Transit Commission meeting (Transit Budget 2020 and Multimodal Service Update) - November 6, 2019

The Transit Comission received a status update on the O-Train Line 1: Confederation Line, as well as the resulting changes, issues and problem being experienced on the O-Train and the bus network since the #ReallyBigServiceChange of October 6, 2019.

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The note below was posted on the O-Line | OC Transpo webpage.

Thank you for continued patience as we transition to a multimodal service, integrating bus and the O-Train into our daily trips. We acknowledge the many issues that have affected transit users since the much-anticipated launch of the O-Train Line 1.

This September the initial opening of LRT was an overwhelmingly positive experience.

Since October, new and modified bus services have meant significant changes to 100 bus routes where approximately 240,000 daily customer trips changed in some way. We know that with a change of this size and magnitude, there will need to be adjustments based on customer experiences.

During this transition, our system has not been operating with the level of consistency our customers expect and deserve. OC Transpo has a clear objective: to provide reliable and efficient public transportation.

To do this, we are implementing corrective measures, effective immediately. These improvements include:

• Freezing fares in 2020 for the EquiPass, Community Pass and Access Pass
• Additional staff to provide live information and customer support via social media
• Increased staff in customer service areas
• Adding 40 extra buses to daily service on routes with the greatest concerns expressed by customers
• Creation of direct non-stop trips from Tunney's Pasture to west and south end
• Adding 19 new buses to the fleet in 2020 to provide more reliable and expanded service

Our contract with Rideau Transit Group (RTG) means that they are responsible for the design, construction, integration, testing, commissioning, and 30-year maintenance of O-Train Line 1. The City will hold Rideau Transit Group accountable to fulfill their obligations under the contract.

With winter approaching, OC Transpo is inspecting heaters and defrosters and performing pro-active maintenance.

OC Transpo is dedicated and focused on ensuring customers are taken care of through every aspect of their journey. Our focus is on providing reliable transit service, holding Rideau Transit accountable to maintain the LRT system and improving communications with our customers.

Audio Recordings of the meeting.

(Due to the meeting lasting 6 hours, we have broken up the audio to separate the Budget discussion and the Confederation Line Update.)

1. Full Audio
2. 2020 Transit Budget
3. Confederation Line Update
   

Press Release from the Transit Commission.

Transit Commission tables OC Transpo's 2020 Draft Budget and receives O-Train Line 1 Operational Update

Ottawa – The Transit Commission today tabled the proposed 2020 Draft Budget for OC Transpo and received an Operational Update on O-Train Line 1 and bus service.

With 2019 being the first year of multimodal service, investments in the draft budget reflect Councillor and customer feedback and data analysis collected since the launch of Line 1 and the October 6 network service change.

Proposed items include:

• $7.5 million investment for bus service, with an additional 19 new buses in service
• $2 million to provide for increased Para Transpo service
• Fare freeze for EquiPass, Community Pass and Access Pass

• $440,000 incremental cost for EquiPass and Community Pass to be funded by Community and Social Services
• Minimal cost for Access Pass to be funded by the City's Transportation Services Department

• $15 million capital funding to implement bus detours for the temporary closure of O-Train Line 2 during Stage 2 construction work
• Continued capital investments across all aspects of the service

Ridership is predicted to be at 99.4 million customer-trips in 2020, which is 2.6 per cent higher than ridership over the last 12 months. With this rise in expected customer-trips, and accounting for the delayed fare increase in 2019, revenue is forecast to be $202.6 million, which is 4.3 per cent higher than the 2019 budget.

The 2020 draft budget will be considered by the Transit Commission on November 20, and then by City Council on December 11.

The Transit Commission also received an operational update for O-Train Line 1 and bus service, which outlined rail performance, improvements to bus service reliability and customer communications, and a look-ahead to winter operations.

The Transportation Services Department continues to listen, review and consider all customer feedback, to meet with Councillors and Transit Commissioners, as well as consult with other transit agencies, industry experts, employees and unions to identify and implement improvements to bus and rail service. These improvements include the adjustment of dwell times at various stations, deploying additional buses to meet customer needs and improving information sharing and response times as they relate to delays.

The presentations that were shown at the meeting.

-2020 Draft Budget for OC Transpo-

-Confederation Line Service Update-