Ottawa mayoral candidate Jeff Leiper is promising to undo OC Transpo bus route cuts, introduce a “Transit Service Guarantee” and rollout dedicated bus lanes as part of his plan to improve public transit, and pledges to fund the plan by reprioritizing money within the existing OC Transpo budget. Leiper unveiled his “detailed transit plan” at Tunney’s Pasture Station Tuesday morning, 84 days before voters head to the polls in the municipal election. “Residents have had enough of the transit system,” Leiper said. “Residents are beyond frustrated with the transit system that we are delivering today. I hope what they hear is that I understand their frustrations and that I am committed to delivering the transit service that they deserve.” Standing in front of a sign that said “Transit that Works,” Leiper promised to reverse the bus service cuts that were part of the New Ways to Bus that was introduced in the spring of 2025. The major overhaul of the bus network included changes to more than 100 bus routes across the city, and cancelled dozens of routes including the 200 series ‘Connexion’ routes from the suburbs to downtown Ottawa. An audit found the New Ways to Bus redesign was focused on cutting operating costs by $10 million. Leiper’s five-point transit plan includes introducing a “Transit Service Guarantee” to set clear standards for on-time performance and frequency, building “dedicated bus lanes and advance the Baseline Bus Rapid Transit as a priority project,” and restoring the citizen transit commissioner position. He is also promising to get “transit procurement back on track,” including establishing a long-term fleet replacement and maintenance plan. Leiper told reporters he would strive to keep transit fares as low as possible, insisting the city doesn’t need to increase taxes to improve public transit. “I’m making a series of very modestly priced commitments today. A lot of this can be found by reprioritizing money within the budget,” Leiper said. “We don’t necessarily have to increase taxes. We absolutely do need more help from the federal and provincial governments. And the commitment that I’ve made to residents is to be very vocal with Queen’s Park and with the prime minister about what Ottawa needs.” OC Transpo posted a $7.2 million budget deficit during the first three months of the year, mainly due to lower ridership. Public transit is expected to be a major issue during the Ottawa municipal election as thousands of public servants and students return to OC Transpo buses and the O-Train this fall. Mayoral candidates respond to Leiper’s plan In a statement, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said he would be releasing a transit plan that “delivers improvements for all riders while keeping life affordable.” “It is unfortunate that, after 12 years on Council, Jeff Leiper doesn’t appear to understand the transit file or even remember what he previously voted for,” Sutcliffe said in a statement to CTV News Ottawa. “Jeff Leiper is now criticizing fare increases despite having served on the Working Group that advocated for fare increases and being on the record supporting those increases. He voted to eliminate the citizen seat on the transit commission, a voting record he is now running away from. After 12 years on Council, Leiper has had plenty of time to deliver on transit. Instead, he’s just now offering a plan that contradicts his own record and leaves Ottawa taxpayers to foot the bill.” Candidate Alex Lawson unveiled his plan for OC Transpo in May, which includes bringing back rush-hour bus rapid transit, resetting the run times and rebuilding the schedule, boosting transit fare enforcement, introduce a ride code of conduct, installing cameras on every bus and a 90-day management accountability review. Lawson also proposes a bus-specific heavy mechanic stream at Algonquin College to boost mechanics at OC Transpo. Lawson told CTV News Ottawa Leiper’s announcement was a “pamphlet.” “Jeff Leiper wants you to forget that he was on the transit commission when they brought in New Ways to Bus,” Lawson said in a statement. “What he re-announced today wasn’t a policy, it was a pamphlet. Unless you’re willing to get down and dirty into the details, then nothing is going to get fixed. That’s why my plan can be counted by page numbers not bullet points.” Candidate Neil Saravanamuttoo has pledged “Buck a Ride” transit city-wide if elected mayor as part of a four-point transit plan. Saravanamuttoo is also promising “truth in transit” to be “honest about the state” of the light-rail transit network, a redesign of the bus network and to find new ways to fund transit, including creating an arm’s length transit real estate development agency to monetize the land around O-Train stations and along corridors. Saravanamuttoo called Leiper’s transit plan “timid.” “Quite frankly, we have a transit system in crisis. We need much more than the incremental measures that are being proposed by candidate Leiper,” Saravanamuttoo said. “He’s talking about reversing the cuts from the past. We need much, much more innovative and bold moves.” 48-point transit plan Council has approved the City of Ottawa’s 48-point plan to keep commuters this fall, which includes boosting bus service on busy routes and increasing frequency on O-Train Line 1 during peak and non-peak periods. The plan also includes new connections from Park and Rides including: Express route to DND East end bus improvements With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Leah Larocque
