A Glimmer of Hope? OC Transpo Chair Points to Service Improvements After a Bumpy Ride

Okay, so last week was a bit of a nightmare for anyone relying on OC Transpo, wasn't it? We saw hundreds upon hundreds of bus trips just vanish from the schedules, leaving people scrambling to find alternative ways to get around. I mean, over 700 cancellations on just one Monday? That’s just wild, and frankly, incredibly frustrating when you're trying to get to work or school and your bus simply doesn't show up.

But here’s the thing: according to Transit Commission Chair Glen Gower, there's actually a bit of a silver lining, and things are starting to look up. He’s confidently stating that service is improving. Apparently, the biggest culprit behind all those vanishing buses was a pretty serious driver shortage – a mix of folks being sick, taking vacation, or even leaving their jobs. It's a tough situation for any transit system to navigate, for sure.

So, what exactly are they doing about it? Well, it seems OC Transpo has been on quite a hiring spree, which is definitely good news for commuters. They've successfully brought in 240 new drivers, and there's another 100 or so currently going through training to get them ready for the road. The goal, ambitiously, is to get another 20 to 30 more on board before the year is out. That's a pretty significant push, and hopefully, all these new faces will make a real, tangible difference.

Gower even pointed to some numbers, suggesting that this week has already seen fewer cancellations compared to the previous, particularly rough, period. It might feel like a small victory to some, but it's a victory nonetheless, especially for those of us who just want to get where we're going on time, consistently. They're aiming to hit that 99.5% service delivery target, which is what we typically saw before the pandemic hit. Right now, they're hovering around 98.7% or 98.8%. So, still a little ways to go, but definitely moving in the right direction.

And there's more on the horizon, too. Come April, OC Transpo is planning to roll out its seasonal service adjustments. You know, those spring, summer, and fall schedules? These upcoming changes are expected to help address some of the existing problems and, fingers crossed, make the overall service even more reliable for everyone. It sounds like they're really trying to be proactive.

Of course, not everyone is entirely convinced just yet, and who can blame them after such a rough patch? Some councillors and, naturally, many commuters are still feeling pretty frustrated. It’s going to take more than just words to rebuild that trust; it'll take consistent, reliable service day in and day out. But for now, Gower is emphasizing that the focus is squarely on bringing in and keeping drivers, along with making smart, strategic adjustments to routes and schedules. It certainly sounds like they're putting in the effort to get things back on track for Ottawa.