OC Transpo scrapping youth passes on Sept. 1, charging 11-19 year-olds the same fare as adults

An OC Transpo bus is this undated photo.

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.