Latest news with #ParaTranspo
CTV News
11 hours ago
- Automotive
- CTV News
The first of OC Transpo's new Para Transpo minibuses is rolling out
OC Transpo says the first of its new Para Transpo minibuses is now on the road. The new seven-metre minibus first arrived in February but has been undergoing inspections, testing, and driver training. In a post on social media, OC Transpo announced Monday the new minibus has hit the streets. 'Our first 7-metre Para Transpo bus is now on the road — and it might be picking you up soon,' OC Transpo said. 'This is just the beginning, as more are on the way.' OC Transpo has ordered 76 new seven-metre buses to update the Para Transpo fleet, and six new six-metre buses. According to OC Transpo, the new seven-metre buses come with up to 10 seats, up to three wheelchair spots, O-payment readers and air conditioning. The seats come with seatbelts and stability belts, the back and side door ramps are slip-resistant, and there are onboard security cameras on each bus. Para Transpo interior Interiors of Para Transpo's new seven-metre minibus. (Courtesy: OC Transpo) The back ramp can support mobility devices up to 86 centimetres (34 inches) wide and up to 454 kilograms (1,000 pounds). The back ramp can support the same width and devices up to 363 kg (800 lbs.), OC Transpo says. Last December, OC Transpo said Para Transpo minibuses were experiencing increased mechanical issues due to the age of majority of the fleet. 'These older vehicles require additional repairs that are often more complex and take longer to complete,' a memo said. As of last December, Para Transpo had a fleet of 80 minibuses, which were 10 years old. Replacement of the fleet was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, staff said, but is now underway, with the first new buses arriving this year.
Ottawa Citizen
01-06-2025
- Business
- Ottawa Citizen
City hall hiring, spending freeze amid $14M deficit: new report
Article content Ottawa City Hall is running a $14-million deficit in the first quarter, prompting a spending freeze and a pause on hiring, according to a report for the Finance and Corporate Services Committee. Article content Article content The report said that the hiring and spending freezes 'play a critical role in managing the impact of these unforeseen events.' Article content 'Management remains committed to implementing these strategies throughout 2025, with a continued focus on maintaining service levels,' the report added. Article content Article content Article content In the report, the city's deficit was attributed to 'above average winter weather events' that resulted in a $24.9-million deficit for road services because of higher maintenance costs. Article content Last winter in Ottawa saw 193 cm of snow dumped on the city while the five-year average is 143 cm. Article content The significant increase in snowfall raises further questions about how climate change and unforeseen extreme weather events will continue to impact the city's budget planning. Article content In the Q1 report, the city's transit services also saw a deficit of $1.7 million, which was attributed to lower provincial funding and lower fare revenue than what was budgeted. Article content The shortfall exists despite a $200,000 savings due to O-Train Line 1 service reductions. The report says those savings were offset because of delays to the revamp of Ottawa's bus routes and higher Para Transpo service costs. Article content Article content However, the city is monitoring how the elimination of the federal carbon tax will impact the city's budget going forward. The scrapping of the carbon tax by Prime Minister Mark Carney is 'expected to have a positive impact on the 2025 operating budget.' Article content Article content It's unclear if the savings will be able to make up for Ottawa's Q1 deficit. Article content The report says that the end of the consumer-facing carbon tax will reduce operating costs for the city, 'particularly in fuel-intensive departments' like transit, road maintenance and emergency services. Article content Meanwhile, Emergency and Protective Services saw a surplus of $1.4 million due to higher-than-anticipated parking fines and compensation savings from worker vacancies, among other revenue generated.
