It will soon be the end of the road for OC Transpo’s youth pass, as the City of Ottawa gets set to scrap the discounted pass for 11- to 19-year-olds at the end of August. In a memo to council, acting OC Transpo general manager Troy Charter reminded councillors the youth monthly pass will be discontinued as of September 1. “Customers who currently have a youth concession set on their Presto card will be charged an adult monthly pass on September 1,” Charter said. The youth monthly pass costs $104 a month, while an adult monthly pass costs $135 a month. Council approved the elimination of the youth monthly pass as part of the 2025 City of Ottawa budget in a bid to reduce a proposed budget deficit. The budget also eliminated free transit for 11 and 12-year-olds. A report for the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority shows the 2025-26 draft budget projected a $4.8 million increase in public transit costs due to the elimination of free transit for students 12 and under and scrapping the youth fare pass in September.
