NOTEBOOK: Recap of Transit Committee on June 11, 2026

by | Jun 12, 2026 | Notebook

NOTEBOOK: Recap of Transit Committee on June 11, 2026

Employee Recognition Month

We started the meeting by recognizing and thanking the entire OC Transpo team for their commitment, service, and continued dedication to keeping Ottawa moving, as we celebrate Employee Recognition Month in June.

Service updates

O-Train Line 1 is ready to go for Canada Day, summer festival season and the federal government’s return to office. Double-car weekday service was restored on June 8. There will be continued fleet improvements throughout the summer, including more vehicles entering service as progress is made on the condition monitoring system and the replacement of cartridge bearing assemblies.

Public Safety Strategy

The Public Safety Strategy outlines safety and security initiatives, priorities and key performance indicators for transit. The strategy was informed by extensive collaboration with internal and external partners, including the Community Social Services Department, as well as engagement with transit agencies across Canada.

Initiatives include enhanced staffing and training for Special Constables, including Ottawa Police Service-led training on responding to hate-motivated incidents, as well as the Rideau Station Revitalization project. This project will include a Special Constable Unit office within the station and public washroom enhancements, both expected to be implemented later this year.

Improving bus reliability

Reliability is the result of three key factors: a well-running bus fleet that is ready and able to start and finish every trip on time, adequate running times built into schedules, and having the necessary vehicles and staff required to deliver service every day.

OC Transpo is working to support reliability improvements by correcting run times on eight routes across the city. In April and June, routes 11, 12, 15, 30, 53, 81, 82 and 168 have been adjusted to better reflect travel times and traffic patterns. In September, an additional 22 routes will be adjusted. With these changes, it is expected that 50 per cent of riders will see route reliability improvements by the fall.

Preparing for return to office for federal employees

OC Transpo is assessing federal employee data to establish which bus routes will need more capacity to support federal employees who are returning to the office, including routes 5, 8, 13, 24, 61, 62, 63, 66, 74 and 75. OC Transpo will be monitoring ridership on all routes and will be ready to assign additional buses, if needed.

Update on Bus Fleet Plan

A summer maintenance campaign is currently underway, during which 277 articulated buses will undergo an enhanced maintenance regime. This campaign will target components that fail most frequently in the winter to ensure the fleet is prepared for the winter months. A refurbishment initiative is also underway, and it is expected that this regime will add another three years of service life to 30 articulated buses.

By fall 2027, 50 per cent of the conventional bus fleet will be replaced by electric buses. Ottawa will lead North America in the percentage of electric buses within its bus fleet once all the new vehicles have been onboarded.

Workforce planning

OC Transpo is working with partners and unions on a multi-year workforce strategy to ensure frontline positions are staffed to deliver service excellence to customers. The integrated strategy includes a planned expansion of the apprenticeship program to target a staffing level of 105%, to account for workforce losses, ensure consistent operations and reduce potential risks.

O-Train Stage 2 update

Preparations for Trial Running of the East Extension are underway. The timing will continue to be evaluated based on increasing rail vehicle availability. In the west, major milestones expected in 2026 include completion of the Overhead Catenary System, from west of the Parkway tunnel to Westboro Station, which is expected to be completed by the end of June, followed by electrification and train testing later this year. An independent expert will be conducting a review of the project timelines and necessary elements required to achieve substantial completion, which is still expected to be in 2027.

Key performance indicators

In April 2026, O-Train and bus ridership was 5.6 million and the total ridership for the past 12 months is 68.7 million, which is 0.1 per cent higher than the previous 12-month period.

Para Transpo ridership for May was 81,100. Total ridership over the past 12 months is 913,200, an increase of 4.3 per cent compared to the previous 12-month period.

Presentation slides

YouTube index