CTV News
15-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Here's what's open and closed in Ottawa over the Victoria Day long weekend
looks at what's open and closed in Ottawa on the Victoria Day holiday on Monday. OC Transpo OC Transpo buses will operate on a Sunday schedule O-Train Line 1 will operate on a Sunday schedule, with service from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Monday. O-Train Line 1 will run on a Sunday schedule on Monday, with service from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Rural Shopper Route 301 will not run on Monday Para Transpo regular bookings or recurring trips for Monday are automatically cancelled. Customers can book trips online using My Para Transpo or by calling 613-560-5000. Green bin, recycling and garbage collection There will be no curbside green bin, recycling, garbage or bulky item collection on Monday. Pick up will be delayed by one day all week. Multi-residential garbage containers will be collected on the regular scheduled day. The city says collection of multi-residential containers, bulky items and green bins will be delayed by one day all week. The Trail Waste Facility will be open on Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Client Service Centres The City's 3-1-1 Contact Centre will be open for urgent matters only. Ottawa Client Service Centres at Ottawa City Hall (110 Laurier Avenue West), Ben Franklin Place (101 Centrepointe Drive), Orléans (255 Centrum Boulevard) and the City's Provincial Offences Court at 100 Constellation Drive will be closed on Monday The Business Licensing Centre at 735 Industrial Avenue will be closed. The City of Ottawa Spay and Neuter Clinic at 26 Concourse Gate will be closed. Employment and Social Services All four city Employment and Social Services officers will be closed on Monday 370 Catherine Street 2339 Ogilvie Road 100 Constellation Drive 2020 Walkley Road City of Ottawa services Ottawa Public Library branches will be closed on Monday All municipal child care centres will be closed on Victoria Day The Ottawa Public Health Site program office and supervised consumption site on Clarence Street will be closed on Monday The Sexual Health Clinic and satellite clinics will be closed The Ottawa Public Health Dental Clinics will be closed The Parenting-in-Ottawa drop-ins will be closed on Monday Ottawa's Spay and Neuter Clinic on Concourse Gate will be closed Victoria Day Most indoor pools, arenas, and recreation and fitness centres will be operating on a modified schedule and have changes to drop-in schedules. Malls/shopping The Rideau Centre will be open on Monday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tanger Outlets will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday Businesses at Lansdowne, the Glebe and ByWard Market are allowed to open on Victoria Day. All other malls are required to remain closed on Victoria Day. Grocery stores Farm Boy in the Rideau Centre will be open on Monday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Loblaws on Rideau Street will be open on Monday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Loblaws on Isabella will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Victoria Day Metro Glebe on Bank Street will be open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday Metro on Rideau Street will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday Whole Foods at Lansdowne is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Victoria Day All other grocery stores are required to close on the statutory holiday. Alcohol The following Beer Store locations in Ottawa will be open on Monday: 499 Terry Fox Dr. (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.) 2276 Tenth Line Rd. (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.) 1860 Bank St. (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.) 1984 Bank St. (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.) 548 Montreal Rd. (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.) All LCBO outlets are closed on the holiday. You can purchase alcohol at grocery stores, convenience stores and gas stations. Canada Post There will be no mail delivery on Monday. Canada Post officers will be closed on Monday. Museums Click on the links for the schedule at museums in Ottawa and eastern Ontario:
CTV News
08-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
O-Train ridership up 54 per cent during free fare weekend, OC Transpo says
OC Transpo saw a boost in ridership on its O-Train lines last weekend, as thousands of people took advantage of the free fare to explore the transit system. The City of Ottawa offered free transit on trains and buses last Saturday and Sunday to give residents a chance to explore the O-Train lines and the 'New Ways to Bus' network for bus routes. Transit Services general manager Renée Amilcar says the preliminary data shows ridership on the O-Train was 54 per cent higher last weekend than an average weekend. 'More than 136,250 customers took advantage of the O-Train system,' Amilcar said in a memo to council Thursday morning. 'There were 102,250 customers who rode O-Train Line 1 and 34,000 customers travelled on the new Lines 2 and 4.' OC Transpo told CTV News Ottawa on Monday that 'additional train capacity' was added to O-Train Line 2 on Sunday to meet demand. 'High passenger volumes were seen throughout the weekend, especially on Sunday during the CN Cycle for CHEO event where many passengers were seen boarding trains with bikes,' OC Transpo said in a statement. 'Some of the busiest stations included Tunney's Pasture, Bayview, Pimisi, Rideau, Parliament and Lyon.' The free transit weekend came four months after OC Transpo opened the new Lines 2 and 4, which runs between Bayview Station and Limebank Station, with a spur to the Ottawa International Airport. There were more than 3,030 Para Transpo customers who took advantage of the free weekend, an increase of four per cent from a normal weekend. Amilcar says ridership data for OC Transpo buses will be shared with the Transit Committee in June.
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.
