Despite the cramped conditions and inconveniences of riding the public transit system in Canada’s capital city, April Lesnick recalls the early 2000s as the time when she most relied on Ottawa’s transit services. Now, as a 45-year-old, she is disappointed and often lonely at bus stops waiting for late or nonexistent buses. This year, she’s decided to purchase a vehicle.
Ottawa has boasted a successful transit system, but the past ten years have seen a significant drop in ridership, most notably since the COVID-19 pandemic. The city’s transit service, OC Transpo, suffered a budget gap of $50 million due to a dearth of riders. Some attribute the decline to construction-related disruptions and changes in downtown employment patterns.
The city invested $6.8 billion to transition from a bus rapid transit system to a light rail transit (LRT) service, hoping to address issues with overcrowded buses. However, the rollout and operation of the LRT system have been riddled with problems including construction delays, breakdowns, and detours. While ridership is slowly rebounding, confidence in the system has been shaken, with an increased emphasis on community-focused transit rather than downtown-centred routes.
Despite efforts to regain public trust, many, including Lesnick, have lost faith in the transit system. She emphatically stated that she is “100 per cent done” with relying on public transit. Transitioning to community-focused services and addressing reliability concerns may be key to winning back the former riders such as Lesnick.