OC Transpo

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

To be fair, nothing will get better till construction is done.

LRT construction is not the reason that the urban bus system (routes number 20 and less) is in shambles.

[Uhuniau]

Transitzilla, another one for your tech friends at OC Transpo:

A trip this morning for which my options were the 12 or the 19.

En route to the stops, both a 12 and a 19 passed before I could get there. Oh well. But the good news is that OC Transpo's totally real real-time data told me that there would be another 12 in 6 minutes, and I'm only a 3-minute walk from the stop. OC Transpo's totally real real-time data also tells me that the 12 is a better option for me at this point anyway, because the next 19 is actually slightly more than half an hour away.

And so, as I'm walking the rest of that three-minute walk to the stop to catch a 12 that is six minutes away, the 12 that is six minutes away arrives, and departs, three minutes before the totally real real-time data says it would.

It is followed immediately by another 12, which totally real real-time data never even bothered to tell me about.

The next 12 after that? in 26 minutes, according to totally real real-time data.

Well phoque.

But wait! The 20 is on detour, and even thought it's not the best option for where I want to go, it's coming and it'll get me in motion without having to wait nearly half an hour for the supposedly great and frequent service on route 12, which simply doesn't want to materialize this morning. So I wait a short minute or two for the 20, and grab it, and....

... watch as another 19 materializes, which I could have grabbed if I had known to go to the stop for the 19, but I didn't know to go to the 19 stop because totally real real-time data told me that the next 19 was more than half an hour away, not less than 10 minutes away.

Real-time data tells you buses are coming when they aren't, and doesn't tell you that they are coming when they are, and tells you a lie about the actual arrival time at least as often as it tells you the truth.

How is anyone supposed to use this bus system or the supposedly real-time data service associated with it?

And these are software problems. They have persisted for YEARS. Did OC Transpo hire former Phoenix coders or something?

[lrt's friend]

i never trust next bus data. So often, a bus gets 'lost' to the system and the next bus is at a ridiculous time then the lost bus appears on time. i have seen m'y local bus not appear at all on the Greenboro sign. No bus for the rest of the day? it does not provide trustworthy information. Even when an * appears to bé based real time GPS data. the predicted time often does not relate to reality.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

i never trust next bus data. So often, a bus gets 'lost' to the system and the next bus is at a ridiculous time then the lost bus appears on time. i have seen m'y local bus not appear at all on the Greenboro sign. No bus for the rest of the day? it does not provide trustworthy information. Even when an * appears to bé based real time GPS data. the predicted time often does not relate to reality.

I simply fail to understand how OC Transpo's own next-bus feature on OC Transpo's own website is so awful, inaccurate, unreliable, and prone to malfunction.

How is it so bad that OC Transpo itself has to direct people to use third-party apps?

[rocketphish]

Here’s how OC Transpo fares compare to other transit services in Canada

By Josh Pringle, CTV News
Published: November 13, 2025 at 8:53AM EST

Ottawa transit riders will continue to be paying some of the highest transit fares in Canada, as part of a fare increase in 2026.

The 2026 City of Ottawa draft budget, tabled on Wednesday, outlines the plan for a 2.5 per cent increase in transit fares next year. If approved, the cost of an adult monthly transit pass will increase $3.50 to $138.50 a month in 2026.

Here is a look at the proposed fare increases:

• Adult monthly pass: $138.50/month ($135 in 2025)
• U-Pass: $60.17 per month ($58.70 per month currently)
• Senior monthly pass: $59.75 ($58.25 in 2025)
• 3-day pass: $30.75 ($30 in 2025)
• 5-day pass: $49 ($47.75 in 2025)
• Adult single-fare ride (paid by card): $4.10 ($4 in 2025)
• Adult single-fare ride (paid by cash): $4.15 ($4.05 in 2025)
• Senior single-ride fare (paid by e-purse): $3.28 ($3.20 in 2025)
• Pre-teen single ride fare (paid by e-purse: $2.05 ($2 in 2025)

The EquiPass and Community monthly passes will remain the same as 2025 rates.

An analysis of transit fares across Canada shows OC Transpo would have the fourth highest fares for an adult monthly transit pass and a single ride in Canada.

The Toronto Transit Commission has the highest transit fares in Canada, with an adult monthly pass costing $156, followed by the Brampton Transit at $141.25 and Mississauga’s MiWay at $141.

