Transit ridership in Ottawa is declining
While OC Transpo ridership declined by 6.7% between 2011 and 2016, it remains higher than the ridership levels seen in the mid- to late-2000s. Per capita ridership in Ottawa is relatively high compared to major Canadian transit systems, third to Montreal and Toronto.
Para Transpo is the public transportation alternative for people who are unable to take conventional transit. Of the 56,000 registered Para Transpo clients, 24% actively use the service. About 70% of the active users are over age 65.
The Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) uses service area population to calculate their per capita ridership estimates. Service area population is defined as the population of a city that lives within 400m of a transit route.
- OC Transpo Annual Performance Report 2014. Accessed April 11, 2016.
- Singer, Geoffrey and Cherise Burda. Fast Cities: A Comparison of Rapid Transit in Major Canadian Cities. Pembina Foundation for Environmental Research and Education, for Pembina Institute. September 2014.
- City of Ottawa. 2015 Annual Development Report. 2016
- Edmonton Transit System 2018. Adult Fares. Accessed June 1 2018.
- Singer, Geoffrey and Cherise Burda. Fast Cities: A Comparison of Rapid Transit in Major Canadian Cities. Pembina Foundation for Environmental Research and Education, for Pembina Institute. September 2014.
- City of Ottawa. OC Transpo Reports and Stats Annual Performance Reports. Accessed September 2018
Transit costs are high and continue to rise
In the last five years, most of Ottawa’s transit pass prices have increased more than the rate of inflation. The largest pass cost increases have been for the Community Pass, followed by the Regular Adult Pass. In 2018, Ottawa’s single transit fares were higher than the fares in the other five large Canadian cities.
In 2017, Ottawa launched the EquiPass, its first affordable monthly transit pass for individuals living on lower incomes. The Community Pass is available to those receiving Ontario Disability Support Program benefits and the Access Pass, which is the same price, is for registered Para Transpo clients.
- OC Transpo 2018. Tickets. Accessed June 1, 2018.
- OC Transpo 2018 - Tickets. Accessed June 1, 2018.
- Societe de Transport de Montreal 2018. 1 Trip. Accessed June 1, 2018.
- Toronto Transit Commission 2018. Prices. Accessed June 1, 2018.
- Translink 2018. Single Fares. Accessed June 1, 2018
- Winnipeg Transit 2018. Transit Fares. Accessed June 1, 2018
- City of Ottawa. OC Transpo Reports and Stats Annual Performance Reports. Accessed September 2018
