Ottawa mayoral candidates propose fare cuts, hikes and service fixes
The four leading candidates have released platforms focused on fares, reliability and funding ahead of the Oct. 26 election.
OTTAWA — The four leading candidates for Ottawa mayor have released competing plans to fix the city's beleaguered transit system ahead of the Oct. 26 election.
Mark Sutcliffe is promising to cut the cost of an adult monthly transit pass by almost one-third to $95. He also pledged a $10 daily fare cap and a longer transfer window.
He said he would make transit more reliable by accelerating plans to buy more buses and hire drivers and mechanics. He said he would also hire more cleaning staff and special constables.
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His plan hinges on finalizing a deal to upload the LRT to Metrolinx, which he said would free up $85 million per year. He also wants to raise money by selling development rights on park-and-ride lands.
Jeff Leiper is supporting modest fare hikes to keep the system funded. He said a fare freeze is an eventual goal, but only once OC Transpo is out of the current crisis.
He is promising to change the threshold for low-income discounted transit passes. He said he would reverse last year's route and schedule changes, which he called a service cut.
Leiper said he would prioritize bus rapid transit and dedicated bus lanes. He also proposed a transit service guarantee, where OC Transpo would give riders refunds when buses don't show up on time.
Neil Saravanamuttoo is promising $1 single-ride transit fares under a plan he calls "Buck a Ride." Fares would be capped at $40 per month.
He said that would mean about $100 million in lost revenue under current ridership levels. He argued the ridership boost would make up some of the loss.
Saravanamuttoo said he can pay for it using savings from the LRT upload. He is also promising a complete bus network redesign and would bring back the defunct Route 95.
Alex Lawson's transit plan focuses on bus reliability, fare enforcement and safety. He promised to review routes and timetables for the bus network.
He pushed to move school routes back to yellow school buses and came out against double-decker buses. He is also promising to backstop the LRT with a rush-hour express bus network.
On fares, Lawson isn't proposing a cut, but better technology and enforcement to make sure fares are collected. That includes putting fare inspectors out seven days a week.
But Lawson isn't promising any new transit funding. He said the system is "not ready for more money" until the schedules are fixed.
Whoever wins as mayor will inherit a transit system that posted a deficit of more than $50 million last year. Ridership remains well below pre-pandemic levels.
Your Space Hamilton reported in October that improving public transit was the top priority for candidates in Ottawa's Kitchissippi ward.
With files from CBC News