O-Train ridership at 43 per cent of pre-pandemic levels

Ridership on Ottawa's nearly four-year-old light-rail transit system is only 43 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, as OC Transpo continues to miss its ridership targets for 2023.

OC Transpo is struggling to attract riders back to buses and the O-Train as life returns to normal following the COVID-19 pandemic, with ridership on the O-Train less than half of what it was before the pandemic started.

Now with OC Transpo missing ridership targets for another month, there are concerns it may be years before ridership returns to normal.

"It could be 8-10 years before we are back to pre-pandemic levels," Coun. Glen Gower said.

Statistics tabled at the Transit Commission meeting shows there were 4.8 million passenger trips on the O-Train and on buses in May, just under the 5 million-ridership target for the month. Ridership was 5.5 million trips in January, 5.4 million in February, 6 million in March and 5.4 million in April.

Fare revenue was $1 million under budget for the month of May.

Transit Services General Manager Renee Amilcar says ridership is slower to return to rapid transit compared to buses, a trend seen in other cities across Canada.

Amilcar says bus ridership is 73-75 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, while O-Train ridership is 43 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.