First morning 'stellar' for Metro LRT, says transportation manager

City officials are calling the first day of weekday rush hour service for the Metro LRT line "stellar," with only one major glitch reported. 

A train was delayed at NAIT after its communication system went down. The train was removed from service and a replacement was brought in.​ 

"Every second counts," said transportation manager Dorian Wandzura.

"We're working with our control staff to make those second by second adjustments. But overall, it's gone really really well."

Traffic delays weren't as bad as expected. The city initially projected drivers could wait as long as 16 minutes at some intersections. CBC reporter Lydia Neufeld said eastbound traffic on Princess Elizabeth Avenue at 106th Street waited for about two traffic light cycles, or approximately eight minutes. 

Wandzura said there were fewer cars lined up at intersections along the route on Tuesday morning than there were on Sunday and Monday.

"I think that people have adjusted," he said.

Trains on the Metro Line are stopping for five minutes at MacEwan Station. Wandzura said that is being done on purpose. 

"That's really to make sure that the train can get back into the right place on the Capital Line and make sure we keep our train spacing and keep service where we need it to be," he said. 

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He said the city will continue to make adjustments to the speed and frequency of trains to improve the traffic flow in the area.

NAIT president Glenn Feltham was riding the trains Tuesday morning and talking with students. He said he is looking forward to when the system is fully operational.

"This really is a great thing for many of our students and for our staff," he said.

The new line officially opened Sunday after months of delays and controversy. 

The trains are running at a 15-minute frequency. The original plan called for service every 10 minutes, but trains can run no faster than 25 km/hr until ongoing problems with the signalling system are resolved.

Last week, city officials revealed that drivers could expect delays up to 16 minutes on Princess Elizabeth Avenue at 106th Street because of the Metro Line crossing.