Mark Sutcliffe is set to unveil a significant policy proposal as part of his re-election campaign on Monday. The announcement will introduce a transit platform that involves reducing the cost of OC Transpo’s adult monthly pass by $43.50. This marks a departure from Sutcliffe’s previous stance, where he expressed concerns that freezing fares could impact the system’s financial stability and emphasized reliability over price for passengers.
Under the proposed plan, the price of an adult transit pass would decrease from $138.50 to $95 per month, while discounted passes for seniors and low-income individuals would remain unchanged. Sutcliffe’s initiative aims to encourage more people to opt for transit as their daily commuting option.
The cost reduction is estimated to amount to $8-10 million annually, factoring in the anticipated increase in ridership. Funding for this initiative is expected to come from the savings resulting from the promised LRT upload to Metrolinx.
Sutcliffe mentioned the possibility of capping total monthly fares at $95 for riders using Presto, debit, credit, or cash, pending further discussions with OC Transpo staff. The commitment to lower fares is initially for a single year but may be extended if successful.
Sutcliffe becomes the fourth mayoral candidate to present a transit-focused platform. Other candidates have also outlined their plans, including Neil Saravanamuttoo’s “buck a ride, citywide” proposal and Jeff Leiper’s emphasis on bus network redesign and service reliability guarantees. Alex Lawson’s transit plan includes initiatives to enhance fare collection, bus schedules, and overall safety.
The financial challenges faced by OC Transpo due to reduced ridership levels have been a concern, with recurring deficits in recent years. Sutcliffe had previously frozen fares in his first year but had reservations about fare hikes in subsequent years. However, the situation is evolving, with the provincial government’s commitment to the LRT upload expected to bring significant savings.
As OC Transpo prepares for upcoming developments such as the east extension testing and the introduction of electric buses, Sutcliffe believes the timing is right to introduce fare incentives, as the system has reached a higher level of quality to attract more riders with reduced fares.
