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Two bus routes meant to supplement light rail service in Ottawa are costing OC Transpo $5 million a year, are taking buses from peak service, and were not considered priorities, according to the city’s auditor general.
A new audit of OC Transpo’s bus service says that the “New Ways to Bus” plan was launched in 2025 with outdated data and was focused more on cost savings, leading to late buses and other impacts to service.
There were fewer incidents of crimes against people and property on OC Transpo buses and the O-Train in 2025, the second straight year the transit service saw a decrease in crimes, according to new data.
OC Transpo is not providing a timeline to open the O-Train east extension, as full service ramps up on the original east-west Line 1.
OC Transpo is looking to boost capacity on 10 bus routes this summer and fall to accommodate federal public servants spending more time in the office, as part of the plan to improve service on the bus system.
Some city councillors are shocked Ottawa taxpayers will be footing the $2 million bill to install heat tracing on the overhead catenary system on O-Train Line 1 to prevent freezing rain build up in the future because the technology is not included in the contract with Rideau Transit Group.
Ottawa transit riders will receive two free weekends of transit on buses and the O-Train later this year to compensate for transit disruptions so far this year.
OC Transpo riders paying the single-ride fare with a Presto card will no longer be charged more than $12.25 a day to use buses and the O-Train.
More than half of passenger trips on OC Transpo buses and the O-Train occur during the morning and afternoon peak periods, with OC Transpo saying the afternoon peak period is now starting before 3 p.m.
Two free weekends to ride Ottawa’s transit system and extending Para Transpo Service on Friday and Saturday evenings are some of the ideas being floated at Ottawa City Hall to boost service for riders.
O-Train Line 1 will be running regular service today with double-car trains for the first time since January due to an issue with the train’s cartridge bearing assembly.
O-Train Lines 2 and 4 will be out of service the weekend of June 13 and 14 for maintenance activities.
The O-Train Rideau Station in downtown Ottawa is set to undergo a makeover, including new signage, changes to security cameras and a dedicated office for OC Transpo special constables.
OC Transpo says staffing levels are “sufficient” to conduct trial running on the O-Train East Extension, but there is still no timeline to begin the trial running and open the light-rail transit system into Orléans.
Fewer people are boarding OC Transpo buses and the O-Train this year, as OC Transpo deals with a shortage of buses and offers only single-car service on O-Train Line 1.
Regular service on O-Train Line 1 will resume on June 8, months after being reduced to mostly single-car service because of an issue with the train vehicle’s axles.
