Officials with the City of Edmonton said Wednesday that the opening of the long-delayed Metro LRT Line could take place in the coming months.
According to the City of Edmonton, a new timeline has come together based on recent testing by contractor Thales Rail Signalling Solutions Inc. – and they’re ‘cautiously optimistic’ the line will be in service next spring.
The opening of the line, that would start at Churchill LRT Station, making stops at Macewan University, Kingsway and the Royal Alex Hospital, and NAIT, was originally set for the spring of 2014.
However, contractors ran into problems interfacing signaling systems forced the opening date to be delayed – a number of outstanding technological problems need to be addressed before the line can open.
The delays have been met with frustration from Edmonton transit users, and the mayor.
“City administration has heard loud and clear from myself and from my colleagues and from the public how this project has been managed,” Mayor Don Iveson said.
“There are many hard questions to be asked about this project and I will personally ensure that they get answered to the satisfaction of City Council.”
The city said if the contractor sticks to their current schedule, the line, with safety certification, should be turned over to the city by March 23, 2015.
After the handover, officials said six weeks would be needed to evaluate the system and train staff – it’s hoped the line would then open in May, 2015.
