OC Transpo

[Admiral Nelson]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

We don't know why the PS doesn't want to return to the office.

Do you really? Most people value their time and money, and commuting costs both. PS leadership wants to shrink their office portfolio to save billions, and they need to offer some flexibility to enable hotdesking.

[DTcrawler]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

Have we ever learned what happened to the heated LRT-1 platforms?

I think the heat-tracing was pretty much entirely non-functional from day one. And given that it's embedded in the concrete platforms, it's not really something that can be fixed easily. But not to worry, the inevitable decay of the concrete due to over-salting (already evident at many stations) may offer an opportunity to address the heat tracing sooner than expected.

That being said, even if the heat tracing were functional, I wouldn't be surprised if OCT would opt to turn it off to shave a couple more pennies off their operating expenses.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

Have you read the comments?

We have totally screwed up the transit experience since Line 1 construction began, then when Line 1 opened, we reduced frequency on key connecting bus routes and we have been reducing buses and reliability ever since .

Unfortunately, it is too late and will take enormous effort to recover even a portion of lost ridership.

Many lament about the loss of express service but it is the planners and city councils fault for not making transfers work. In my case, we have gone from express to two transfers. Should anybody be happy with that?

This should not be happening.

I will turn your question around. How would you make transit attractive again for the masses that once rode OC?

It is not just me. The ridership collapse tells us a lot that our very expensive transit plans are not working. Furthermore, our latest bus plans actually deliver worse frequency and more indirect routing on many routes. Token service is another ridership loser. But then you look at the enormous operating costs of running the trains that we chose and bus cuts were inevitable.

What is your solution to transit trips that now take one or two hours?

I start with we aren't going to be rescued by the Feds, Province nor by Ottawa ratepayers. So we need to cut costs. What is the fairest and least damaging to long term ridership way to do this? Something like:

Once phase 2 opens up we need to focus on making this a good frequent service and rush hour busses from key areas that feed into it. Some areas will need rush hour only bus service that goes straight downtown. A few busses only to avoid crazy costs but maybe 75 minutes (60 inside the greenbelt) in transfers can be the threshold where you get an express bus. Without this we lose all the discretionary suburban commuters.

Outside of peak hours we need large busses with infrequent but dependable straight service so those who have no choice but to use transit have an option that is dependable. Others might need to Uber to the closest LRT. No more curling around every street. No more 18 minute schedules that really are 30 minutes.

[OCCheetos]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

Should our billions in investment not have produced a better result,, so that more people would want to use transit? Isn't it as simple as that? I can relay my personal experience but really the bottom line is that thousands everywhere have abandoned transit.

Define "produced a better result". What criteria are you considering? Billions of dollars in a single capital project can't fix the transit system on its own, especially not if every other bit of the system is being dismantled through a "death of a thousand cuts".

The billions of dollars spent did the thing that it was supposed to do: alleviate the capacity on the city's main transit trunk. The lack of connecting bus service isn't a billion dollar capital investment, it's an ongoing lack of operational investment. The state of the bus network is an ongoing operational matter, and something that requires operational investment to fix.

Treating the LRT as if it was supposed to be the one and only investment we'd ever need to make to fix the system is exactly the kind of mindset that got us here in the first place. So no, of course it wasn't going to do that.

The system needs operational investment to expand service and (if nothing else) to undo decades of cuts. The city isn't "broke", it constantly brags about having the lowest property tax increases out of every major Canadian city over the past decade, it's all a matter of political will. Reducing the argument to simply "billions of dollars got us nowhere" is not going to help generate the political will to do something about the operational spending that had been cut even before those billions were spent. I also hope I don't need to explain to you what the difference between capital and operational expenditures are.

[kmcamp]

The biggest problem that OC Transpo needs to focus on is dependability.

The big improvement that line 1 brought, even with its track record, is service that actually shows up at it's scheduled time. Line 2 will show up every 12 minutes pretty much like clockwork. It's not the best frequency in the world, but it's dependable.

A bus with a 10 minute frequency is better on paper, but they arrive on time around 65% of the time by OC Transpo's own metric. So that paper frequency is worthless. You stand at a stop and pray a bus might show up after a reasonable wait, but the bus system feels totally random.

Complaints about transfers and travel times are missing the forest for the trees. Without a more reliable bus system, ridership will never improve.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

This covers the OC Transpo problems over the last 20 years and explains why people are fleeing transit. If you can't get to your job on time, transit is useless. This video is very well done. Seeing my former city councillor Diane Dean's screaming at a council meeting was priceless. The truth is said when it is stated that OC once offered poster child transit and then explains how we have fallen so far and lost public confidence.

