Transit challenge organizers demand fare freeze

The organizers behind last week's transit challenge in Ottawa have wrapped up their campaign by demanding anindefinite freeze onOC Transpofares.

But some city councillors several of whom took the challenge to get around town using only public transitinsistreliability, not cost,is the bigger challenge facing the system.

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Seventeencouncillorstriedgettingto meetings, appointments and other events exclusively by bus from Feb. 4 to 10, but many admitted it was a struggle, and several resorted to using their cars when the going got tough.

3 demands

Free Transit Ottawa, the group behind the challenge, asked councillorson Monday to freeze fares indefinitely, to try a pilot offering free transit, and to create a task force of riders to come up withrecommendations to improve the system.

The group's ultimate aim is to make public transit free in Ottawa, but that would leave the city short about $200 million per year in fare revenue.

The group admits that outcome is unlikely, at least in the short term.

"I think that a win that we see as beingmore politically viable with the councillors that are in place is freezing all fares," said challenge organizer Kirstin Pulles.

'Politically impossible'

Most councillors agreed free transit is a non-starter.

"Replacing that revenue is probably politically impossible," said Coun. Jeff Leiper.

What we want to do is improve public transit. That takes money.- Coun. Jean Cloutier

"What we want to do is improve public transit. That takes money," Coun. JeanCloutier pointed out.

In fact, OC Transpo's fares are currently frozen because of the delay in the launch of light rail, but another increase is coming July 1.

Several councillors said they areopen to the idea of an extended fare freeze, somethingformer councillor Tobi Nussbaum attempted to do in 2015, but failed to gain enough support.

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"Freezing transit fares I think will help us maintain ridership at a time when ridership is being challenged. It should be growing. We're a growing city," Leipersaid

But Innes ward Coun. Laura Dudas, a longtime transit user,said she believes ridersare willing to pay for quality service.

After participating in last week's challenge, Coun. MathieuFleury agreed the focus needs to be on expanding route options and making OC Transpo more dependable.

"Long lineups at bus stops, people stressed to get into work in the morning, that's the challenge we have when there's no capacity," Fleury said.