By FTO member Sean Campeau For well over a decade, Ottawa's transit riders have struggled with a system that has gained renown for being among the costliest and most unreliable in the country. The City’s response to the impact of Covid, and the associated growth in working from home, on OC Transpo’s balance sheet has … Continue reading Election 2026: Empty promises mean empty buses
Election 2026: A city of neglect or a city for all?
The following op-ed by FTO member Donald Swartz was published in the July edition of the OSCAR community newspaper. The start of the 2026 Municipal election campaign is a good moment to reflect on the City we have, the one we want and what we need to do to realize it. Step out the door … Continue reading Election 2026: A city of neglect or a city for all?
ATU to City Hall: “You had the warnings, you had the authority, you chose to ignore both”
The following speech was delivered at the February 12th Transit Committee meeting by Noah Vineberg, president of the local union representing transit workers in Ottawa (ATU 279). I am here today alongside our elected Local Executive Board representing over 2200OC Transpo workers that work tirelessly day in and day out to keep our city moving. … Continue reading ATU to City Hall: “You had the warnings, you had the authority, you chose to ignore both”
Few Ways to Bus: OC Transpo Service Cuts Explained
On April 27th, OC Transpo’s “New Ways to Bus” will go into effect. It’s a top-to-bottom overhaul of Ottawa’s bus network that claims to “focus on frequency, local service in your neighbourhood, and connections to key destinations.” That’s incredibly dishonest. Instead of the bold plan required to bring Ottawa’s transit back from the brink, we … Continue reading Few Ways to Bus: OC Transpo Service Cuts Explained
Bank Street is a transit corridor. Let’s treat it like one.
Having lived in Centertown and Old Ottawa South for the better part of a decade, I’ve spent more than my fair share of time on a bus stuck in traffic on Bank Street. I’ve been late to meet friends downtown, and I’ve missed more transfers at Billings Bridge than I can count. I’ve given up … Continue reading Bank Street is a transit corridor. Let’s treat it like one.
Free transit is just the beginning
Check out this new article by James Wilt in Briarpatch about international movements for free transit! “Free transit is about much more than transit: an end to austerity, a refusal of police power, and a demand for decommodified and universal public services. We simply can’t build the world we dream of until we confront ruling … Continue reading Free transit is just the beginning
Victoria city council endorses proposal for free transit in the Capital Region during committee of the whole
Victoria, BC is on its way to free transit! Read more about it in this article.
Rethinking Ottawa’s Transit System: A bold proposal for free transit in a city designed for cars
During the week of February 4-10, Free Transit Ottawa challenged Ottawa’s City Councillors and Mayor to take the Transit Week Challenge. The idea was simple: To get the people who make decisions about public transit to experience the system firsthand.
Is transit a right?
Take a look at this great article from Michelle Perry in the Centre for Canadian Policy Alternatives January-February 2019 publicationCheck out the whole CCPA Monitor for this month FREE PUBLIC TRANSIT. It’s an idea dismissed as noble but unworkable in Canadian cities. Without fares, who would pay? Yet free transit is making inroads into our … Continue reading Is transit a right?
Szwarc: LRT project ignores Ottawa’s low-income communities, which need public transit the most
Check out this great article from Julia Szwarc about the LRT and how it fails low income Ottawans! Click Here