Audit paints troubling picture of OC Transpo’s planning failures

For Samantha Gosselin, starting a new job marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter. It also means returning to OC Transpo after rarely relying on public transit over the past five years — a decision she hopes won’t come at the expense of her time or patience.

Thankfully, she says, her commute is a single route rather than a series of transfers.

“The fares are a little high, but at least I have one straight shot. My kids, who go to high school, have to rely on the city bus, and it was almost impossible for them. [Buses] would miss or be late, so I had to drive them half the time,” she told the Lookout. “Missing connections is a very big issue.”

Waiting for her bus at Tunney’s Pasture, Gosselin said she’s willing to give transit another chance, but is already weighing whether it’s worth the financial and time investment.

“Driving is ridiculous in this city, and parking is ridiculous in this city,” she said. “I’d love to use transit more, but I’m sitting here going, ‘is it worth it to take public transit or do I just drive my own car, and park and pay because the time and the bus pass costs the same?’”

It’s a question many Ottawa residents have been asking in recent years.

Once regarded as one of North America’s premier transit systems, OC Transpo has become an example of how quickly public confidence can erode. Ongoing O-Train safety issues, construction delays and a bus network plagued by missed trips, unreliable schedules and infrequent service have driven many riders to seek other ways of getting around while demanding answers from city hall.