Gatineau’s STO is looking to increase the cost of transit fares in 2026. The plan would see the cost of an adult monthly transit fare jump $3.50 to $116.50, while a single fare will cost $4.75 a trip, up from $4.50.

Kingston Transit charges $83 for a monthly transit pass.

Here is a look at the cost of transit fares across Canada.

Adult monthly pass

• Toronto Transit Commission: $156 (monthly pass)
• Brampton Transit: $141.25
• Mississauga’s MiWay: $141
• OC Transpo: $138.50 (2026 proposed fare)
• Hamilton Transit: $125.40
• Calgary Transit: $118
• Gatineau STO: $116.50 (2026 fares)
• Winnipeg Transit: $115.50
• Vancouver TransLink: $111.60 (Zone 1) $149.25 (Zone 2)
• Montreal STM: $104.50
• Grand River Transit (Kitchener-Waterloo): $104
• Edmonton Transit: $102 (Arc card monthly fare cap)
• Quebec City: $99.60
• Regina Transit: $88
• Victoria Regional Transit: $85
• Kingston Transit: $83

Adult single fare

• Gatineau STO: $4.75 (cash – 2026 fares)
• Brampton Transit: $4.50
• Mississauga’s MiWay: $4.25
• OC Transpo: $4.15 (paid by cash – 2026 proposal) $4.10 (paid by card – 2026 proposal)
• Grand River Transit (Kitchener-Waterloo): $4 (cash)
• Quebec City: $4.00 (cash), $3.70 (ticket)
• Calgary Transit: $3.80
• Edmonton Transit: $3.75 (cash fare)
• Hamilton Transit: $3.75 (cash fare)
• Montreal STM: $3.75
• Kingston Transit: $3.50 (coins only)
• Toronto Transit Commission: $3.35
• Vancouver TransLink: $3.35 (Zone 1)
• Regina Transit: $3.25 (cash fare)
• Winnipeg Transit: $3.25 (cash fare)
• Victoria Regional Transit: $3

https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/he...are-to-other-transit-services-in-canada/

[lrt's friend]

Announced this morning to use the. Greenboro Park n Ride for housing.

Great idea now that the lot has returned to 90 % capacity.

After screwing much of the southeast with New Ways to Bus, they are leaving more and more with few options to use transit Meanwhile, we have spent millions on park n' Ride lots that are not connected to rapid transit

We build housing that might generate 100 transit riders in a day and get rid of parking for several hundred.

This is progress City Hall is out of touch with the average tax payer

[OCCheetos]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

Announced this morning to use the. Greenboro Park n Ride for housing.

Great idea now that the lot has returned to 90 % capacity.

After screwing much of the southeast with New Ways to Bus, they are leaving more and more with few options to use transit Meanwhile, we have spent millions on park n' Ride lots that are not connected to rapid transit

We build housing that might generate 100 transit riders in a day and get rid of parking for several hundred.

Several hundred units with limited parking (thanks to its proximity to a transit station) should by all means generate far more than a measly 100 transit trips per day.

How many people using the Greenboro lot are commuting from areas that could just as well use Leitrim or Bowesville?

This is progress City Hall is out of touch with the average tax payer

Don't forget that the "average" taxpayer does not use transit.

And more importantly: don't forget that several hundred new housing units will contribute to the tax base and local economy more than several hundred parking spaces.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by OCCheetos

How many people using the Greenboro lot are commuting from areas that could just as well use Leitrim or Bowesville?

Greenboro PnR is probably used by people who live within a couple kilometers around it. Backtracking to Leitrim, and especially Bowesville, would add time to the commute. Might as well just drive Downtown at that point. Does Leitrim and Bowesville even have the capacity? I know they were built with expansion in mind, but no guarantee that will happen in line with the loss of the Greenboro PnR.

That said, the City can identify it for future housing, but it could be a decade or two, so no use stressing about it now.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Greenboro PnR is probably used by people who live within a couple kilometers around it. Backtracking to Leitrim, and especially Bowesville, would add time to the commute. Might as well just drive Downtown at that point. Does Leitrim and Bowesville even have the capacity? I know they were built with expansion in mind, but no guarantee that will happen in line with the loss of the Greenboro PnR.

