An Ottawa city councillor is demanding greater transparency from the city's public transit provider after it was revealed that hundreds of scheduled bus trips were not delivered on a single day in early January.
Massive Service Disruption Prompts Call for Action
Coun. Tim Tierney, a member of the city's transit commission, is calling for OC Transpo to implement an online public dashboard. This tool would clearly report how many of its diesel buses are active and in service each day. The push comes after OC Transpo confirmed it cancelled between 700 and 800 bus trips on Monday, January 5, 2026.
The request for a dashboard mirrors a similar online tool already used by OC Transpo to track the delivery of new zero-emission electric buses (ZEBs). Tierney argues that real-time data on bus availability is crucial for public accountability, especially following such a significant service failure.
Aging Fleet and Staff Shortages Blamed
In a memo to council last week, OC Transpo's acting general manager, Troy Charter, acknowledged the service was not meeting standards. He pointed to a combination of critical factors leading to the shortage of available buses:
- An Aging Diesel Fleet: The older buses require more complex and lengthier maintenance, keeping them out of service for extended periods.
- Mechanic Shortage: The transit authority faces ongoing challenges in recruiting licensed mechanics, creating a backlog of buses awaiting repairs.
- Winter Weather and Traffic: These external conditions further exacerbate the challenges of maintaining reliable daily service.
"This has resulted in longer wait times for customers during winter weather, unpredictable commute times, and has resulted in an increase in undelivered trips," Charter stated in the memo.
Electric Bus Delays Force Consideration of a 'Plan B'
The situation is compounded by significant delays in OC Transpo's transition to a zero-emission fleet. The agency aims to be fully electric by the end of 2027, but deliveries are far behind schedule.
As of December 23, 2025, OC Transpo had received only 36 e-buses. During a November update, Charter had told the transit committee he expected 26 new buses by year's end, bringing the total to 56. However, Coun. Tierney noted that only six new e-buses have been delivered since July 2025.
Supply chain issues and high demand from municipalities across North America are slowing the scheduled deliveries. Due to these delays, Tierney is urging staff and council to explore a 'Plan B', which could involve acquiring more diesel buses as a stopgap measure to improve service reliability.
In response to the criticism, OC Transpo has committed to increased reporting. The agency says it will begin sharing weekly updates with council and the public, featuring key performance indicators on a new webpage.
