Tailoring operations under COVID-19
As COVID-19 vaccines roll out over the spring and summer, Transpo will need to assess the demand for public transit while ensuring employees and customers follow public health guidelines.
It’s possible that workplaces and post-secondary institutions will welcome more people back in late 2021. Transit capacity will be critical, especially if physical distancing in public spaces is still needed. Currently, ridership is down and so is fare revenue.
Unless an item is walked onto the agenda Wednesday, commissioners still won’t know if there will be any deep impacts to Transpo operations as a result of budget shortfalls. With the province signalling more support for municipalities last week, eyes are now on the federal government for additional bailout money.
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Over the past year businesses, schools, restaurants and even governments have had to change how they operate to survive the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pivoting, as it’s called, has shown just how inventive we can be when the choice is “change or fail.” There is however, one big exception to this: Ottawa’s public transit system has not changed or adapted to pandemic pressures.
Ridership has plummeted as much as 80 per cent since last spring when federal public servants and others who work downtown started working from home. Transit management estimates COVID’s impact is costing us $1 million a week.