That said, the City can identify it for future housing, but it could be a decade or two, so no use stressing about it now.

The theory is that people who live inside the greenbelt should have good enough transit service that they don't need to use a Park and Ride and that the Park and Rides are intended for those who live somewhere outside the greenbelt that doesn't have (sufficient?) bus service. That is the theory anyway.

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by roger1818

The theory is that people who live inside the greenbelt should have good enough transit service that they don't need to use a Park and Ride and that the Park and Rides are intended for those who live somewhere outside the greenbelt that doesn't have (sufficient?) bus service. That is the theory anyway.

That is a theory except New Ways to Bus significantly and negatively affected bus service in the areas surrounding Greenboro. Who is going to use the spécial service to Lansdowne if there is no available parking? Of course, everybody renting a one bedroom will bé the ones buying tickets for Lansdowne events. We will need to go back to parking near Lansdowne and get tickets because of parking restrictions there.

Nobody uses transit in the suburbs, right? That was not the case even 10 years ago. We continue to want suburban transit levies and make sure the service is less and less attractive. That person in the one bedroom is paying a lot less for transit.

Our obsession with serving only transit stations while demanding intensification is going to choke this city in gridlock and it is already happening.

[rocketphish]

Boosting OC Transpo's transfer window would have hefty price tag, city says
Some residents pay twice per trip, citing distance and delays

Emma Weller · CBC News
Posted: Nov 23, 2025 4:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 6 hours ago

For months, Barrhaven West Coun. David Hill has been advocating for residents in his ward who've had to pay OC Transpo fares twice just to commute one way to work.

Depending on the time and day, OC Transpo offers transfers valid for 90 to 105 minutes. But with the "New Ways to Bus" initiative — a sweeping overhaul of Ottawa bus routes that rolled out in April — and ongoing transit delays, that hasn't been enough time for some riders to make a full trip.

In September, Hill put forward a motion directing city staff to come up with options to temporarily increase the transfer window.

But in a Friday memo, staff said doing so would come with a hefty price tag.

If the current transfer window increased to 105 minutes at all times, staff estimate it would cost approximately $330,000 annually. If it were to increase to 120 minutes, they believe the annual revenue impact would be about $900,000.

<more>

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/bo...have-hefty-price-tag-city-says-9.6988869

[Uhuniau]

Next Stop with the corporate story on what's going on in the world of data services.

https://www.octranspo.com/en/news/article/oc-explained-real-time-information/

[rocketphish]

AI could watch Ottawa's transit cameras for crime, emergencies
OC Transpo exploring scanning 10,000 cameras to detect 'anomolies' in real time

CBC News
Posted: Nov 25, 2025 4:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 20 minutes ago

OC Transpo is looking to use artificial intelligence (AI) to alert special constables to crime and emergencies occurring within the agency's vehicles and facilities, Ottawa city councillors have heard.

OC Transpo’s chief special constable Peter Scislowski told the transit committee on Monday that the agency was "exploring the potential" of using artificial intelligence to monitor OC Transpo security cameras.

"Staff are reviewing the potential of real-time anomaly detection AI on crime reduction and rider safety in transit environments which would flag unusual behavior in real time such as assaults, vandalism, loitering and emergencies, which would notify our special constables," Scislowski said.

Ottawa is looking to follow the lead of Montreal, which has developed a pilot project to prevent suicide in the city’s Metro by using AI to monitor security cameras to detect warning signs of a person in distress, Scislowski said.

He and OC Transpo’s chief safety officer Sabrina Pasian recently visited Montreal to learn from its experience, Scislowski said.

"One thing that stood out to us was how their data and technology was at the forefront of their operations," he said.

OC Transpo has been looking to AI as it prepares a new public safety strategy, Pasian told CBC.

"One of the pillars of the strategy is technology," she said. "So just like any transit agency, we're trying to stay on the forefront."

OC Transpo has over 10,000 security cameras in its system and is exploring using AI to "support detecting anomalies," Pasian said.

Pasian said she expects to update the transit committee on progress in researching AI's potential in the coming year. "This is just super preliminary," she said of the current effort.

Laura Shantz of advocacy group Ottawa Transit Riders worries the untested technology could contribute to racial profiling and over-policing.

