The major flooding on Canada Day that hammered Ottawa’s west end could mean only part of the western extension of the O-Train would open at first, a transit executive says. The storm on July 1 brought more than 100 millimetres of rain to the city, with some areas in the west end reportedly receiving 150 mm or more. The storm caused significant flooding at several O-Train stations under construction in the west end between New Orchard Station and Moodie Station. Speaking to CTV News Ottawa’s Leah Larocque on Wednesday, director of rail construction Richard Holder said OC Transpo and the constructor, KEV, continue to assess the damage caused by the storm and are considering options for the line, which is currently slated to open sometime in 2027. The west extension includes two lines. Line 1, which currently ends at Tunney’s Pasture, would be extended to Algonquin College. Line 3 would be a separate line that would run parallel to Line 1, splitting at Lincoln Fields Station and continuing to Moodie Station. The area between Moodie Station and the Corkstown Yard light maintenance storage facility suffered the most damage, Holder said. “There was significant damage. We are still going through the assessment with the contractor. There’s a there’s a lot of work that needs to be done,” he said. “Obviously, there’s visual inspections, but there’s significant testing of electrical connectivity and various communication systems that really will take quite a bit of time. We’re also doing assessments of devices that were flooded, and we’re also looking at any potential damage from the flooding for cables that were underwater for some time.” Holder said it is premature to say what can be salvaged and what must be replaced, but he did not rule out having to rip up and replace damaged sections of track, if it comes to it. “There was damage to the ballast and there was damage to the track. At this point, it’s not likely that much will be salvaged,” he said. “We need to get the formal assessment in terms of the track. But there will be certain parts of the equipment and certain parts of the electrical system that will need to be replaced.” Partial opening an option In the meantime, OC Transpo said on Wednesday that a train travelled west of Tunney’s Pasture Station to Algonquin Station for the first time, which Holder said gives them confidence the Line 1 extension could potentially open even if Line 3 cannot. “Based on the train moves that occurred yesterday and today, we’re feeling a lot more confident about the Line 1 extension out to Algonquin,” he said. That could mean the train could run to Algonquin College before Line 3 to Moodie Station opens. “One of the options that we’re considering is a potential part-opening of the system instead of the original plan, which is opening to Algonquin and to Moodie at the same time. There is a possibility that we go for a partial opening,” Holder said. “Other options are possibly not going as far as Algonquin, and there may be options that we haven’t yet considered. But one of the objectives is really to get some of the west extension open to passengers as soon as we can safely open up the line and move people off our buses onto the trains.” Holder said staff would be coming back in early 2027 with a report from an independent consultant that is reviewing the schedule for construction. Damage ‘very concerning’: councillor River Ward Coun. Riley Brockington, who is a member of Ottawa’s transit committee, told Newstalk 580 CFRA’s Ottawa Now with Kristy Cameron that the comments from Holder are concerning. “I still want to see the details, but to hear that the ballast and or track could be damaged to the point it needs to be replaced is very concerning,” he said. “There was a video online of literally a river running downhill from the Moodie maintenance yards eastbound or downhill and it was significant. But the fact that the force of that water has damaged the ballast and track is quite surprising to hear.” Brockington said a partial opening is “better than nothing” if it’s safe to do so and he is hopeful for an update to councillors soon. “The fact that Mr. Holder is able to answer some of these questions with the media today means they have done assessments of the line. Maybe it’s not fully complete, but I do want to see that this month just to know the extent and the scope we’re dealing with.” Laura Shantz, a board member of Ottawa Transit Riders, told Ottawa Now that she’s “super discouraged” by the news. “We were hoping that next year, when this train comes online, that might take a bit of pressure off [the roads],” she said. “Now, all those dates are up in the air. Riders don’t know what’s going to happen. And it also just flags that if this kind of impact happens after a major rainstorm, is this a vulnerability of this track area in the future?” The storm on Canada Day has been described as a “one-in-200-year storm” and more than doubled the previous rainfall record for that date. That was followed by more than 85 mm of rain between July 27 and 29 Environment and Climate Change Canada also confirmed that July was the rainiest month in Ottawa history, based on records going back to the 1800s. Ottawa also saw more than 50 mm of rain between Aug. 1 and 3. Shantz said a partial opening would be “super helpful” if it’s possible. “At the same time, I know it’s still very disappointing for people who are trying to plan those eventual commutes out to Algonquin, over to Moodie Drive. It’s discouraging not to have timelines, but I appreciate anything we can do to get more stations online,” she said.