• Video Link

Just watching this and was delighted to see that Ian Lee managed to worm his way into this video too! It's uncanny!

[rocketphish]

Senior fare hike to be further reduced in new transit plan coming to council
'Tweaks' to youth and student fare hikes also in the offing in plan that does not raise taxes

Arthur White-Crummey · CBC News
Posted: Dec 10, 2024 4:38 AM EST | Last Updated: 5 hours ago

A new plan to soften Ottawa's steep transit fare hikes for seniors is taking shape, and it's expected to be more generous than what passed at transit commission weeks ago.

Beacon Hill-Cyrville Coun. Tim Tierney said he's been working with Mayor Mark Sutcliffe as well as ocuncillors Glen Gower, Jeff Leiper and Jessica Bradley on the plan, which he expects will get wide support when council votes on the city budget on Wednesday.

"We've heard first-hand from our seniors and that has not gone on deaf ears. So take it to the bank — there will be further reductions," said Tierney.

"If you don't vote for this, good luck in 2026, in the next election cycle, because this is exactly what the public has been saying."

Gower, who chairs the city's transit commission, confirmed that "we are all working on a compromise on seniors' fares."

City staff had initially proposed hiking the cost of the seniors' transit pass from $49 to $108 per month as part of a slate of measures to fill a $120-million transit deficit. Last month, transit commission voted to limit the increase to $78.50.

"I feel very confident it won't remain at the number we left it at," Tierney explained. "I fully anticipate seniors will be quite happy at the end of the day about a further reduction. What that number is is yet to be presented. We're still crunching numbers."

At transit commission, Bradley proposed limiting the increase to $58.25 per month, the same price as an EquiPass available to low-income people. But she wanted to use a slight property tax increase to pay for it — a move beyond the authority of the commission — so the idea was punted to Wednesday's council meeting.

Tierney said the new plan has a different funding solution, though he would not reveal how it would cover the cost.

City staff also recommended eliminating a fare discount for youth, which would push up the cost of a monthly pass for riders ages 13 to 19 from $99.25 to $135. Knoxdale-Merivale Coun. Sean Devine tried to reverse that hike at transit commission, though his motion relied on a tax hike and was also put on ice.

As talks continue, Tierney said the youth fare issue hasn't been forgotten, nor has the pushback over a five per cent hike to the U-Pass for university students. But he said both those questions will take longer to iron out.

Leiper confirmed there are "a ton of conversations" now happening on all three issues: youth passes, seniors passes and the U-Pass.

"I expect things will keep changing behind the scenes over the next two days," he said on Monday. "I'm very hopeful for some compromises."

Gower said there are "tweaks" in the works for both U-Pass and youth fares. He said the funding offset for both, as well as the compromise on seniors fares, has not yet been identified — but he said it won't come via higher property taxes.

Devine's motion on youth fares is set to come back to council as well, but he told CBC he plans to replace it with a more narrowly focused motion on Wednesday, one that would raise taxes by about 56 cents for the average homeowner.

While many students get transit passes through their school boards, about 1,060 youth pay out of pocket. Devine's new motion would only cover them, limiting their fare increase to five per cent.

"If this budget passes without any redress, they are each going to be paying $429 more per year," he said. "To me, not only is that unfair, that would be, by a long shot, the biggest single impact on any demographic."

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/se...transit-plan-coming-to-council-1.7405493

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

[B]Senior fare hike to be further reduced in new transit plan coming to council
'Tweaks' to youth and student fare hikes also in the offing in plan that does not raise taxes

A new plan to soften Ottawa's steep transit fare hikes for seniors is taking shape, and it's expected to be more generous than what passed at transit commission weeks ago.

Beacon Hill-Cyrville Coun. Tim Tierney said he's been working with Mayor Mark Sutcliffe as well as ocuncillors Glen Gower, Jeff Leiper and Jessica Bradley on the plan, which he expects will get wide support when council votes on the city budget on Wednesday.

"We've heard first-hand from our seniors and that has not gone on deaf ears. So take it to the bank — there will be further reductions," said Tierney.

"If you don't vote for this, good luck in 2026, in the next election cycle, because this is exactly what the public has been saying."

Gower, who chairs the city's transit commission, confirmed that "we are all working on a compromise on seniors' fares."

