Latest news with #NewWaystoBus'
Ottawa Citizen
30-05-2025
- Business
- Ottawa Citizen
Transit union claims petition 'ignored' at Ottawa city council
Members of the union representing OC Transpo operators say they were 'met with silence' at Wednesday's city council meeting after showing up in numbers with a petition demanding higher wages and better working conditions. Article content Article content 'Despite arriving early and submitting a formal petition — listed on the official agenda — Ottawa City Council essentially ignored it, an action that bypasses the voices of front-line transit workers and undermines democratic participation,' according to a statement from ATU Local 279 president Noah Vineberg. Article content Article content The union, which signed a five-year contract in June 2020, submitted a petition containing 1,836 signatures at the May 28 council session outlining their requests for ongoing contract negotiations. Article content Article content OC Transpo's 'New Ways to Bus' schedule, which has been met with criticism from some riders since it rolled out with redesigned routes in April, 'reinforces the chaos' of the transit system, Vineberg said. 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.' Article content Riders are 'frustrated' and operators are 'exhausted,' Vineberg said. Article content The ATU is calling for 'a serious, honest review of Ottawa's transit system — one that truly listens to both riders and workers.' Article content Article content OC Transpo general manager Renée Amilcar responded Thursday by saying the transit authority 'is committed to fostering a positive and inclusive workplace that values and encourages employee feedback. Article content Article content 'We continue to meet regularly with our union partners to discuss employee feedback as part of the ongoing collective bargaining agreement process. We remain focused on supporting one another in finding a shared path forward as we continue to keep Ottawa moving.' Article content City Clerk Caitlin Salter-MacDonald said the ATU's petition was not ignored and followed the usual procedures for petitions presented to council. Article content 'The petition in question was presented to council in compliance with the Policy and the Procedure By-law and placed on the May 28 council agenda under agenda item 7 — communications.'
Ottawa Citizen
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Ottawa Citizen
Grover: 'New ways to bus' means fewer ways to bus
OC Transpo says its ridership won't fully recover to pre-pandemic levels for another 10 years. It's 'New Ways to Bus' route overhaul makes that look like a guarantee. Article content Article content The City of Ottawa and OC Transpo have chosen to pare down bus service rather than make it worth using. Service hours will be cut by 3.5 per cent and no fewer than 70 routes will be reduced, eliminated or replaced in a way that results in longer commutes and more transfers for many riders. This is bound to turn people away — but don't take my word for it. Ask Ottawa circa 2011. A very similar 'optimization' took OC Transpo from record ridership to an era of decline. Article content Article content We're now putting all our eggs in the LRT basket at the expense of a functional transit network. OC Transpo claims that by consolidating limited resources, it will be able to improve bus reliability, but there are several issues with that framing. Article content First is saying 'reliability' when officials mean service delivery. This is a balance-sheet definition to distinguish cancelled buses from those that showed up at some point, no matter how late. No actual transit user defines reliability this way. If my bus pulls up 30 minutes late, I take little comfort in the fact that the service was, technically, still delivered. Article content True reliability means consistently on time. Nothing in 'New Ways to Bus' will address this. OC Transpo's most popular routes are more than five minutes late 40 per cent of the time; on less frequent routes it's 26 per cent. Traffic delays are the main culprit. Redeploying buses onto high demand routes may reduce cancellations, but without dedicated bus lanes they will inevitably be late and stuck in traffic. Article content Article content The second issue is the 'consolidation.' Most of the routes being reduced or eliminated will be divided up among multiple others (e.g. the 16 and 96 will be replaced by three routes apiece). This means additional transfers, longer commutes and more headaches for many riders. Service cuts on dozens of other routes will mean fewer to no bus stops along certain streets. This might speed up the bus, but also makes it less convenient and accessible — especially for those with mobility issues. Article content Article content All of these routes have untapped potential. Every day, thousands of people driving their cars would opt for transit if it were a viable, trustworthy option. Making the bus harder to use will turn even more riders away. Article content The bedrock issue is that 'limited resources' are a political choice; low farebox revenue is only half of the story. In 2023, the mayor and council opted to cut $43 million from the capital budget. The past two years, they approved budgets with a $36-million hole, hoping the feds would cover it. (They didn't, and the federal funds committed since won't cover our self-inflicted deficit for several years.) No wonder we have a bus shortage.
