Critics question independence of LRT return-to-service review

Some public officials are questioning the city's decision to retain STV Inc. to undertake what's been called an "independent and impartial" review of any plans to get the Confederation Line's LRT trains running again.

A train derailed Sept. 19 as it entered Tremblay Station. According to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, the train then crossed a bridge near Riverside Drive with 12 passengers on board before coming to a stop.

No one was injured, but the line is still out of service.

The fact STV was involved in both Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the city's LRT network should disqualify it from reviewing the plans by Rideau Transit Group to resume service, said citizen transit commissioner Sarah Wright-Gilbert.

"This is just sort of a further bit of evidence that the city either (a)thinks we're stupidor [that](b)I don't know how to Google," Wright-Gilbert told CBC News Saturday.

• Outside expert chosen to review LRT's eventual return to service

Wright-Gilbert said she wantsan end-to-end safety audit of the whole LRT system, andtrains shouldn't run until one is completed.

"[The city is] creating a narrative that they're doing everything you're supposed to be doing, thatthey're bringing in an independent auditor of this return to service plan when in actuality it took less than 20 minutes for the media to figure out that this company isn't independent whatsoever," she said.

STV has 'unique' expertise: city

According to the city, STV provided preliminary engineering support that was used to inform cost estimates, staging and development of specifications for the Confederation Line.

"STV has also provided compliance monitoring for the LRT Stage 1 and 2 projects but is not responsible for the design of the system," said city managerSteve Kanellakosin a statement.

The city says it alsoconsulted with Sam Berrada, council's rail regulatory monitoring and compliance officer, prior to making the choice.Berrada is independent from OC Transpo, the city said.

"STV has a series of technical rail experts and vehicle specialists who are able to advise and review on failure modes and provide support for investigations and commissioning plans," Kanellakos said.

"This type of expertise is unique and there are very few firms internationally with the skill set and capacity to undertake this work."

STV didn't respond to CBC's request for an interview on Saturday.

'A boondoggle'

Given the firmoversawmuch of the original Confederation Linetesting, it should be ineligible to conduct the review, saidCoun. Catherine McKenney, also a member ofthe transit commission.

"They're coming back to make a determination on work that they were supposed to oversee in the first place," said McKenney, who plans to bring a notice of motion to the next council asking for a full public judicial inquiry into the LRT system.

Wright-Gilbert saidSTV should step aside, allowing the city to find another firm for the review.

"The public doesn't trust OC Transpo. The public doesn't trust city officials. The public doesn't trust RTG," she said.

"They're not going to trust any results coming from a company, STV, that has such a conflict of interest in this entire process. It's a boondoggle."