The city is working on the 2025 budget right now. A draft was presented to city council that proposed increased transit fares and a modest increase in the transit levy (part of city taxes).
Draft Budget 2025 - Transit Commission Condensed Book EN.pdf
One shocking proposal was to raise fares for seniors by 120%. Not surprisingly, a lot of people pushed back and the city is now reconsidering. Seniors have significant power in Ottawa.
City backs down on big transit fare increases for seniors | Ottawa Citizen
City ready to reconsider 120% hike to transit passes for seniors, mayor says | CBC News
The Ottawa Transit Riders advocates for better public transit for everyone – seniors, youth, people on low income, people with disability, and people who care about climate change. We want the city to freeze fares (and eventually to reduce fares) while raising the transit levy to improve service.
Youth don’t have the lobbying power of seniors in this city, but it’s downright disgraceful how the city keeps making lives harder.
The draft budget proposes to increase student fares by 5% which is a violation of the U-Pass agreement that OC Transpo has with local colleges and universities. Every transit agency wants a regular guaranteed source of revenue and the U-Pass provides OC Transpo with 20% of its revenue.
Some university representatives have warned that if the city continues to treat students badly, they will withdraw from the U-Pass.
uOttawa to reconsider participation in U-Pass if city increases student fares, student union says
So what can we do?
- Sign Horizon’s petition
- Email your city councillor (and other city councillors) to tell them that you want them to support public transit
- Attend the Transit Commission meeting on Monday, November 26th
Advocacy got the city to back down on senior fare increases – we can make our voices heard for other transit riders as well.
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