City staff had initially proposed hiking the cost of the seniors' transit pass from $49 to $108 per month as part of a slate of measures to fill a $120-million transit deficit. Last month, transit commission voted to limit the increase to $78.50.

"I feel very confident it won't remain at the number we left it at," Tierney explained. "I fully anticipate seniors will be quite happy at the end of the day about a further reduction. What that number is is yet to be presented. We're still crunching numbers."

At transit commission, Bradley proposed limiting the increase to $58.25 per month, the same price as an EquiPass available to low-income people. But she wanted to use a slight property tax increase to pay for it — a move beyond the authority of the commission — so the idea was punted to Wednesday's council meeting.

Tierney said the new plan has a different funding solution, though he would not reveal how it would cover the cost.

City staff also recommended eliminating a fare discount for youth, which would push up the cost of a monthly pass for riders ages 13 to 19 from $99.25 to $135. Knoxdale-Merivale Coun. Sean Devine tried to reverse that hike at transit commission, though his motion relied on a tax hike and was also put on ice.

As talks continue, Tierney said the youth fare issue hasn't been forgotten, nor has the pushback over a five per cent hike to the U-Pass for university students. But he said both those questions will take longer to iron out.

Leiper confirmed there are "a ton of conversations" now happening on all three issues: youth passes, seniors passes and the U-Pass.

"I expect things will keep changing behind the scenes over the next two days," he said on Monday. "I'm very hopeful for some compromises."

Gower said there are "tweaks" in the works for both U-Pass and youth fares. He said the funding offset for both, as well as the compromise on seniors fares, has not yet been identified — but he said it won't come via higher property taxes.

Devine's motion on youth fares is set to come back to council as well, but he told CBC he plans to replace it with a more narrowly focused motion on Wednesday, one that would raise taxes by about 56 cents for the average homeowner.

While many students get transit passes through their school boards, about 1,060 youth pay out of pocket. Devine's new motion would only cover them, limiting their fare increase to five per cent.

"If this budget passes without any redress, they are each going to be paying $429 more per year," he said. "To me, not only is that unfair, that would be, by a long shot, the biggest single impact on any demographic."

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/se...transit-plan-coming-to-council-1.7405493

The senior lobby strikes again. Kind of laughable posts saying we can increase defence spending by cutting OAS. Yeah right.

Also interesting we can see the whole plan with youth fares was about charging school boards more. Get them to pay for those 11 year olds taking the bus to school. Too bad there is collateral damage that probably costs them money for families who will just skip transit rather than pay for an 11 and 12 year old.

[rocketphish]

Council passes transit plan that eases burden on seniors, delays student hikes
Senior transit fares will go up 19 per cent instead of 120 per cent under new plan

Arthur White-Crummey · CBC News
Posted: Dec 11, 2024 3:31 PM EST | Last Updated: 1 hour ago

Ottawa city councillors have voted for a new plan to fill the transit deficit that avoids sky-high fare hikes for seniors while delaying proposed increases for students and youth.

But Mayor Mark Sutcliffe warned that there is still a gap in the OC Transpo budget as the city waits on federal and provincial funding as part of his so-called campaign for fairness.

"If we don't get the help we need in the next month or two, we'll have to find other solutions for the $36-million shortfall in the budget," Sutcliffe said. "So it's absolutely critical that the other levels of government deliver in the coming weeks."

He said he remains "cautiously optimistic" the money will come.

<more>

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/co...n-seniors-delays-student-hikes-1.7407747

[rocketphish]

Ottawa advocacy groups rally against OC Transpo fare hikes
The city passed a motion to increase OC Transpo fares by five per cent to help cover a $120 million transit shortfall.

Sadeen Mohsen, Special to the Citizen
Published Dec 11, 2024 • Last updated 44 minutes ago • 3 minute read

As Ottawa city councillors rolled back OC Transpo fare hikes after a lengthy final budget meeting on Dec. 11, a group of protesters outside city hall were clear that any increase in transit costs would have a detrimental impact on those with low income, especially seniors and students.

The city passed a motion to increase OC Transpo fares by five per cent to help cover a $120 million transit shortfall.

...

Despite the concessions after a lengthy motion introduced by Coun. Tim Tierney, seniors, students and advocacy groups are demanding better city services.

<more>

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-new...oups-rally-against-oc-transpo-fare-hikes

[dougvdh]

Originally Posted by DTcrawler

I think the heat-tracing was pretty much entirely non-functional from day one. And given that it's embedded in the concrete platforms, it's not really something that can be fixed easily. But not to worry, the inevitable decay of the concrete due to over-salting (already evident at many stations) may offer an opportunity to address the heat tracing sooner than expected.