"Will people who are experiencing homelessness and stepping inside of a station like Rideau station just to warm up for a few minutes, will they be targeted?" she asked.

Shantz believes increasing ridership would be the most effective way of increasing safety for OC Transpo.

"Having more people at stops, having more eyes around you is one of the simplest, easiest ways to make people feel more safe," she told CBC.

Pasian concedes that more work is needed to allay concerns around the potential risks of AI.

"I've never seen Black Mirror, but I would definitely say that we need to do our due diligence," she said, referring to the near-future dystopian television series.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/oc-transpo-ottawa-ai-security-camera-transit-9.6990550

[DarthVader_1961]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

AI could watch Ottawa's transit cameras for crime, emergencies
OC Transpo exploring scanning 10,000 cameras to detect 'anomolies' in real time

CBC News
Posted: Nov 25, 2025 4:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 20 minutes ago

OC Transpo is looking to use artificial intelligence (AI) to alert special constables to crime and emergencies occurring within the agency's vehicles and facilities, Ottawa city councillors have heard.

OC Transpo’s chief special constable Peter Scislowski told the transit committee on Monday that the agency was "exploring the potential" of using artificial intelligence to monitor OC Transpo security cameras.

"Staff are reviewing the potential of real-time anomaly detection AI on crime reduction and rider safety in transit environments which would flag unusual behavior in real time such as assaults, vandalism, loitering and emergencies, which would notify our special constables," Scislowski said.

Ottawa is looking to follow the lead of Montreal, which has developed a pilot project to prevent suicide in the city’s Metro by using AI to monitor security cameras to detect warning signs of a person in distress, Scislowski said.

He and OC Transpo’s chief safety officer Sabrina Pasian recently visited Montreal to learn from its experience, Scislowski said.

"One thing that stood out to us was how their data and technology was at the forefront of their operations," he said.

OC Transpo has been looking to AI as it prepares a new public safety strategy, Pasian told CBC.

"One of the pillars of the strategy is technology," she said. "So just like any transit agency, we're trying to stay on the forefront."

OC Transpo has over 10,000 security cameras in its system and is exploring using AI to "support detecting anomalies," Pasian said.

Pasian said she expects to update the transit committee on progress in researching AI's potential in the coming year. "This is just super preliminary," she said of the current effort.

Laura Shantz of advocacy group Ottawa Transit Riders worries the untested technology could contribute to racial profiling and over-policing.

"Will people who are experiencing homelessness and stepping inside of a station like Rideau station just to warm up for a few minutes, will they be targeted?" she asked.

Shantz believes increasing ridership would be the most effective way of increasing safety for OC Transpo.

"Having more people at stops, having more eyes around you is one of the simplest, easiest ways to make people feel more safe," she told CBC.

Pasian concedes that more work is needed to allay concerns around the potential risks of AI.

"I've never seen Black Mirror, but I would definitely say that we need to do our due diligence," she said, referring to the near-future dystopian television series.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/oc-transpo-ottawa-ai-security-camera-transit-9.6990550

Wonder if AI could be used for better routes/scheduling

[Dengler Avenue]

Originally Posted by DarthVader_1961

Wonder if AI could be used for better routes/scheduling

That will be great.
For example, semi-hourly bus routes with significant overlapping sections should be scheduled to form an alternating 15-minute frequency.

[rocketphish]

OC Transpo 'ready to adapt' to rumoured five-day return-to-office mandate for federal workers
The transit authority reported "significant increases" in ridership for September and October over the same months in 2024.

By Aedan Helmer, Ottawa Citizen
Published Dec 02, 2025

Transit committee chair Glen Gower says OC Transpo will be ready for the expected influx of riders if and when the federal government’s rumoured return-to-office mandate comes into effect.

OC Transpo general manager Troy Charter told the transit committee on Nov. 24 that he was “not aware of any conversations” with the federal government on its return-to-office plans or on the possibility of a bulk transit pass purchase for federal public servants.

“In terms of readiness, it will have an impact, but OC Transpo says that they’re ready,” Gower said this week amid rumours of a five-day return-to-office mandate.

Most federal public servants have already returned to the office three or four days a week, Gower said, and staff are already seeing a positive impact on ridership numbers.

