Mayor backs fare freeze amid ongoing LRT woes

Citing the mounting frustration of OC Transpo customers with the city's problem-plagued LRT system, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson is proposing a three-month transit fare freeze.

"As you know, our transit users have been experiencing far too many challenging and uncertain commutes over the last month, given the ongoing issues and service interruptions on LRT," Watson wrote to city manager Steve Kanellakos Friday afternoon.

Watson said the need for "short-term relief" in the form of a temporary freeze became "obvious" after Wednesday's fraught transit commission meeting.

• Calls for OC Transpo fare freeze mount amid LRT problems

The mayor is proposing a fare freeze from January to March2020. Transit fares were set to increase by 2.5 per cent onJan. 1, according to the draft budget tabled on Wednesday.

The freeze will be covered by funds from payments being withheld from Confederation Line builder Rideau Transit Group, Watson said. The cost of freezing fares for three months will amount to about$960,000, he said.

"We're not satisfied with the LRT system to date it frustrated too many people. And they shouldn't be paying more for the service until RTG gets its act together," Watsonsaid.

Additionally, themayor has asked Kanellakosto come up with a funding plan to extend the fare freeze beyond March "should service to our transit passengers not improve to the City's satisfaction."

"Our hope for our customers certainly remains that issues will have been resolved over the coming months, and that service will have significantly improved and stabilized," the mayor concluded.

Move applauded

Citizen transit commissioner Sarah Wright-Gilbert welcomed the proposed freeze.

"I think it's an excellent move by the mayor. I think it shows that he's listening to his constituents and he's listening to the commission and it will certainly make the budget meeting on the 20th of the Transit Commission perhaps a little less fiery," she said.

"I think it's an excellent move by the mayor. I think it shows that he's listening to his constituents and he's listening to the commission and it will certainly make the budget meeting on the 20th of the Transit Commission perhaps a little less fiery," she said.

Likewise, Anthony Carricato, citizen member of the transit commission, said he's thrilled the increases were offset until March. He hopes to work with his colleagues to freeze fares for the entireyear.

"Asking residents to pay more for this service is not reasonable or fair," Carricato said.

OC Transpocustomer Donna Clark said while she's happy Watson is proposing a fare freeze, it doesn't undo the challenges to her commute created by the LRT.

She said she used to take Route 14 to her overnight shifts at a hospital . Now, with changes to bus routes, sheshuffles between five different routes togetto work.

"I am at the point where I am actually thinking about getting a car," Clark said.