Right out of the gate, I would like to acknowledge that transit service reliability is currently nowhere close to where it needs to be. Every day my team and I hear directly from residents in Gloucester–Southgate about the frequent cancellations and disruptions affecting the daily lives of transit riders. Too many people have been left out waiting in the cold, late for work, or struggling to make important connections, meetings, and appointments. Your frustration is valid, and I share it.
I wanted to share that I am actively engaging with OC Transpo’s senior leadership to push for solutions that will improve reliability. I am asking that all innovative and alternative options be seriously considered — including measures to strengthen the fleet (including acquisition of used buses where necessary), address mechanical issues (6 new mechanics are set to graduate in the upcoming months from a 2-year apprentice program,), and to stabilize service levels as quickly as possible.
In the short term, I have been made aware that OC Transpo will begin proactively cancelling certain routes in advance, when they know service is likely to be affected due to fleet or mechanical issues. While I agree that this is not ideal, and that this is not the service you deserve, the goal is to reduce last-minute cancellations so that residents are not unexpectedly left waiting, and can better plan their trips.
At this time, I encourage residents to continue checking OC Transpo service alerts, trip planning tools, and real-time updates before travelling, as service levels may continue to change.
The good news, is that in speaking with the Interim General Manager of Transit Services, it was confirmed that roughly 100 new zero-emission buses are set to arrive this Spring. They will take a few weeks to get out the door, but once they do, it will alleviate some of the existing pressures that have been felt across the network with our aging fleet.
I will continue to advocate for accountability, transparency, and meaningful improvements to transit service for Gloucester–Southgate. More to come from OC Transpo in the coming days.
