Transit Committee

Minutes

Meeting #:

20

Date:

Thursday, June 12, 2025

Time:

9:30 A.m. - 5:30 P.m.

Location:

Champlain Room, 110 Laurier Avenue West, and by electronic participation

Present:

• Chair Glen Gower, 
• Vice-Chair Steve Desroches, 
• Councillor Riley Brockington, 
• Councillor Marty Carr, 
• Councillor David Hill, 
• Councillor Jeff Leiper, 
• Councillor Wilson Lo, 
• Councillor Shawn Menard, 
• and Councillor Tim Tierney 

---

1.

Notices and meeting information for meeting participants and the public

Notices and meeting information are attached to the agenda and minutes, including: availability of simultaneous interpretation and accessibility accommodations; in camera meeting procedures; information items not subject to discussion; personal information disclaimer for correspondents and public speakers; notices regarding minutes; and hybrid participation details.

Accessible formats and communication supports are available, upon request.

Except where otherwise indicated, reports requiring Council consideration will be presented to Council on June 25, 2025 in Transit Committee Report 20.

The deadline to register by phone to speak, or submit written comments or visual presentations is 4 pm on Friday, June 6, 2025, and the deadline to register to speak by email is 8:30 am on Thursday, June 12, 2025.

These “Summary Minutes” indicate the disposition of items and actions taken at the meeting. This document does not include all of the text that will be included in the full Minutes, such as the record of written and oral submissions. Recorded votes and dissents contained in the Summary Minutes are draft until the full Minutes of the meeting are confirmed by the Committee. The draft of the full Minutes (for confirmation) will be published with the agenda for the next regular Committee meeting and, once confirmed, will replace this document.

2.

Declarations of Interest

No Declarations of Interest were filed.

3.

Confirmation of Minutes

3.1

TC Minutes 19 – April 10, 2025

• Carried

4.

Presentations

4.1

OC Transpo Update – Rail, Bus, and Para Transpo

The following Transit Services Department staff provided a presentation on the item and answered questions from the Committee. A copy of the slide presentation is filed with the Office of the City Clerk.

• Renée Amilcar, General Manager
• Derek Moran, Manager, Rail Operations
• Troy Charter, Director, Transit Services Delivery & Rail Operation
• Brad Tubman, Manager, Transit Ops Control Centre (TOCC)
• Sabrina Pasian, Chief Safety Officer
• Amanda Blanchfield, Program Manager, Service Strategy
• Scott Bagg, Team Lead, Service Reliability
• Dan Villeneuve, Manager, Zero Emission Bus
• Rami El Feghali, Director,Transit Bus Operations & Maintenance 

The following staff also responded to questions from Committee:

• Pat Scrimgeour, Director, Transit Customer Systems & Planning
• Richard Holder, Director, Rail Construction Program (T)
• Marko Kroenke, Director, Engineering Services
• Bart Cormier, Director, Director, Transit Strategic Communications & External Relations

The resident Julie Zhang spoke before the Committee and provided comments on the item.
The following written submissions were received by, and are filed with, the Office of the City Clerk, and distributed to Committee Members:

• Email dated April 13, 2025 from Sean Robertson
• Email dated April 18, 2025 from Jamie Brisson
• Email dated May 15, 2025 from Jordy Jeppesen
• Email dated June 5, 2025 from Lucas Cherkewski 

5.

Transit Services Department

5.1

Response to Westboro Collision Coroner's Inquest

File No. ACS2025-TSD-TS-0002 – City-wide

The following Transit Services Department staff provided a presentation on the item and answered questions from the Committee. A copy of the slide presentation is filed with the Office of the City Clerk.

• Sabrina Pasian, Chief Safety Officer
• Troy Charter, Director, Transit Services Delivery & Rail Operation

Following discussions and questions of staff, the Committee carried the recommendations as presented.

• Report Recommendation(s)

  1. That the Transit Committee recommend that Council receive this response to the Provincial Coroner’s Inquest, including the Inquest’s recommendations attached as Document 1 to this report, for information; and
  2. That the Transit Committee receive and recommend that Council receive the City’s Action Plan to address the Inquest recommendations directed to the City, attached as Document 2 to this report, for information.
  Carried

5.2

OC Transpo’s Non-Fare Revenue Strategy

File No. ACS2025-SCER-0001 - Citywide

The following Transit Services Department staff were present and available to answer questions.

• Bart Cormier, Director, Director, Transit Strategic Communications & External Relations
• Justin Hoppner, Senior Project Manager, Transit Marketing (T)

Following discussions and questions of staff, the Committee received the recommendation as presented.

• Report Recommendation(s)

  That the Transit Committee receive this report for information.

  Received

5.3

Stage 2 Light Rail Transit Project

File No. ACS2025-TSD-RCP-0002 - City-wide

The following Transit Services Department staff provided a presentation on the item and answered questions from the Committee. A copy of the slide presentation is filed with the Office of the City Clerk.

