Quote:
Originally Posted by Catenary
I do not have an issue with OC Transpo offering a discounted monthly pass to the commuter services, in exchange for it being mandatory and integrated into the commuter service pricing (no opt-out).
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I take issue with it. They are literally being incentivized by the City of Ottawa to live outside the City of Ottawa. Why is that necessary?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Catenary
These people are not using OC Transpo service on weekends or evenings, they will almost all only be traveling on high capacity, low cost O-Train service.
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You don't see this as a problem. But I do. These folks will help fill up the trains at the terminus, leaving less room for everyone else who actually lives in and pays taxes in Ottawa.
If you really want to see how bad it can get, go to Toronto and talk to anybody taking the Yonge Line at any station south of Finch at rush. Every train leaves Finch station with every seat taken, and the majority of those commuters aren't from the City of Toronto. They're from York Region. I can absolutely imagine just this scenario from Trim Rd if given discounted passes to CRT riders.
Not all usage is equal. Peak usage of any part of the transport network, be it road or rail is highly valued. And you are suggesting effectively subsidizing that for them, with discounts.
[QUOTE=Catenary;8395436]
Very few continue onto the bus network, so the cost to provide them the service they want is low, and the full monthly pass would be unreasonable expensive for the amount they would actually use the service.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Catenary
We provide a similar discount to post-secondary students, because we know that not all of them use it.
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We provide discounts to students because:
1) They tend to have limited income.
2) Most won't travel at peak.
3) The educational institutions are all inside the City of Ottawa and so are the vast majority of students.
4) Their travel patterns are reasonably diffuse that they are going to keep adding to peak flows.