Transit committee to hear report on response to inquest into Westboro bus crash

First responders attend to victims of the double-decker bus crash at the Westboro Station on Jan. 11, 2019. Photo by WAYNE CUDDINGTON /POSTMEDIAArticle content

The City of Ottawa’s transit committee is to hear an update June 12 on the city’s plan to address recommendations made following a coroner’s inquest into the 2019 Westboro bus crash.

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City staff will be presenting a summary of the report on the inquest recommendations and highlighting changes that have already been implemented. The crash claimed the lives of three people and injured dozens of others.

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The City of Ottawa accepted civil liability for the collision in 2020.

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The final list of recommendations from the inquest were made by five jury members selected by the coroner. The focus of the inquest was fact-finding and to make safety-related recommendations to prevent similar fatalities in the future. The inquest jury’s recommendations are not legally binding.

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A total of 41 recommendations are directed toward the City of Ottawa, including traffic speed reduction strategies, assessing bus routes for double-decker buses to avoid potential hazards and incorporating the perspectives of bus operators in safety audits. The city has already taken a number of steps since the crash, including updated training for drivers.

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The remaining 19 recommendations are split between provincial and federal government agencies, and external organizations.

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“Aspects of this recommendation are currently in place. Staff will review this recommendation and report back to Transit Committee with additional details in Q3 2025,” the action plan states next to several of the recommendations.

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The recommendations also include removing canopies from stations and installing countermeasures to prevent a bus from crashing into a station platform. The action plan also reviews any budgetary pressures or impact on rider travel experiences the recommendations would have.

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Transit commission chair Glen Gower said the list provides “good” recommendations moving forward that external organizations and the city can implement.

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“I’m glad to see that response from the city and from OC Transpo that they are committed to implementing the recommendations,” Gower said. “There’s already been a working group established to review and build on a roadmap.”