Latest news with #Amilcar
Ottawa Citizen
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Ottawa Citizen
Pellerin: What if OC Transpo had a strong, capable leader?
OC Transpo general manager Renée Amilcar is leaving next month, to become head of a new Quebec government transportation agency, Mobilité Infra Québec. It must be nice to be mobile. Unlike, say, Ottawans who rely (if that's the word) on transit for their everyday transportation needs. Article content I'm sure Amilcar thinks she did a great job in the last four years running our beleaguered system. And in fairness, it's not immediately clear whether she did any worse than her predecessor. Now that we've set the bar suitably low, let's turn our attention to the next person who'll occupy that chair. I thought I'd get the process started by outlining a few key elements of the job description. Article content Article content Article content The first qualification is to be an excellent driver who lives anywhere in the city that doesn't have a quick, reliable and direct bus route to work. That way, they'll be certain to never use the transit system they are nominally in charge of. Leave that to other people, you know? Article content A proven ability to demonstrate a strong allergy to success is also required. The good people of Ottawa have been training for a long time in how to react to one bitter transportation disappointment after another. It is not at all obvious to me they would survive sudden efficiency during their commute. Article content I don't just mean that we got used to hundreds of cancelled buses and trains that only run sporadically. It's also roads crawling with drivers who have abandoned the bus. And construction projects that are apparently designed to inflict maximum pain in the slowest, most drawn-out way possible. Your drive is made worse by the number of people who would prefer riding the proletarian chariot but gave up on it and are driving in front of you instead. Article content Article content Like the frog that's slowly getting used to warming water, Ottawa commuters have gotten used to a slow worsening of their transportation options. They know things aren't good. Article content Article content Imagine what would happen if we had the option of walking out of our home in the morning and hopping on a train or bus that goes to where we're going and shows up often enough that we don't even need to think about looking at the schedule. Mass apoplexy is what. Article content And then what if we could get to a hockey game or a show at Lansdowne or the Canadian Tire Centre from anywhere in the city in half an hour without having to bother with traffic, parking or the worry of drinking and driving? And the ride was comfortable, clean and fare-free?
Ottawa Citizen
2 days ago
- Business
- Ottawa Citizen
Adam: Amilcar will leave OC Transpo in better shape than the transit system was in four years ago
Come to think of it, it is not a huge surprise that OC Transpo general manager Renee Amilcar is leaving the job to pursue new career opportunities elsewhere. Article content Almost four years in the pressure-cooker position of managing the city's beleaguered transit service is probably about all anyone can take. You can't blame her for walking away. Article content Article content Amilcar, who leaves her post July 18, inherited an impossible task when she came to town in 2021, but she must have known what she was getting into. She arrived at a time when the transit service was in complete disarray, plagued by low ridership that was exacerbated by COVID-19, budget shortfalls, poor management, lack of transparency and in particular, a broken LRT system. We all remember the busted axles, gear box, wheel hubs and bearing issues that derailed the Confederation Line and led to the suspension of service for weeks on end in August and September 2023. Article content Then there were delays with the Trillium Line, which, combined with everything that was going on, sapped public confidence in the transit service. The city was at war with its main rail contractor, the Rideau Transit Group (RTG), exchanging legal blows in court filings. It was the most inopportune time for anyone, no matter how experienced, to land at OC Transpo. Things were so bad, the Ontario government launched a public inquiry into the handling of the city's LRT. Justice William Hourigan's subsequent report was a scathing indictment of the city and RTG, exposing 'deliberate malfeasance' of managers and 'egregious errors' that called into question the ability of the city to run such a massive infrastructure project. Though not of her doing, Amilcar became the face of everything that was wrong with OC Transpo, and did her best under the circumstances, though it may not have been enough to satisfy riders. Article content Article content Amilcar certainly steadied the ship, bringing some stability to the Confederation Line, helping launch the Trillium Line extension, and the spur to the airport. One of her bigger achievements may have been the restoration of transparency and accountability at OC Transpo. Before her time, OC Transpo was a closed shop where a few people made decisions behind closed doors with no transparency or accountability. She changed that, to some degree. Throughout the 2023 derailment, she was upfront with information, telling residents what she knew and what she didn't. It was a breath of fresh air. Article content Article content But one thing she completely owns is 'New Ways to Bus,' the largest bus service change in the city's history. The idea is to improve bus frequency, local service and connections to LRT. The system overhaul, which meant the elimination or rejigging of some routes, has been met with fierce criticism from riders, who say it is a backward move that will cause a reduction in service as some 70 routes are eliminated or replaced. It is too early to say whether New Ways will be successful or not, but this is one thing for which she will wear the outcome.