That being said, even if the heat tracing were functional, I wouldn't be surprised if OCT would opt to turn it off to shave a couple more pennies off their operating expenses.

If they used electric heat tracing like they did on the stairs at Carling Station, the lifespan is very short. The only right way to do it is with a hydronic system (like pretty much every commercial / apartment parking ramp uses.) Those sorts of systems are much more durable and long lasting.

[rocketphish]

OC Transpo chief calls councillor's questions about performance reviews 'a personal attack'
Coun. Riley Brockington says he did not personally attack Renée Amilcar, who still has his support

Arthur White-Crummey · CBC News
Posted: Dec 12, 2024 10:58 AM EST | Last Updated: 1 hour ago

A tense exchange over late buses led the head of OC Transpo to brush off what she called a "personal attack" after a city councillor asked who is doing her performance reviews.

River ward Coun. Riley Brockington questioned transit services general manager Renée Amilcar during the budget debate Wednesday, saying he sees no investments that will fix issues with chronically late buses.

But he began his line of questioning by asking the city manager, Wendy Stephanson, how she is overseeing Amilcar's performance.

"You develop her personal work objectives and assess her at the end of the year on her performance?" Brockington asked.

Stephanson confirmed that is the case.

<more>

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/oc...ance-reviews-a-personal-attack-1.7408443

[Marshsparrow]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

OC Transpo chief calls councillor's questions about performance reviews 'a personal attack'
Coun. Riley Brockington says he did not personally attack Renée Amilcar, who still has his support

Arthur White-Crummey · CBC News
Posted: Dec 12, 2024 10:58 AM EST | Last Updated: 1 hour ago

A tense exchange over late buses led the head of OC Transpo to brush off what she called a "personal attack" after a city councillor asked who is doing her performance reviews.

River ward Coun. Riley Brockington questioned transit services general manager Renée Amilcar during the budget debate Wednesday, saying he sees no investments that will fix issues with chronically late buses.

But he began his line of questioning by asking the city manager, Wendy Stephanson, how she is overseeing Amilcar's performance.

"You develop her personal work objectives and assess her at the end of the year on her performance?" Brockington asked.

Stephanson confirmed that is the case.

<more>

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/oc...ance-reviews-a-personal-attack-1.7408443

Is ANYONE at OC Transpo or the City accountable for the shambles our public transportation has become? Has anyone been demoted, reprimanded or fired?

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by Marshsparrow

Is ANYONE at OC Transpo or the City accountable for the shambles our public transportation has become? Has anyone been demoted, reprimanded or fired?

Marconi was fired for decisions related to the train fiasco. Everything else is a choice by taxpayers and leaders to limit tax increases rather than fund transit enough to fix the system.

Not sure how Amilcar can be blamed for that. Someone more experiences might have been able to convince the political leaders to lean towards more funding but that's very debatable and not a part of performance as measured anyway.

[rocketphish]

OC Transpo to ring in 2025 with free transit on New Year's Eve

Josh Pringle, CTV News
Published Dec. 12, 2024 10:44 a.m. EST

OC Transpo will ring in 2025 with free transit on New Year's Eve.

The Transit Service outlined changes to its winter service schedule on Thursday, including plans for no-charge transit on Dec. 31.

Transit Services general manager Renee Amilcar says free transit will be provided after 6 p.m. on trains, buses and Para Transpo on New Year's Eve.

The free New Year's Eve transit is courtesy of Safer Roads Ottawa and Mothers Against Drunk Driving Ottawa and Area.

OC Transpo bus service will be operating on a reduced weekday schedule on December 31, with additional resources "available to supplement busy routes as required," Amilcar said.

The O-Train will operate on a reduced Friday schedule from 5 a.m. to 2 a.m., with peak period service every five minutes. The B2 buses will operate on a special schedule from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m., and Para Transpo will operate until 3 a.m.

Here is a look at the OC Transpo schedule changes over the holidays:

Christmas Week

Amilcar says on Dec. 23, Dec. 24 and Dec. 27, bus service will operate on a reduced weekday schedule and the O-Train Line 1 will operate on a reduced weekday schedule with peak period service every five minutes.

School services, including 600-series routes, will not operate, as schools will be closed during the week of Christmas.

Christmas Day

OC Transpo buses will operate on a Sunday schedule and O-Train Line 1 will operate on a Sunday schedule.

