About Us
Our Purpose
We assist the City of Ottawa in maintaining Ottawa’s Confederation Line with the Province of Ontario’s Places to Grow Act.
We provide you with safe, reliable, and accessible light rail public transit to enhance your mobility and connectivity and support the city’s response to the Province of Ontario’s transportation needs.
We are vital to sustaining Ottawa’s vibrant economy and helping the city accommodate population growth in the region.
We are creating a legacy for current and future generations.
Our Vision
We want to transform the way Ottawa moves to encourage and provide:
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- the quick and efficient movement of people in support of business and prosperity,
- a livable, competitive, high-quality of life,
- a healthy, active, and engaged lifestyle for Ottawa communities,
- a strong, prosperous, and thriving world-class economy competitive with other cities in Ontario and Canada,
- active transportation in the form of connecting community walking and cycling paths alongside bus routes to light rail transit stations, and
- a sustainable and protected atmosphere with low carbon footprint transport systems that contribute to the legacy of a healthy and clean environment for generations to come.
Our Approach
We accomplish our purpose and vision by applying the following values:
Serve with Passion
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- Customer First: O-Train users and stakeholders are our prime considerations.
- Accountability: Responsibly complete operations and maintenance of the Confederation Line on time and within budget.
Think Forward
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- Progress: Rideau Transit Group (RTG) considers new ideas and embraces change and continuous learning.
- Excellence: RTG principles and requirements incorporate existing light rail transit best practices and evolving state-of-the-art systems.
- Innovation: Seek out and open new paradigms and solutions.
Team Play
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- Collaborate: Work with municipal governments, agencies, and the private sector to achieve mutual goals.
- Communicate: Provide timely, accurate, precise, and consistent information to the public, communities, businesses, and stakeholders, fully informing and engaging them in the operations and maintenance of the Confederation Line.
Access
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- We believe barrier-free access requires stakeholder involvement, so we will provide OTL1 Stations, Stops, Facilities, and Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs) that are fully accessible to persons with disabilities per municipal and provincial codes and regulations.
- Address Rights-of-Way (ROW) access depending on location per provincial and municipal guidelines.
Integrated Transport Services
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- Provide LRT-to-bus, personal vehicles-to-LRT and buses, LRT-to-LRT, park-and-ride, and bus terminal transfer facilities for effective interfaces with various transport modes based on use and ridership.
- Provide LRT systems and facilities as an integral part of overall regional transport systems designed explicitly for efficient passenger transfer to and from private and other public transport modes.
Our History
We were contracted to oversee the design, construction, financing, and maintenance of the Confederation Line of the Ottawa Light Rail Transit (LRT) Project on December 5, 2012.
Construction of the Confederation Line began on April 19, 2013. The first stage of the line was the largest infrastructure project awarded in the city’s history, only surpassed by the Stage 2 extension of the same line.
The Confederation Line opened on September 14, 2019 and uses light rail rolling stock and technology. It is Ottawa’s second light rail transit line, complementing the existing north-south Trillium Line which operates west of the downtown core.
Currently, the Confederation Line is a 12.5-kilometre, 13-station electric-light rail system running east to west of Ottawa. The light rail vehicles travel underground in a 2.5-kilometre tunnel stretching from LeBreton Flats to Waller Street, and four of its stations are underground.
Our People
Grant Bailie – Chief Executive Officer
Grant took on the role of RTG’s CEO in August 2025, bringing with him over 30 years of global experience leading major commuter rail, transit, and infrastructure projects. Throughout his extensive career, Grant has led the delivery of various large-scale rail systems in both Canada and internationally, with some projects valued at over $2 billion.
With a background in planning, building, and operating complex transportation networks, Grant brings valuable insight to RTG as we continue to grow.
Mehdi Driss – Chief Financial Officer
Mehdi brings more than 15 years of expertise in finance and accounting and has been seconded to Rideau Transit Group from our Parent Partner, AtkinsRéalis, since 2021. Before joining Rideau Transit Group, he worked as a project accountant on infrastructure projects and as a financial analyst in the airline industry.
