards for that project. But the continuing spalling issue will affect the timeline for trial running, if it is not resolved soon, and there seems to be no indication that will occur.
The only document:
The Stage 2 update begins at timestamp 3:21:10 of the video, which can be found here.
Stage 2 East
Stage 2 East reached substantial completion the week before the meeting. The independent certifier and City have approved the milestone, and thus, Stage 2 East finally exits the official testing phase. Rideau Transit Maintenance has taken over responsibility for the extension, and is conducting familiarisation training on the line.
Staff reaffirmed that they will hold a technical briefing before trial running commences. They confirmed that this could only take place when the full fleet of 46 trains was in service, which requires a solution or workaround to the spalling problem.
Work will continue on non-critical issues, including the train control software, platform edge cameras, and minor finishings. Meanwhile, landscaping work will be completed this year, and Highway 174 will be resurfaced.
Of the 38 Stage 2 vehicles, 30 have been accepted; 7 are in production; and 1 is in dynamic testing. Compare that to the status of the vehicles last September in the black-and-white slide below.
Stage 2 West
Staff also presented a photo update of Stage 2 West.
Construction is "progressing well," and structural work is nearing completion at all stations. The focus of activity has therefore shifted to testing and commissioning elements including elevators, escalators, ticket machines, and faregates. The first occupancy permit on Stage 2 West has been obtained for the bus operator building at Algonquin Station.
Work on the bus loops is underway and should be complete at the end of the year.
Testing and commissioning is ongoing at Westboro Station, as well as work on architectural finishes and fare gadgets. At Kichi Zibi Station, the consortium is testing and commissioning electric and vertical circulation components. And on the Kichi Zibi Mikan, westbound traffic remains at one lane, which will be the configuration until Stage 2 West opens, which is required so that curb work can be completed once the extension opens.
At Sherbourne and New Orchard Stations, work is progressing on the communication systems and the passenger information screens. There are also waterproofing and backfilling operations at the latter station.
At Queensview Station, the consortium have been working on "mechanical and electrical works and interior finishing." Pinecrest station work includes the bus loop, station plaza, and the ol' testing 'n' commissioning.
Bayshore station work was described as relatively advanced. Work here continues on communication systems, elevator testing, and installation of faregates and machines. A catenary is also visible in the shot presented to Committee. Testing and commissioning work is ongoing at Moodie Station.
Algonquin and Iris stations are in what was described as a "three-way tie" for the station whose works are most advanced (along with Bayshore). At both stations, staff only described the standard testing and commissioning.
Richmond Road's permanent alignment was completed last year between MacEwen Ave. and Allison Ave. Utility work was also completed west of Ancaster Ave. This year, work will focus further east and on Byron, which was closed between Richardson Avenue and Compton Avenue on 30 March and will remain so until Fall for utility work and repaving. Utility work also continues at Sherbourne Station and Cleary Avenue.
Woodroffe Avenue was also closed on 30 March and will also remain closed until the Fall. Utilities, traffic signals, and roadwork are being coordinated to occur concurrently at that intersection and road segment.
Staff shared overall progress on Stage 2 West. Milestones include the completion of track installation; the installation of all OCS poles and 65% of the wiring; and installation of all the jet fans and fire line in the Kichi Zibi tunnel, and overhead catenary rail.
Work anticipated to begin or continue this spring includes testing the train control systems, various bus loops, and civil work at the 417 interchanges.
Compare that to the timeline last September, which showed the track and systems installation complete in Q2 2026, commissioning in Q3, training done in Q4, and handover by the end of this year with an opening date likely in Q1 or Q2 2027. Of course, this was proven to be an optimistic timeline - may there be no more delays on Stage 2 West. 
Track and system installation is projected for completion in Q3, while commissioning and operations-and-maintenance training will both complete in Q1 of next year. Handover to the City will be in Q2 2027, and the opening preparations will be in Q3 2027. Given that delays have always occurred during testing, this may be an optimistic timeline for opening, which may be pushed back to 2028 or 2029. However, staff emphasized that the completion of Stage 2 East frees up crews and effort to accelerate work on Stage 2 West.
Stage 2 South
Minor outstanding work remains on Stage 2 South, including a bearing condition monitoring system (Line 1 has really made OC Transpo paranoid); landscaping work; the problematic "frog" at Beech Street, noted as an issue last year; and the voice and video recorders in the trains.
OC Transpo is evaluating unspecified improvements at Limebank Station following an inquiry from Steve Desroches.
Finances Again
The written report included a budget chart, as usual. There have been no categories spending over $10 million between July 2025 and this January, except in the contingency (which is now $60 million). This draws the unspent budget down from $417 million to $329 million. Small expenses continue to be taken out on the Stage 1 LRT program.
Until next time.
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