• Richard Holder, Director, Rail Construction Program (T)
• Jacelyn Daigle, Director, Rail Construction Program (T)
• Eric Dube, Manager, Rail Systems (T) 

The following staff also responded to questions from Committee:

• Renée Amilcar, General Manager
• Troy Charter, Director, Transit Services Delivery & Rail Operation
• Pat Scrimgeour, Director, Transit Customer Systems & Planning

Following discussions and questions of staff, the Committee received the recommendation as presented.

• Report Recommendation(s)

  That the Transit Committee receive this report for information.

  Received

6.

Office of the City Clerk

6.1

Status Update – Transit Committee Inquiries and Motions for the period ending May 30, 2025

File No. ACS2025-OCC-CCS-0069 - City-wide

• Report Recommendation(s)

  That the Transit Committee receive this report for information.

  Received

7.

In Camera Items

There were no in camera items.

8.

Motions of Which Notice has been Previously Given

8.1

Motion - Councillor D. Hill - Confederation LRT line’s Temporary Speed Restrictions

File No. ACS2025-OCC-CCS-0070 - City-wide

Note: The Devine Motion of which Notice was previously given at the April 10, 2025 Transit Committee meeting was replaced with the following revised motion pursuant to Subsection 59(5) of the Procedure By-law.

• WHEREAS on August 8th, 2021 an O-Train light rail vehicle derailed while on the Confederation Line; and

  WHEREAS a second derailment took place on the Confederation Line just outside of the maintenance yard on the September 19th, 2021 which was caused by mandated fleet maintenance activities resulting from the first derailment from August 8th; and

  WHEREAS, following the derailments, OC Transpo worked with Rideau Transit Group (RTG) to establish a plan to ensure a safe return to service, leveraging the expertise and independent oversight of TRA; and

  WHEREAS the safe return to service plan incorporated a system of regular inspections; and

  WHEREAS, in June 2022, following a regular inspection, Alstom exercised its rights to put in place Temporary Speed Restrictions (TSRs) on sections of Line 1, via the issuance of a Safety Notice; and

  WHEREAS a second series of TSRs were put in place by Alstom in 2023; and

  WHEREAS both sets of TSRs remain in place to this day; and

  WHEREAS a definitive analysis of the root cause or causes of the 2021 derailments have not been delivered to the City, or brought forward for public discussion; and

  WHEREAS it is essential that City staff provide transparent reporting to Council regarding transit operations in a way that enables their oversight role and, consequently, maintains or improves public confidence in Ottawa’s rail system; and

  WHERAS on January 29, 2025, Council directed staff to continue the practice of holding technical briefings where appropriate for major updates regarding light-rail transit matters, in consultation with the Transit Committee Chair, given that such briefings provide transparency and timely information, with an opportunity for all Members of Council and their offices to attend and ask questions, and a question-and-answer session for media.

  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Transit Committee direct staff to hold a technical briefing for members of Council prior to removing Temporary Speed Restrictions from the Confederation Line, to provide an update on the status of measures currently in place to monitor or mitigate issues with the axle bearings of the O-Train light rail vehicles and progress towards a permanent solution to the axle bearing issue.

  Carried

9.

Notices of Motions (For Consideration at Subsequent Meeting)

9.1

Donated Bus

• Motion No. TC 2025-20-01
  Moved by W. Lo

  WHEREAS the Canadian Transit Heritage Foundation is a national organization supporting and celebrating Canada’s transit heritage; and

  WHEREAS the Canadian Transit Heritage Foundation is a registered non-profit charitable corporation; and

  WHEREAS the Canadian Transit Heritage Foundation is seeking the donation of a decommissioned OC Transpo bus to preserve Ottawa’s transit history; and

  WHEREAS OC Transpo will be decommissioning bus #4426 due to its age; and

  WHEREAS the scrap metal value of a decommissioned bus is between $4,000 to $5,000; and 

  WHEREAS Section 41(4) of the City’s Procurement By-law 2000-50, as amended, states that: “the sale of surplus furniture, vehicles, equipment, stock, supplies and other goods and material shall be made to the highest responsive bidder and the sale shall be made in accordance with the provisions of this by-law where applicable.” And

  WHREREAS Ottawa City Council has previously waived this provision in order to donate surplus vehicles (ambulances) to specific causes or organizations; and

  WHEREAS the City’s Disposal of Fleet Vehicles and Equipment Policy includes the following provision on Donation: 

  “Through donation to an eligible person, group, or body, where Council considers the donation to be in the interest of the City, as set out in the Municipal Act. This option is initiated by a sponsoring Councillor. The report or motion brought forward to Committee, Transit Commission or Council must waive section 41(4) of the procurement by-law to allow the donation.”

  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Transit Committee recommend Council direct OC Transpo staff to donate bus #4426 to the Canadian Transit Heritage Foundation, once it has become decommissioned; and

  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Council approve the waiver of Subsection 41(4) of By-law No. 2000-50, as amended, to permit the donation of bus #4426 to the Canadian Transit Heritage Foundation, with the lost residual value funded from the Transit Services account #407005-200010.

