Ottawa's public transit provider, OC Transpo, is positioning itself to handle a potential surge in commuters if the federal government proceeds with a rumoured mandate requiring public servants to return to the office five days a week.
Transit Authority on Standby for Mandate
Amid reports from La Presse outlining a phased full-time return for federal employees, transit officials state they are prepared to adapt. Transit committee chair Glen Gower confirmed this week that while no formal discussions with the government have occurred, OC Transpo is monitoring the situation closely. "In terms of readiness, it will have an impact, but OC Transpo says that they're ready," Gower stated.
OC Transpo's general manager, Troy Charter, informed the transit committee on November 24 that he was "not aware of any conversations" with the federal government regarding its return-to-office plans or the potential for a bulk transit pass purchase for public servants.
Ridership Numbers Show Promising Trend
The transit authority is already witnessing a positive shift in passenger volumes as more federal workers spend more time in the office. OC Transpo reported "significant increases" in ridership for September and October compared to the same months in 2024.
Specifically, the system recorded 7.4 million trips in September, marking a six-per-cent increase from September 2024. The growth accelerated in October, with 7.8 million trips, representing a substantial 17-per-cent jump year-over-year.
Gower noted that current travel patterns show busier mid-week days. "Now we're seeing some days that are busier than others, like the midweek days, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, that are busier than Monday and Friday," he explained. "Our expectation is that, with people who are heading back to office four or five days a week, we would see the rest of those weekdays as busy as the other ones."
Future Expansions to Coincide with Return Timeline
The timing of major transit infrastructure projects appears to align with the speculated return-to-office schedule. According to the La Presse report, executives could return full-time by January 2026, with other staff moving to four days a week in July 2026. A full five-day mandate for all public servants would then take effect on January 1, 2027.
Coincidentally, Charter indicated that the LRT East Extension to Orléans is on track for completion in the first quarter of 2026, extending service from Blair Station to Trim Station. Furthermore, the West Extension to Moodie Drive and Algonquin Station is targeted for early 2027.
"We're going to have the east-end LRT launching early in 2026, so that certainly would be welcome in terms of improving capacity and service levels," said Gower. "And then early 2027 is when we're looking at the West Extension... So, with those extensions in place, it will be roughly in line with those (return-to-office) dates."
While some individual bus routes are experiencing higher demand, Gower assured that there is "lots of capacity on the O-Train." OC Transpo continues to monitor ridership trends and adjust services as needed to ensure a smooth transition for Ottawa's commuting public.