The union representing OC Transpo bus drivers and mechanics warns the transit service is “driving people away” from public transit, as it cancels hundreds of bus trips a day due to a maintenance backlog and traffic congestion.
The Amalgamation Transit Union is calling on OC Transpo to attract new staff and for all levels of government to invest in public transit to help boost ridership, as OC Transpo faces a $25 million deficit in 2024 and a projected $120 million deficit in 2025.
Statistics provided to CTV News Ottawa show OC Transpo cancelled 1,877 bus trips between Oct. 21 and Oct. 28, including over 250 bus trips a day on weekdays. OC Transpo says it is working to implement “long-term solutions” to increase the fleet through the bus maintenance action and recruiting additional mechanics.
“We have ample drivers at this point; we finally hired enough drivers to supply the chain. …