9.2

Hearts Desire and Rideau Glen Bus Services

• Motion No. TC 2025-20-02
  Moved by W. Lo

  WHEREAS the Transit Commission approved report ACS2020-TSD-TS-0006 on 18 November 2020, later approved by Council on 9 December 2020; and

  WHEREAS the approved report recommended adjusting the boundary between the Urban Transit Area (UTA) and the Rural Transit Area (RTA) to match that of the urban boundary as defined in Schedule B of the Official Plan; and

  WHEREAS the change reclassified large areas of the City from RTA to UTA; and

  WHEREAS although the change affected predominantly Greenbelt or undeveloped areas, a few populated areas were also affected, with the two largest communities being Hearts Desire and Rideau Glen in Ward 24; and

  WHEREAS the communities of Hearts Desire and Rideau Glen include the following streets:

  • Barcham Crescent (all)
  • Bren-Maur Road (2 to 79, 126)
  • Colley Street (all)
  • Cortleigh Drive (all)
  • Eisenhower Crescent (all)
  • Goodwood Drive (all)
  • Holborn Avenue (all)
  • Howard Court (all)
  • Kelowna Street (all)
  • Mion Court (all)
  • Newland Drive (all)
  • Prince of Wales Drive (2747 to 3806)
  • Queen Anne Crescent (all)
  • Rideau Glen Drive (all)
  • Ryerson Avenue (all)
  • Woodroffe Avenue (3436 to 3626, even only); and

  WHEREAS despite the reclassification, Hearts Desire and Rideau Glen continue to have no transit service nearby, with most homes in the communities averaging one kilometre to their nearest bus stop; and

  WHEREAS per the 2024 budget, the RTA-A levy is 0.055612 per cent, while the UTA levy is 0.205539 per cent, representing a difference of about 370 per cent;

  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT staff be directed to introduce transit service (either fixed route or on-demand) into Hearts Desire and closer to Rideau Glen by the autumn 2026 booking; and

  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT should no transit service be introduced into Hearts Desire or closer to Rideau Glen by the autumn 2026 booking, or if it is unfeasible, all households in the two communities be reverted to the Rural Transit Area-A transit property tax levy starting in the 2027 taxation year and until such time as service is introduced.

9.3

Transit Fare Transfer Window Expansion

• Motion No. TC 2025-20-03
  Moved by D. Hill

  WHEREAS with the advent of New Ways to Bus some Barrhaven residents have experienced service delays in their routine commute due to early implementation growing pains; and 

  WHEREAS construction on Stage 2 of the LRT has resulted in an additional 15 minutes to transit trips taken by residents from Tunney’s Pasture to Fallowfield Station; and

  WHEREAS Barrhaven residents returning from work in the downtown core or Gatineau have experienced transit trips that exceed the 90 minute transfer window due to service disruptions and construction; and

  WHEREAS residents attempting to return from work should not be charged twice for a singular trip due to factors outside of their control.

  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Transit Committee direct staff review the 90 minute transfer window and present options as part of the comprehensive fare review to temporarily increase the transfer window in order to address current service disruptions felt by many suburban residents.

10.

Inquiries

10.1

Line 1 East Extension – Bus Service After Opening

Submitted by Councillor Lo

Although an opening date for the eastern extension of Line 1 remains unknown, Transit Committee was provided an update today about the progress towards revenue service.

Final construction works and train testing are “well underway and nearing completion” and elements of the Rail Activation Management Programme (RAMP) are in progress.

The eastern extension of Line 1 follows the alignment of Highway 174, which is currently used by routes 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 38, 39, 221, 234, 237, and 302 to connect passengers in the east with existing Line 1 service at Blair Station.

1. What is OC Transpo’s plan for bus service, including service on Highway 174, after the eastern extension of Line 1 is operational?
2. Will there be a period where the current service will remain unchanged (functioning as parallel service)?
3. How many bus service hours will the eastern extension of Line 1 replace?
4. Will those service hours and resources be reallocated to other parts of the bus network? If yes, have any priorities been identified? If no, why not?

10.2

Para Transpo Eligibility Reviews and Vehicle Assignment Procedures

Submitted by Councillor Desroches (on behalf of Councillor Devine)

Can Transit Services provide detail on current policies and procedures used to assign or re-assign Para Transpo clients to specific vehicle types (e.g., minibus, sedan, or van)? Specifically: 

1. What criteria are used to determine vehicle type assignments, and who has the authority to make or revise these assignments, including “bus-only” designations?
2. Are medical professionals (internal or through Lifemark) involved in initial assignment or re-assignment decisions? 
3. How are clients notified when their vehicle type or eligibility status changes, and what accessible communication formats are used to ensure compliance with AODA?
4. Have there been any recent policy changes related to eligibility or vehicle assignment? 
5. If a client’s condition worsens or they experience new mobility barriers, do Para Transpo services accept medical documentation from a personal physician? If not, what internal or third-party process is used to reassess needs?
6. In cases where a client is reassigned from a minibus to a sedan or van, what internal review or oversight is in place to ensure the change is appropriate and safe? What appeal or reassessment options are available to clients who disagree with their assignment?
   

11.

Other Business

There was no other business.

12.

Adjournment

Next Meeting: September 11, 2025.

The meeting adjourned at 2:59 pm.