Widely panned bus network will be scrutinized by auditor general
Posted Nov 27, 2019 12:16:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The City of Ottawa's auditor general is looking to investigate the process in which OC Transpo came up with its revamped transit schedule after the launch of the $2.1-billion LRT system.
The focus will be on OC Transpo's ridership forecasting.
“I'm interested in how they identify their demand, how they forecast for it and how they scheduled to meet that demand….but I'm not going to commit that it's going to address the issues around the launch.” explained City of Ottawa auditor general Ken Hughes.
The bus network has been widely panned by commuters, with familiar routes replaced by transfer points at LRT stations, crosstown routes like the 95 getting the axe.
Residents have also complained that many routes come less frequently than normal, and arrive completely full or not at all.
Councillor Catherine McKenney wanted answers about the decision to pull a fleet of buses off the roads
“I just don't know how we can look forward without looking just in the rearview mirror” said McKenney, adding that “I see (the removal of the buses and the shaky launch of the LRT) as linked”
Hughes made clear multiple times during Tuesday's audit committee meeting that an inquiry into the launch of the LRT will not be a part of this audit, even though multiple councillors pushed him to include it.
Councillor Keith Egli said he doesn't understand how the audit is done without looking into the launch at the same time.
Ken Hughes will also conduct an audit into fare evasion on OC Transpo.
Council will vote on Hughes' work plan at council next month.
