Petition takes aim at busing ‘crisis’

Manor Park resident calls for transit state of emergency

The latest reports on OC Transpo bus reliability will come to the surprise of few in Manor Park.

According to the city, the number 7 bus, which services this community, saw 327 trips cancelled in January. That represents close to 10 per cent of the more than 3,500 trips planned during the month. It was a similar story for nearby Route 6. In all, 9,263 trips were cancelled across the city during the month. 

The ongoing struggles, which date back months if not years in Ottawa, have become too much for Julie Zhang. The new Manor Park resident has launched an online petition (https://www.change.org/OttawaBusEmergency) that aims to have Ottawa declare a state of emergency for public transit. To date, close to 400 people have signed on.

Zhang, a full-time engineer and “devoted mother,” says her frustration with the bus service reached a breaking point in January “when my family endured unbearable waits in freezing weather — with our young child — just to get to daycare and work. The bus delays and cancellations are really affecting our ability to plan our schedules, to be punctual for work/appointments, and to stay focused on our lives,” she noted in an email exchange with the Chronicle. “Thousands of people are affected daily, this is unacceptable and we need to do something about it.”

Not alone

And she’s not alone. Zhang says the system “fails” vulnerable residents like seniors, youth, newcomers, injured and disabled. Many, she says, “lack access to smartphones and the tech savviness to use transit apps.”

In October the Chronicle heard from a Manor Park mother who voiced her frustrations with OC Tranpo’s inconsistent service delivery. In particular, Caroline Sullivan pointed to challenges her children face getting to and home from school. 

“In the mornings, they (buses) are not on time at all, often 30+ minutes apart, then sometimes there will be two or three in a row,” she noted. 

Zhang says the petition will remain in place for the foreseeable future. 

“While my capacity is limited as a working mom, I plan to keep the petition active through the end of the year. I’ll monitor progress closely and will not hesitate to relaunch another campaign whenever further public pressure is needed,” she noted. 

While the number of signees is growing, that’s not the ultimate goal. Rather it’s “driving meaningful conversations with friends, communities, and city councillors. I believe the petition has already begun to engage people, stimulate conversations and raise awareness. This itself was a big success.”

Council feedback

While feedback from city councillors, at least two of whom she presented the petition to in person, has been limited, Zhang is far from discouraged. The CBC reported Coun. Shawn Menard referred to the need for an “emergency response” to the situation, an indication the effort is having an impact, she says. 

While Rideau-Rockcliffe Coun. Rawlson King does not have a seat on the Transit Committee, he says he’s been actively advocating for residents. 

“On February 12, I attended the Transit Committee meeting and expressed significant concern on behalf of residents to OC Transpo management over cancelled buses, long service gaps, and unreliable commutes affecting hundreds of Rideau-Rockcliffe residents,” he told the Chronicle. (View his presentation at www.youtube.com/live/-LORraVdilE?si=-zLarphWWgeoJEyJ&t=10543). 

“I highlighted the particular hardship faced by people relying on routes like the 7, who often wait 30, 60, or even 90 minutes in the cold.”

A motion he introduced “that would direct OC Transpo staff to implement a standardized communication protocol so that Councillors’ offices and the public are notified of trip cancellations, recurring reliability issues, and significant schedule changes,” will be considered at the next committee meeting on March 12.

He says the ongoing issues — not just cancellations but lengthy service gaps, “and buses that appear in real-time tracking apps only to disappear at the last minute, what riders call ‘ghost buses’ — are unacceptable. 

“The frustration is completely understandable, and I want residents to know their reports are being heard and are actively informing the pressure I’m putting on OC Transpo management,” King said. 

Declaration goal

Urgent action that effectively deals with the chronic issues at OC Transpo is what’s needed, King says. 

“Whether or not Council formally declares a state of emergency, the reality is that transit reliability in our city is in crisis,” he said.

Zhang says a declaration “may open the door to federal or provincial support, but most importantly it is a promise of commitment to respond urgently.

“A city-wide, prolonged disruption to essential transportation services clearly fits the definition of an emergency, especially when vulnerable residents are bearing the cost of a systemic failure.

As precedent, she points to the Climate Emergency council declared in 2019.

“It would acknowledge the seriousness of the situation and hold municipal leadership accountable for real action,” she noted. “Ultimately, it will help redefine the culture around transit in the city.”

Key issues

Zhang says a lack of funding stands in the way of an effective service. She believes “the key issues fall into three broad areas: 

• customer service: often unreliable, infrequent, and increasingly expensive,

• operations: persistent bus shortages and ongoing challenges with employee retention, which directly affect service quality,

• governance: a city council that lacks a cohesive long-term vision for public transit. “As a result, we are in a downward cycle of declining ridership, worsening congestion, and eroding public trust,” she said.

What’s needed

Short term, Coun. King says OC Transpo must get more buses on the road “through accelerated repairs and additional mechanics,” as well as protect “peak period trips on essential routes.”

He points to the $443 million council has approved in the 2026 budget for transit, OC Transpo’s acknowledgement of the poor performance and the implementation of an action plan, as steps in the right direction. 

“I also believe we need to pursue refunds, future free transit options or discounted fares to compensate transit users for these disruptions,” King said. 

A motion to that effect was approved on Feb. 12 and staff will report back in May with potential options. 

Longer term, key issues are an aging fleet “pushed beyond its limits,” chronic shortage of mechanics and delayed maintenance that just worsens year after year. 

There is some light, King adds. 

“The 110 new electric buses expected by April 2026, with 234 by year-end, will help, as will the fleet and maintenance investments in the 2026 budget,” he said.

The additional vehicles are just a start, Zhang said, noting “that will only replace half the existing fleet, let alone expand it.

The city to plan ahead to ensure future demand is met. “Bus manufacturing takes time,” Zhang said. “We need to act now by planning procurement in line with projected future demand rather than reacting to shortages after the fact.”

Beyond that, greater investment is needed in the recruitment of more drivers and mechanics as well as their retention “by improving working conditions and management practices.”

Rebuilding trust

Both King and Zhang agree re-establishing trust with riders will take time, effort and tangible results.

The councillor said, “rebuilding trust and reliability will require sustained investment and accountability over multiple years, not just a one-year fix.”

Zhang says both the city and OC Transpo need to be accountable. 

“I want like to see both parties work collaboratively to develop creative, sustainable strategies for financing transit improvements and implementing policies that actively encourage ridership.”

She points to suggestions from Free Transit Ottawa, a group advocating for more reliable public transit, such as:

• introducing bus-only lanes, 

• raising parking rates, 

• offering free fares during off-peak hours.

“These are practical steps that could make the system more reliable, efficient, and affordable. I support all of these solutions.”