AG explores Ottawa's LRT readiness in annual report

Wondering exactly how the city will transition from moving thousands of transit riders on buses one day to moving them by light rail the next?

So is Ottawa's auditor general Ken Hughes.

As part of his annual AG reportto be released Thursday morning, Hughes will present an audit of "light rail transit planningand change management."

Hughes and his team will report on what city staff has done to ensure there's a smooth transition from using buses on the Transitwayto using light rail.

Right now, thousands of commuterstake buses to and from the downtown core. But when light rail is implemented it's supposed to be operational in the spring of 2018 riders will be transferring from buses to trains at Blair Station in the east endand Tunney's Station in the west end.

The interim audit will look at how plans are going for this massive transition that will occur in 18 months.

Hughes will also be issuing reportson five other issues:

• Automated Meter Reading Project.
• ByWard and Parkdale markets.
• Environmental Services Department.
• Specific Areas of the Infrastructure Services Department.
• ServiceOttawa Program.

Although the office of the auditor general has not made public exactly what aspects of these subjects are being studied, the auditor generally examines whether taxpayers are getting value for money, whether proper accountability processes are followed and whether programs have lived up to what was promised.