Once the Rideau Transit Group (RTG) hands over the keys in March, it will take three to four weeks of testing before the light rail line is up and running.

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson is confident members of the public will be riding the Confederation Line by late April.

"I've been told generally it takes three to four weeks to get everything up and running to make sure we meet all the safety standards, which of course is our first and most important preoccupation," Watson told the Rick Gibbons Show on 1310 NEWS.

However, this will only be possible if there is a smooth transition.

"Our folks in transit services have responsibilities that they have to fulfill, and they anticipate that to be three to four weeks which would be the end of April," Watson added.

Watson said he would prefer to have an April opening day considering the weather Ottawa experiences in the winter time.

On the topic of additional costs, the mayor believes they won't overshadow opening day due to the details in their fixed price contract with RTG.

"While there maybe costs that we are incurring, the consortium is incurring bigger costs," said Watson. "In fact, we owe them now about $262-million and they don't get paid until we are satisfied that the date is met at the end of March and all systems are a go."

He stated the city is saving around $400,000 a month in interest, along with deducting $1-million after RTG missed the November deadline.