Ottawa Citizen
01-05-2025
- Ottawa Citizen
OC Transpo offers free-fare weekend as it rolls out route overhaul
OC Transpo is welcoming feedback from riders as it offers a free weekend on all buses and trains on May 3 and 4, while it continues to work out some 'glitches' after rolling out a major overhaul of its bus routes. Article content Article content 'It's a way to say a huge thank you for your patience, because we have been working hard to improve the service, and it was tough on (the) customers,' said transit service general manager Renée Amilcar in a press conference Thursday at Bayview Station. Article content Article content Amilcar said the free-fare weekend is 'not as much' about compensating riders for frustrating delays and disruptions. 'It's a way to say, this is the new OC Transpo, come and try it, and I'm sure you will love it,' she said. Article content Article content Amilcar acknowledged staff are working out some 'glitches' with the 'New Ways to Bus' launch, and OC Transpo has already heard from some riders who are upset over the large-scale bus route changes that came into effect April 27. Article content 'First and foremost, we have heard a lot of complaints (over the years) about the reliability — or non-reliability — and we have spent a lot of money, billions of dollars, to build transit here with the LRT,' Amilcar said. Article content 'Now, we're bringing the buses to the LRT because the LRT doesn't need to deal with traffic. And the service is now reliable, so we know exactly what time (the trains) will come and what time it will be at your destination,' she said. 'It's a change, definitely, and it's hard to accept changes, but (the overhaul is) a good thing and when people use it, I'm sure they will love it.' Article content Article content Amilcar rated the new bus route launch as 'so far, so good.' Article content 'Absolutely we have anticipated some glitches, and we have to deal with those glitches,' she said. Amilcar encouraged riders to contribute their comments and feedback through OC Transpo's website. Article content 'We will continue to improve the service, we will continue to listen to our customers and we'll do our best… we are open to any kind of comments that can help us to improve the service,' she said. Article content The free-fare weekend will cost OC Transpo about $285,000. Article content 'For me, it's an investment. Because we have worked very hard to improve the system, we stabilized Line 1 (over the) months and years, we successfully launched Lines 2 and 4 and we implemented New Ways to Bus last Sunday… It's an investment, but it's a good use of taxpayer money, I would say,' Amilcar said. Article content She was asked on Thursday why the free fares were limited to one weekend — when service is running on a reduced weekend schedule — instead of the free month OC Transpo offered in December 2021 as an apology for disruptions in train service during that summer.
Ottawa Citizen
25-04-2025
- Business
- Ottawa Citizen
Expect 'some issues' as OC Transpo bus route redesign rolls out Sunday
The chair of Ottawa's transit commission is asking for patience from OC Transpo riders as the largest-ever overhaul of city bus routes rolls out on April 27 with the 'New Ways to Bus' campaign. Article content Article content 'It's a big change and any time you're changing things on this scale, I expect we're going to see some issues on Sunday when it launches and on Monday when people are back to work and school,' said Coun. Glen Gower, chair of the city's transit committee. Article content Article content 'OC Transpo says they're ready to make adjustments where we need to, but it will be a big change to people's routine … I don't want to minimize the impact it's going to have.' Article content Article content The bus route redesign will impact almost every OC Transpo customer, said general manager Renée Amilcar during a recent update to the transit committee. Article content The redesign introduces new routes and retires others with low ridership, while making numerous changes to schedules, with some routes shortened, extended, or divided. OC Transpo is also changing its service for some middle schools and high schools and revising routes to 'major destinations' like hospitals, universities and colleges. Article content 'I've been saying to people, 'Every route is changing.' And reminding them to check their travel planner or online at Gower said. Article content 'There are some routes that are retired, some new routes, some routes that have a different trajectory that may be taking different streets, some might be a little bit shorter or a little bit longer,' he said. Article content Article content 'I don't want to minimize it. I think there will be some people who will have a longer commute or an extra transfer.' Article content Article content On the flip side, OC Transpo will be providing service to some new areas and improving service to some high-demand areas, he said. Article content 'A lot of people will see some more reliability on their route, and they're going to have easier access to a wider number of locations.' Article content Amilcar told councillors the bus network redesign 'will give customers a more reliable and efficient system' as OC Transpo aims to improve service to its target of 99.5 per cent reliability. Article content The transit authority continues to fall short of that target, with the 12-month average service delivery for buses at 97.6 per cent for the period from March 2024 to March 2025, 1.9 per cent lower than the target.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
OC Transpo to offer free fare weekend in May
OC Transpo will be holding a free fare weekend on May 3 and 4 with all buses and trains running at no cost to riders, the transit authority announced Thursday. OC Transpo general manager Renée Amilcar said the customer appreciation weekend would be held to celebrate the successful openings of the Trillium Lines 2 and 4 in January, to thank riders for their support and to encourage customers to explore the newly designed bus routes. The 'New Ways to Bus' campaign is set to launch on April 27 with a major overhaul of the bus transit network, with more than 100 route changes that will impact most customers and bus routes. 'To thank customers and encourage residents to try the new system and explore their city, OC Transpo is offering a weekend of no-charge service on buses, O-Train Lines 1, 2 and 4, and Para Transpo on May 3 and 4,' Amilcar stated in the April 17 memo. Amilcar said OC Transpo will be hosting a 'fun, interactive event' at Hurdman Station on May 3 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. where staff 'will engage with customers about new services, customer experience improvements, safety initiatives and more.' More details of the no-charge service weekend will be shared soon through OC Transpo's website and social media, and through posters in stations and other advertisements and announcements. Amilcar told councillors at last week's transit committee the bus network redesign 'will give customers a more reliable and efficient system' as OC Transpo aims to improve service to its target of 99.5 per cent reliability. The 12-month average service delivery for OC Transpo bus service was 97.6 per cent for the period from March 2024 to March 2025, or 1.9 per cent lower than its target. ahelmer@ Most OC Transpo routes will change under 'New Ways to Bus' 'Serious' maintenance backlog impacting OC Transpo's aging fleet