The transit authority reported “significant increases” in its recent ridership stats, with 7.4 million trips in September (a six-per-cent increase from the same month last year) and 7.8 million trips in October, representing a 17-per-cent increase over 2024.

“Now we’re seeing some days that are busier than others, like the midweek days, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, that are busier than Monday and Friday,” Gower said. “Our expectation is that, with people who are heading back to office four or five days a week, we would see the rest of those weekdays as busy as the other ones.

“There are some individual bus routes that are busier than others, but we’ve got lots of capacity on the O-Train, and OC Transpo is continuing to monitor from September onwards here, as more people have headed back to the office, to make sure they’re ready to adapt.”

According to a La Presse report, the federal government plans to mandate all public servants back to the office five days a week. Executives would be back in the office full-time as early as January 2026 and other public servants would move to four days per week in July.

All public servants would report to the office five days a week as of Jan. 1, 2027, the report said.

Charter said the LRT East Extension was expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026, which would bring service to Orléans and extend the rail line from Blair Station to Trim Station.

“We’re going to have the east-end LRT launching early in 2026, so that certainly would be welcome in terms of improving capacity and service levels,” Gower said. “And then early 2027 is when we’re looking at the West Extension for the LRT to reach Moodie Drive and Algonquin Station. So, with those extensions in place, it will be roughly in line with those (return-to-office) dates.”

OC Transpo staff told the committee that bus procurements and long-delayed e-bus deliveries were helping alleviate pressure on the aging bus fleet and should help to improve bus reliability metrics.

There were 31 e-buses in service for OC Transpo as of Nov. 27 and that number was expected to rise to 50 by the end of December. The city has also purchased 11 second-hand diesel buses that are expected to join the fleet by the end of 2025, and another 50 articulated diesel buses are coming onboard in 2026.

“Compared to where we were six months ago, I think there’s a lot more comfort that we’re getting back on track in terms of the schedule of deliveries,” Gower said. “So that’s good because some of the buses that are on the road now are ready to be retired.”

Gower said he expected the return-to-office mandate would have a bigger impact on traffic congestion on the highway, on city streets and in parking lots near federal government buildings.

“That’s where there’s going to be some capacity issues,” he said. “I think having a balance of in-office and work-from-home makes a lot of sense going forward, so I’m not really happy to hear that the government might be pushing for an entire end to hybrid work.

“It’s worked out really well for a lot of families. And, beyond the transportation issue, there’s still a real gap in the social infrastructure, like child care, for example. We’re still not where we were at pre-pandemic, so there’s going to be a lot of issues coming from that.”

Gower was among several councillors who expressed similar sentiments when city manager Wendy Stephanson announced a return-to-office mandate for City of Ottawa staff in September.

“Having that extra bit of flexibility for people is really, really important, and I’d hate to lose that,” Gower said.

“Frankly, I’d like to see the full return to office only if they feel it’s absolutely necessary. I would prefer that they hold off ’til after all the LRT is built, but that’s not up to me. But, in terms of transit readiness, yes, OC Transpo will be ready for whatever the needs are.”

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/oc-transpo-federal-return-to-office

[kmcamp]

Originally Posted by Dengler Avenue

That will be great.
For example, semi-hourly bus routes with significant overlapping sections should be scheduled to form an alternating 15-minute frequency.

Given that the current "frequent" routes are often not frequent at all, frequent corridor would be an improvement

[lrt's friend]

Ready to Adapt?

Rail openings will help, but improving bus connections and reliability is critical to get commuters back on transit and to ease gridlock that we see everywhere.

For years, we have had shortages of buses, operators and mechanics. The solution is not continuing to reduce fleet and service levels. We have all heard the stories of 2 hour commutes. We need real solutions to improve travel times and not more excuses.

[qprcanada]

Somebody on Reddit just published a link to the full Confederation Line Extension Project Agreement.

https://alex-is.online/files/CLPA-Complete.pdf

[Dengler Avenue]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

Ready to Adapt?

Rail openings will help, but improving bus connections and reliability is critical to get commuters back on transit and to ease gridlock that we see everywhere.

For years, we have had shortages of buses, operators and mechanics. The solution is not continuing to reduce fleet and service levels. We have all heard the stories of 2 hour commutes. We need real solutions to improve travel times and not more excuses.

I concur. The failure of YRT’s Viva Purple is an example of what has gone wrong.