As the Chief Financial Officer, Mehdi oversees all aspects of RTG’s corporate financial needs and, with his team, provides RTG with financial reporting, cash management, taxation, treasury, and financial planning services.
Mehdi holds a bachelor’s degree in administration from the University of Tunis and a master’s in Management and Planning from the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM).
Rhiannon Arsenault, P.Eng – Technical Director and Stage 2 Manager
Rhiannon was initially seconded to RTM from ACS Infrastructure Canada as the Stage 2 Manager In July 2022. As of October 2025, Rhiannon has joined RTG as its Technical Director and Stage 2 Manager.
She has been working on LRT projects in Ottawa since 2015 in varying roles and responsibilities, ranging from construction project management of the Stage 1 Above Ground Station to technical review evaluating design submissions for compliance with project output specifications for the owner.
Rhiannon is responsible for ensuring a smooth handover of Stage 2 infrastructure from the Design Build Constructor to RTM’s care during revenue service. Rhiannon holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Carleton University and is a licenced engineer in Ontario.
Kyle Munshaw – Chief Safety Officer
Kyle attended the Occupational Health and Safety Program through Algonquin College and has his Lean Six-Sigma Black Belt certification. He obtained and was featured as a success story with the CCA Gold Seal Safety program, received his CSO with IHSA, holds his Red Seal Journeyman certificate in Carpentry, and was a First Aid Trainer with St. Johns Ambulance.
Kyle was awarded a Certificate of Excellence by the Ontario Deputy Ministry of Labour for extraordinary client-focused service delivery.
Kyle also served as the Ontario Eastern Regions Team Lead for the Critical Incident Stress Management Team.
Lynn Davidson – Director of Environment & Sustainability
Lynn graduated from the University of Waterloo with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies. With her 19 years as senior project manager at AtkinsRéalis and an additional ten years of experience in environmental management, Lynn’s areas of expertise include environmental permitting approvals, licenses and authorizations, and environmental auditing.
Meaghan Walser – Executive Assistant to CEO & Office Manager
Meaghan has an Advanced Diploma (Honours) in Business Administration, specializing in Human Resources. Meaghan also holds a certificate in Office Administration from St. Lawrence College. Meaghan joined the Confederation Line project in 2019 and brings an extensive background in administration.
Miranda Caley – Communications Coordinator
Miranda earned her Bachelor of Journalism (Honours) from Carleton University in 2022. Throughout her post-secondary experience, Miranda managed communications duties for the Carleton Journalism Society and the Charlatan, where she handled all social media channels and served as a liaison for students and her program. She joined RTG’s team in 2023, later becoming its key Communications Coordinator, where she brings experience in data-informed content creation and administrative work.
Our Contractors
Rideau Transit Maintenance
Rideau Transit Maintenance (RTM) is a General Partnership firm of ACS Infrastructure Canada, AtkinsRéalis, and EllisDon.
All maintenance activities on the Confederation Line, Ottawa’s light-rail transit system, are conducted by RTM. These works are overseen by RTG, which was awarded a 30-year contract to maintain the line back in 2012.
ALSTOM
Alstom offers the broadest portfolio in the transit industry, from high-speed trains, metros, monorails, and trams to turnkey systems, services, infrastructure, signalling, and digital mobility.
Alstom is in 63 countries and has a talent base of over 80,000 people from 175 nationalities. It focuses its design, innovation, and project management skills where mobility solutions are needed most.
On December 5, 2012, Alstom was subcontracted by Rideau Transit Maintenance to provide maintenance activities to the Confederation Line light rail system infrastructure and rolling stock (trains).
Ottawa Light Rail Transit Constructors (OLRT-C)
Ottawa Light Rail Transit Constructors (OLRT-C) was the consortium developed to oversee the construction of the Confederation Line 1 from Blair to Tunney’s Pasture and the construction of the Maintenance and Storage Facility (MSF) located on Belfast Yard.
The design-build joint venture comprised partners from Dragados Canada, SNC-Lavalin, and EllisDon.