Boxing Day

OC Transpo buses and the O-Train Line 1 will operate on a Saturday schedule on Dec. 26. Amilcar says additional resources will be available to supplement busy routes as required.

New Year's Week

On Dec. 30, Dec. 31, Jan. 2 and Jan. 3, buses will operate on a reduced weekday schedule. The O-Train Line 1 will operate on a reduced weekday schedule, with peak period service every five minutes.

School services, including 600-series routes, will not operate, as schools will be closed during the week of New Year's.

New Year's Day

OC Transpo buses and the O-Train Line 1 will operate on a Sunday schedule. B2 buses will also operate on a Sunday schedule.

Other changes

OC Transpo's winter service changes will begin on Dec. 22 and Jan. 6.

Starting on Dec. 22, routes 74, 198, 278 and 406 will be extended to Limebank Station, and Line 2 buses will be renamed to B2 buses

https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/oc-transpo-to-ring-in-2025-with-free-transit-on-new-year-s-eve-1.7143065

[hwy418]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

Marconi was fired for decisions related to the train fiasco. Everything else is a choice by taxpayers and leaders to limit tax increases rather than fund transit enough to fix the system.

Not sure how Amilcar can be blamed for that. Someone more experiences might have been able to convince the political leaders to lean towards more funding but that's very debatable and not a part of performance as measured anyway.

It's her job to fix the mess - hell she's highly paid for that reason! Good for Brockington to grill. Sweeping changes are needed in upper management at OC Transpo. Culture of mediocrity and no one is held to account.

[DTcrawler]

Originally Posted by hwy418

It's her job to fix the mess - hell she's highly paid for that reason! Good for Brockington to grill. Sweeping changes are needed in upper management at OC Transpo. Culture of mediocrity and no one is held to account.

Fix it how? She’s limited to the budget given to her agency by council. I’m surprised more people don’t realize the irony of a councillor criticizing the transit GM for the state of transit. Did OCT’s issues suddenly materialize when Amilcar was hired? Clearly not, so it’s foolish to try and put the blame on her shoulders. A while back I commented on how I do wish she’d at least be more frank about why further improvements to transit are not possible without investment to grow ridership. The average resident right now thinks transit — because OCT simply isn’t trying, which is honestly hilarious and sad at the same time.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by DTcrawler

Fix it how? She’s limited to the budget given to her agency by council. I’m surprised more people don’t realize the irony of a councillor criticizing the transit GM for the state of transit. Did OCT’s issues suddenly materialize when Amilcar was hired? Clearly not, so it’s foolish to try and put the blame on her shoulders. A while back I commented on how I do wish she’d at least be more frank about why further improvements to transit are not possible without investment to grow ridership. The average resident right now thinks transit — because OCT simply isn’t trying, which is honestly hilarious and sad at the same time.

I had kind of hoped that she came in with a mandate to revamp the organization. I'm not sure who is to blame (probably a number of people), but that has clearly not occurred. A big shift in culture is desperately needed.

[OCCheetos]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

Marconi was fired for decisions related to the train fiasco. Everything else is a choice by taxpayers and leaders to limit tax increases rather than fund transit enough to fix the system.

Not sure how Amilcar can be blamed for that. Someone more experiences might have been able to convince the political leaders to lean towards more funding but that's very debatable and not a part of performance as measured anyway.

Manconi wasn't fired. He didn't even resign. He retired.

[Richard Eade]

I’m glad that you folks have tagged the CULTURE as mediocre, and not the individuals. There are some very smart people in the OC Transpo management, and they are good at their jobs. Given more resources, I expect that we could have a phenomenal public transit system.

Unfortunately, the management at OC Transpo in not controlling OC Transpo. They are being squeezed from below by a union that dictates conditions; and by the politicians that dictate what OC Transpo must provide, while severely limiting the resources available to OC Transpo.

If you need proof that there are some clever people in management, consider how they have been able to keep as much of the system running as they have. Are there enough buses? No. Are there enough mechanics or operators? No. Has OC Transpo’s costs increased well beyond what the revenue has? Yes. But, somehow, OC Transpo has managed to still provide the vast majority of the service.

Is it perfect? Not in the least. When there aren’t enough working buses or operators, some runs will get missed. And OC Transpo’s management even had to plan for that. The dropped runs are managed to try to provide the minimum pain, on the whole.

I think that if a Councilor wants to look at why the service that OC Transpo provides is lacking, they should find a mirror.