Hubley wants more info from feds regarding hybrid work model

As the City of Ottawa's transit commission discusses long-term planning for OC Transpo, the chair of the transit commission is once again calling for more information on a return to work plan from the federal government. 

Allan Hubley, who serves as the City of Ottawa's transit commission chair and Kanata South councillor, noted on The Rob Snow Show on April 20, 2022 that OC Transpo is in the red, and has been for quite some time due to the declining ridership impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hubley said the transit system was built on the support from two main sources, the people working in the public service and students. And since the onset of the pandemic, many federal workers have adopted a hybrid work model, while many students are also learning virtually.  

“We need long range financial plans for transit so we can figure out how much money we need to keep the system running and going,” said Hubley. “I need clear cut numbers on what hybrid work is going to be because we don't want to take buses off the route which can cause overcrowding on other routes, and then people tell us that we cut the routes to much.”

Hubley said he wants to make better use of the empty buses that would normally be packed with public servants and students by bringing more buses to communities like Kanata, Stittsville and Orleans, and service the transit riders in those areas. 

“We can move around buses we need, and put them in communities like Kanata and Orleans where we can move people around within those communities and service those people,” said Hubley. 

Listen to the full interview with Coun. Allan Hubley on The Rob Snow Show below: