Possible rate hikes for OC Transpo
Posted Jan 11, 2011 07:41:04 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OC Transpo has forecasted a $4.7 million deficit for 2010 and they’ve said low ridership could be the main source of the problem.
In order to balance the budget, it is possible that rates for riding OC Transpo buses and the O-Train could increase.
But a City of Ottawa spokeswoman said the budget hasn’t been released yet so all talk about numbers is merely speculative.
Counsellor Diane Deans, who is the chair of the Transit Committee, said she can’t comment on the numbers until she sees the budget.
She said she couldn’t speculate on how much an increase would be.
She was quoted earlier as saying an increase would likely follow the rate of inflation, but wouldn’t confirm that.
Regardless of how much the increase will be, riders at the OC Transpo station at the St. Laurent Shopping Centre all agree any increase will be annoying.
Especially after the 7.5 per cent increase last year.
One rider, said “It’s been increasing exponentially, with excuse after excuse after excuse for why. And I’m sorry if your service is going to be going downhill and sliding, you shouldn’t be increasing how much I’m going to pay for your crap service.”
Other riders agreed service could be improved but said they would absorb any new fees since they have no other option for transportation.
Most riders were surprised that OC Transpo was reporting low ridership, saying they often had trouble finding seats and had even seen full buses pass without being able to take on more riders.
One bus driver who would not give his name said that there was no way low ridership was to blame for the deficit, saying the claim was “bull.”