OLRT-C hired a group of designers and architects called Rideau Transit Group Engineering Joint Venture (RTGEJV) to provide the detailed design of the system and oversee Alstom for the light rail vehicles (LRVs) and Thales for LRV systems.
Hitachi Rail
Hitachi Rail is a global player in the railway sector: an integrated group capable of offering rail transport vehicles, signalling systems, and digital technology service and maintenance activities as well as turnkey solutions worldwide.
Hitachi in Canada helps customers, cities, and governments meet their digital and sustainability goals. Hitachi is propelling the nation towards a progressive future defined by technological advancement, environmental consciousness, and an enhanced quality of life for citizens
Hitachi Rail is a leading partner to the world’s best transportation customers. Headquartered in London, England, the company employs roughly 24,000 people and has offices in more than 50 countries worldwide.
On December 5, 2012, Rideau Transit Maintenance subcontracted Thales Canada to provide maintenance support for the rolling stock of the Confederation Line light rail system. In May 2024, Thales Group sold their Ground Transportation Systems to Hitachi Rail—a new contract between Hitachi Rail and Rideau Transit Maintenance is currently underway.
Our Parent Partners
ACS Infrastructure Canada
The ACS Group is a worldwide leader in the construction and services industries, taking part in the development of critical sectors of the economy, such as infrastructure and energy.
ACS Group is committed to the social and economic progress of the countries in which it works. The Group’s successful track record is based on an efficient organization and a dynamic and entrepreneurial attitude through consecutive mergers, takeovers, and strategic planning to benefit its clients and maximize profitability for the ACS Group’s shareholders.
EllisDon
EllisDon is an employee-owned, $5 billion-a-year construction services company that has grown exponentially beyond its modest origins in London, Ontario. With over 5,000 salaried and hourly employees across fifteen national and international offices, EllisDon has become a leader in every sector and nearly every facet of the construction industry.
EllisDon has positioned itself as a ‘Cradle To Grave’ services provider with guaranteed performance outcomes through its Capital Services, Facilities Management, and Sustainable Buildings Divisions.
EllisDon leads the construction sector, having recently created pioneering initiatives in Energy Management, Smart Buildings, Software and Data Analytics.
AtkinsRéalis
Founded in 1911, AtkinsRéalis, formerly SNC-Lavalin, is a fully integrated professional services and project management company with offices worldwide.
AtkinsRéalis connects people, technology, and data to help shape and deliver world-leading concepts and projects while offering comprehensive, innovative solutions across the asset lifecycle.
The expertise at AtkinsRéalis is wide-ranging — consulting & advisory, intelligent networks and cybersecurity, design and engineering, procurement, project and construction management, operations and maintenance, decommissioning and sustaining Capital.
AtkinsRéalis delivers to clients in four strategic sectors: Engineering, Design, and Project Management (EDPM), Infrastructure, Nuclear, and Resources, supported by Capital.
Safety. Integrity. Collaboration. Innovation. Excellence.
Our Community
Rideau Transit Group General Partnership, Rideau Transit Maintenance, and our subcontractor Alstom all support your local communities and charitable organizations within Ottawa.
Before the launch of the revenue service of the Confederation Line in 2019, our employees have actively participated in person and collected financial and in-kind donations to support members of Ottawa’s growing communities, including the following:
- Over the past seven years, we have run a food donation drive for the Ottawa Mission. During that time, we delivered nearly $6,000 in food items through staff donations.
- During Christmas, we collected toys and gift cards from staff to donate to the CHEO Holiday Toy Drive. We also support the CN Cycle for CHEO through staff donations, raising more than $2,500.
- Our support of local philanthropic organizations was expanded in 2023 to include the Humane Society Wiggle Waggle Walk.
- In 2022, we extended our community support to include Ottawa’s Toy Mountain with donations of children’s toys.
- In 2020, we supported the 20th Annual Mayor’s Charity Golf Classic.
- Also, in 2020, we were happy to fundraise for YouthOTTAWA., which supports annual programs and services for more than 8,000 Ottawa youth.
- A long-time supporter of the Ottawa Mission, we volunteer time in the kitchen, sort clothing donations, and collect non-perishable items for donation.