Ottawa Citizen
3 days ago
- Business
- Ottawa Citizen
Renée Amilcar resigning as OC Transpo general manager as of July 18
OC Transpo general manager Renée Amilcar will be leaving the transit authority on July 18 after more than three years in the position. Article content In a memo Tuesday afternoon, City Manager Wendy Stephanson said Amilcar had led OC Transpo 'through a period of significant operational transformation, modernization and service improvement' since joining the organization in 2021. Article content Article content Article content Troy Charter, director of transit service and rail operations for the City of Ottawa, will serve as interim general manager after Amilcar leaves, the memo added. Article content 'On behalf of the senior leadership team, I want to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to Renée for her contributions and wish her continued success in her future endeavours,' Stephanson wrote. Article content 'I recognize that ensuring strong, stable leadership during this time is of paramount importance — particularly as we continue to deliver safe, reliable transit service to residents while advancing major city-wide transformational projects.' Article content The announcement of Amilcar's departure came a little more than a month after OC Transpo's 'New Ways To Bus' initiative was met with sharp criticism from transit users and advocates. Previously, she told reporters that the sweeping changes were designed to improve connectivity to community hubs and to provide 'a sustainable network that meets the evolving needs of our customers.' Article content Article content But the community group Ottawa Transit Riders had previously said that their voices and opinions were not heard. Transit users have also said they lost trust in the public transportation agency, especially because service could be very unreliable. Article content Members of ATU Local 279, a union representing OC Transpo operators, called for a 'serious, honest review of Ottawa's transit system' last Friday. Union president Noah Vineberg previously told reporters that riders were frustrated at the city's transit system and that operators were overworked and exhausted. Article content 'For years we've heard promises of New Ways to Bus — promises of innovation, better service, and a transit future we could believe in,' Vineberg said. 'But we lived through unrealistic schedules and a system spiralling deeper into dysfunction for both riders and workers.'
Ottawa Citizen
7 days ago
- General
- Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa LRT service to be disrupted by summer maintenance work
OC Transpo has announced a schedule for summer maintenance operations and O-Train East Extension integration that will cause temporary disruptions of Line 1 LRT service. Article content Article content The required adjustments, detailed in a Friday memo to the mayor and city councillors from transit general manager Renée Amilcar, include: Article content June 6 after 9 p.m.: R1 replacement bus service between Tunney's Pasture and Hurdman stations; LRT service will continue between uOttawa and Blair stations. June 7 after 10 p.m., June 8 after 7 p.m., and June 12 after 10 p.m.: R1 buses between Rideau and Blair stations; LRT service will continue between Tunney's Pasture and uOttawa stations. June 14-15 all day, June 22 between 8 a.m. and 12 noon, and June 29 between 8 a.m. and 12 noon: R1 buses between Tunney's Pasture and Blair stations. Article content Article content Amilcar's memo said all rail systems required regular maintenance operations to support 'the long-term sustainability and reliability of the system.' In addition, she wrote, OC Transpo had co-ordinated with the Stage 2 LRT project and the city's Infrastructure and Water Services Department to address multiple priorities. Article content Article content • Adjustments to track electrical grounding near Tunney's Pasture Station. Article content • General station maintenance and seasonal cleaning. Article content Article content • Continued testing and integration of the Stage 2 O-Train East Extension with Line 1. Article content Article content Additional work will be necessary to complete testing of the Line 1 extension east from Blair Station this summer, the memo added. 'It is also anticipated that additional Stage 2 integration work will occur on the weekends of July 5 and July 26 that will affect Line 1 service. More information on specific service adjustments will be provided closer to these dates. It is also anticipated that there will be additional impacts to Line 1 throughout the summer as the O-Train East Extension testing and commissioning progresses and, in the fall, to conduct rail grinding.' Article content
CBC
02-05-2025
- CBC
OC Transpo offers free weekend of transit, advocates say 'it's a good start'
OC Transpo is offering free service on all buses, trains and Para Transpo this weekend, which transit advocates have welcomed but argue doesn't redress ongoing concerns about service reliability. The free rides are to thank riders for their patience during a period of disruption, according to Renée Amilcar, the general manager of OC Transpo. "We know that we have been working hard to improve the service, and it was tough on you as a customers," she said. OC Transpo overhauled its bus routes on April 27 as part of its " New Ways to Bus" initiative, which it says aims to adjust service to post-pandemic ridership and realign routes with its expanded rail network. The transport provider hopes free rides will attract more users. "This is the new OC Transpo. Come and try it and you will love it," said Amilcar. But some transit users, feeling frustrated after a two year delay launching the Trillium line and problems with new bus routes, say two days of free rides is not enough. "It is a good start," said Sally Thomas, a board member with Ottawa Transit Riders. "There needs to be a lot more done." The changes have made regular commuting more difficult for some transit users and less accessible for people with disabilities, argued Thomas, whose group advocates for accessible and affordable public transit in the city. She said a free service from Monday to Friday would have had a greater impact, since more people rely on transit during the week. 'OC Transpo has to be responsive' says councillor Capital ward Coun. Shawn Menard agrees that a week-long free service period would have put the new route changes to the test and potentially attracted new transit users. "I think it's unfortunate that we didn't see some weekdays included, or a week or longer. Maybe that's a goal for us in the future," Menard said. "I'm glad we've got at least a couple of days for people to try it out and get back on it if they felt hesitant, just given the troubles that have been experienced the last couple years." Menard said the "New Ways to Bus" initiative will need adjustments as concerns are raised by users. He also stressed the importance of maintaining strong bus service alongside the LRT, expanding routes based on community demand to encourage more transit use. "I know that there's some school routes that have been cut that have been added back as a result of advocacy and pressure from residents," Menard said. "OC transport has to be responsive and make sure that we're not just cutting the bus budget. Because the LRT budget is so large, we need good bus service. It's the backbone of the system to then connect to those brand new LRT lines." Amilcar said a full week of free service was not possible due to budget constraints. She said the free weekend of service will cost approximately $285,000.
