OC Transpo fare freeze extended until LRT opens

OC Transpo fares will remain frozen until Ottawa's new light rail system finally opens,city council decided Wednesday after a spirited debate.

Council did notapprove a move by Coun. Diane Deans to offer an olive branch and reduce prices forfrustrated customers.

Let's be serious and show them some love in making sure we have a bus system that actually works.- Coun. Carol Anne Meehan

Fares had beenset to increase on July 1 for the first time in a year, but will now remain at their current prices until the first day of the month after the new Confederation Line opens. Council had earlier decided to forego aJan.1 hike.

Many councillors agreed cheaper fares wouldn't make service more reliable.

Show riders 'respect'

With LRT delayed a fourth time, Deans argued it was time to reduce faresin line with the reduced service.

"I don't know how long we can just expect our customers to just stick with us if we don't show them some respect," said Deans, who's worried OC Transpo's base ridership will dropthe longer LRT is delayed.

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• AUDIO | Councillor Diane Deans wants to reduce bus fares until the LRT is up and running

Some transit riders are turning toride-hailing companies and taxisor showing up late to work, she said.

Mayor Jim Watson criticized Deans's plan for being vague.

"We didn't get elected to simplyshake a money tree and somehow find money every council meeting," Watson said.

OC Transpo fare freeze doesn't go far enough, councillor says

5 years ago

Duration 1:07

Diane Deans says some councillors are 'out of touch' with commuters who are being affected by late, crowded and cancelled buses.

Better service, not cheaper

Afare reduction of 30 per cent for the second half of the year would cost the city an estimated$29 million in lost revenue.

Councillorsalso heeded the opinion of city lawyers who said a court would be unlikely to force Rideau Transit Group to pick up the cost of the fare reduction, as Deans had proposed.

She lost her bid to reduce fares in a 6 to 18 vote.

And while thefare freeze passed unanimously,Coun. Carol Anne Meehan argued the city needs to improve bus service forriders by September asthe LRT delays drag on.

"Let's be serious and show them some love in making sure we have a bus system that actually works," she said.

"We're Canada's capital and what we're seeing out there is a disgrace. The bungling has to stop."

The approvedfare freezeis expected to cost OC Transpo about $300,000 per month.

There is no new date for Rideau Transit Group to handover the light rail system.