Transit riders in Ottawa are facing another fare increase despite ongoing reliability issues with OC Transpo services. City staff have tabled a budget that includes a 2.5 percent fare hike effective January 2026, even as the public transit system continues to fall short of its performance targets.
Budget Details and Financial Impact
The proposed $938.7 million operating budget represents a significant 10.8 percent increase over the 2025 budget, following an 11.4 percent increase the previous year. The fare increase is expected to generate approximately $4 million in additional revenue, while an eight percent property tax levy increase will contribute another $43.4 million to transit funding.
Beginning January 1, 2026, adult monthly passes will increase from $135 to $138.50. Senior monthly passes will rise from $58.25 to $59.75, and single-ride tickets will see a ten-cent increase from $4 to $4.10.
Public Opposition and Reliability Concerns
During the November 24 transit committee meeting, 22 public delegations signed up to voice their concerns about the fare increase. Many speakers pointed to ongoing reliability problems that have persisted despite the massive "New Ways to Bus" route overhaul implemented in April.
Angela Keller-Herzog, executive director of Community Action for Environmental Sustainability (CAFES), called the timing of the fare increase "tone deaf." She stated, "In light that we've just seen a significant reduction in service, we think that having a fare increase is tone deaf in terms of how this city is functioning. We don't think it makes any sense. And we think that a fare increase in an affordability crisis is an inequitable policy choice."
Service Quality Under Scrutiny
Nick Grover of Ecology Ottawa echoed these concerns, noting that "everyone's paying into OC Transpo without a clear sense of what they're actually getting out of it." He emphasized that for transit riders, "the service remains unreliable, infrequent and inconsistent," while suburban homeowners seeing their levies increase find transit "by and large unusable."
Grover also highlighted that the New Ways to Bus initiative resulted in reduced service hours and "many commutes that have become longer, less convenient and with more transfers."
The fare increase comes at a time when many Ottawa residents are already struggling with affordability pressures, creating additional challenges for those who rely on public transportation for their daily commute and essential travel needs.
