Accountability is needed to address the Valley Line LRT delays

Edmontonians expect infrastructure projects to be on time and on budget.

Today, TransEd has notified Council and the public that they have discovered cracks in the concrete piers of the elevated, curved track at two points along the LRT line. These structural problems were discovered by City inspectors while TransEd was testing the trains under different conditions. Because of this discovery and the remediation needed, we will not see the Valley Line Southeast LRT open this summer.

I am deeply frustrated and disappointed on behalf of all Edmontonians to hear of further delays to this project that was supposed to be operational by December 2020. We have all been waiting for this critical transportation and these continued delays are unacceptable.

In 2014, the City secured federal funding to cover 40% of the capital cost if the City agreed to run the project as a Public-Private Partnership (P3). This meant that the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the line was contracted out to a private company: TransEd.

But after 18 months of delays, missed milestones, and unkept promises, we are now facing more challenges and unmet expectations for a large-scale infrastructure project. It is for that reason that I am calling upon our administration to undertake a comprehensive review of how we build large projects, particularly the P3 procurement process. In the meantime, we must ensure that we are undertaking a rigorous analysis before we support any new P3 projects.

We also need to acknowledge the lack of oversight that the City has on P3 projects. They are not transparent and can leave Edmontonians in the dark on important updates. When we’re talking about public money, transparency is essential.

I do want you to know that this issue will be fully addressed by TransEd at their own cost. Taxpayers are protected from covering any additional costs by our fixed-price contract. That means that the City has agreed to pay a set price for the project as a whole and all additional issues must be fixed within that budget. Know that these delays also come with financial penalties to TransEd and cost the company bonus payments they could have received for meeting our agreed-upon timelines.

I know this news is disappointing for many Edmontonians who were looking forward to their first ride on the new line, but we need to ensure that this project is safe when it opens.

I look forward to the day when I can stand before my neighbours and friends with good news about this project.

> To learn more about the Valley Line as a P3 project see the FAQ sheet here.
> For updates from TransEd visit: transedlrt.ca/updates