Motion to explore private bus service in Ottawa’s rural areas fails at council

City council approved a review of funding for rural transit but a motion to explore private bus services failed. CTV’s Austin Lee reports.

An Ottawa councillor’s push to explore private transportation service in rural areas has hit a dead end.

The vote on a motion from Coun. David Brown directing staff to “evaluate the feasibility of working with private mass transportation providers to supplement rural transit service” ended in a 12-12 tie at Wednesday’s council meeting, meaning the motion failed.

“This is an important issue for rural residents,” Brown told council, noting residents raised concerns at the Rural Summit.

“This continues on with this theme of rural solutions for rural residents. What this motion isn’t is a move to privatize OC Transpo service.”

Brown added his motion focused on “filling a gap that exists” in transit service, saying, “There’s more geography in the city of Ottawa that receives zero transit service than the geography that does.”

But some councillors raised concerns about the city exploring the use of private companies to provide transportation service.

“Private is very difficult to make work. Usually it results in higher fees,” Coun. Shawn Menard said.

“Usually, the costs are highs for individuals who want to take the service.”

Coun. Riley Brockington wondered if a private contractor could offer transportation service cheaper than OC Transpo.

“I don’t see how a private contractor can do it cheaper. They won’t be offering it for a fare of $4.05,” Brockington said, adding he’s “all ears” on the debate.

Transit Committee Chair Glen Gower noted council passed a motion last July during debate on the Transportation Master Plan directed staff to examine “opportunities to further leverage” private and not-for-profit transportation service in Ottawa.

“I think this takes down a funnel that we don’t need to go down yet in our examination of rural transit,” Gower said.

The president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 279, which represents OC Transpo drivers, told the agriculture and rural affairs committee the union is opposed to the City of Ottawa using the private sector to offer transit.

Council did approve part of Brown’s motion directing staff to review the Rural Transit Area A and B funding models and report back on how the funding allocates services and costs among rural areas/wards.

“We’re still moving forward. We still see that forward momentum being made and that’s important for residents to see. Council fundamentally agrees that residents require transit. It’s how we deliver it,” Brown told CTV News.

“I think that’s what we saw today being debated at council. How do we do that. Not necessarily ‘we’re against it’ because not one member of council today said they were opposed to rural transit options.”

Making the long trip to the city centre is a regular part of life for many in rural communities, including Chris Easey, who lives in Richmond but studies at Carleton University.

“For me, the options to get into school are pretty limited. I have to drive out to a park and ride that’s 20 minutes away so I can take the O-Train so I can get to school and not worry about paying $45 for parking,” he said.

“I think making transit more available is a wonderful thing. Right now, we mostly just have the express routes. That means you’re catching a bus at 6:00 a.m. and if that’s not when you need to get out, too bad.”

Even with the express routes, a commute to the downtown core can take roughly two hours.

“More options I think would be a fantastic thing to have out here. Especially as we grow and we’re continuing to grow,” said Easey.

“There aren’t enough options for people in rural communities. Especially with gas prices going up.”

Under the city’s bylaws, OC Transpo is the sole mass transit provider within the city.

With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Ted Raymond and Austin Lee.

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