OC Transpo fare freeze idea far-fetched, argues Mayor Jim Watson

Mayor Jim Watson has criticized acity councillor'scampaignto freeze a planned fare hike for OC Transpo ridersas compensation for all the service disruptions they'll face over the next two years.

"The notion is, 'Well there's going to be disruptions inthe next twoyears, let's freeze fares,'"Watson told reporters on Tuesday."There's going to be disruptions for the next eight years because phase two [of the city's light rail project] is going to go ahead. Are we freezing them for eight years?"

Last weekOttawa's transit commission approved a budget that would see fares increase an average 2.5 per centfor everyone except children and Ontario Disability Support Program recipientswho use a community pass.

But Coun.TobiNussbaumargued all fares should be frozen.

"Over 40 per cent of the trips taken on OCTranspoon the course of the calendar year are going to undergo some kind of service disruption," he said.

"If our transit system were a hotel and we were undergoing renovations, we probably wouldn't choose the period at the renovation to raise room rates," Nussbaum said."Similarlyas we're asking our customers to endure greater delays, I don't think it's the right time to raise transit fares."

'Great politics, lousy policy'

While Watson said he would "love to freeze fares," he said the idea isn't feasible since other costs including wages can't be frozen.

"It's great politics, but lousy public policy, because guess what happens? You have to raise them even higher at the end of the freeze," he said.

Watson cited the 2010 budget whenthe average fare rose by 7.5 per cent.

"When you have a service, someone has to pay for it."

Nussbaumsuggested the city cover the fare increase by upping the transit levy by a further 0.9 per cent, which he saidwould addan extra "$5 and change" to the average residential tax bill.

If the fare hike goes ahead as planned, Nussbaumsaid ridership could decrease as residents look for a cheaper mode of transportation.