Transit riders disappointed by OC Transpo fare hike

During budget discussions last week, Ottawa city council rejected a motion to freeze adult transit fares again in 2024. The cost of an adult fare is now set to rise by 10 cents.

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Anchal Sharma · CBC News · Posted: Dec 10, 2023 4:00 AM EST | Last Updated: December 10, 2023

A woman stands in Parliament Station in front of a sign listing LRT arrival times. — Surayya Kanji says she's disappointed the city is choosing to increase the cost of an adult bus fare when current service is lacking. (Anchal Sharma/CBC )

Some OC Transpo riders and one local transit advocacy group say they're disappointed Ottawa city council has decided to not freeze transit fares for adults for 2024.

City council rejected the motion put forward by Gloucester-Southgate Coun. Jessica Bradley last week during its annual budget discussions.

It would have increased the transit levy on property tax bills as an alternative to raising fares. For the average homeowner, that would amount to paying roughly $8 extra.

Per OC Transpo staff estimates, a fare freeze would have attracted an additional 300,000 rides across the system and would added about $600,000 in addition to the revenue from the levy.

But the motion was rejected in favour of increasing the base fare for an adult ticket by 2.5 per cent, or 10 cents.

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Stittsville Coun. Glen Gower, who chairs the transit commission, said last week that fare increases are necessary to improve service.

"I don't think it makes a speck of difference to our riders," he told council at the Wednesday meeting, adding that he regretted voting to freeze fares last year.

"They want to see improved service, improved reliability, and that's what's going to have the long-term effect to bring back riders."

People board a red-and-white bus with R1 on the front screen. — People board an R1 replacement bus last winter. (Nelly Alberola/Radio-Canada)

'This is crazy'

But for transit riders like Kayla Straker-Trotman, who already has a lengthy commute, the 10-cent hike — which comes into effect Jan. 1 — could be the last straw.

"I'm just saving up for a car pretty much, because this is crazy," she told CBC on Saturday.

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University of Ottawa student Surayya Kanji also says her two-hour commute doesn't justify the added cost.

"I think that if they freeze the fares, they'll actually get better ridership," Kanji said. "Because as of right now the service that they provide us in Ottawa is honestly kind of horrendous."

Those sorts of comments are in line with what other riders are saying, said Nick Grover, a member of Free Transit Ottawa, which advocates for affordable transit.

"Two of the worst things the city can do if it wants to grow its transit ridership is to make it more expensive and to cut service," he said.

"And unfortunately we're doing both."

A woman stands in front of a ticket machine at Parliament Station. — Kayla Straker-Trotman says she's saving up for a car because of OC Transpo's unreliable service and cost increases. (Anchal Sharma/CBC)

Other ideas

Grover said he's most disappointed by the fact Ottawa city council didn't consider any other alternatives to a fare freeze.

"No one had any other ideas or solutions and that's really sad frankly, because the the ideas are not rocket science," he said. "They're out there. Other cities are doing them."

Some of those ideas, he said, include increasing the number of bus routes and adding more bus lanes.

"We don't really see that being picked up at city hall."