Confederation Line Update - Transit Commission - September 16, 2020
The Transit Commission was today advised that OC Transpo was the first Canadian transit agency to join the American Public Transportation Association's "Health and Safety Commitments Program," the North American public transportation industry's overarching pledge to customers that transit systems are taking all the necessary measures to operate as safely as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information on the Health and Safety Commitments Program, visit APTA.com.
An operational update on O-Train Line 1 and bus service was presented today. Rideau Transit Group (RTG) has met the requirement to provide 15 trains on O-Train Line 1 during the morning peak periods since September 8. The City will continue to review the progress of RTG's rectification work into the fall.
OC Transpo's fall service changes took effect on August 30th and OC Transpo continues to work closely with all four school boards and the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority and the Consortium de transport scolaire d'Ottawa to adapt to the revised school schedules.
Fare payment by tapping a credit card is being fast-tracked and will be tested starting at the first O-Train fare gate by the end of 2020.
The 2020 Transit Operating and Capital Budget Status Report and the COVID-19 Financial Mitigation Strategies were also presented to the Commission. The City recommended that a report be submitted to the Ministry of Transportation seeking additional funding to support Phase 2 of the Safe Restart funding program. The report on Delegation of Authority contracts awarded for the period of July 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019 was also provided to the Commission.
OC Transpo will continue with its health and safety measures to help protect against COVID-19, including mandatory masks for customers and staff, enhanced cleaning and signage, and a proactive campaign for mask compliance in early October.
Source : City of Ottawa
Meeting - Audio Recording
Virtual Media Availability - Audio Recording
O-Train Line 1 and Bus Service Update
OC Transpo first Canadian transit agency to participate in APTA "Health and Safety Commitments" Program
Since the beginning of the pandemic, OC Transpo has worked tirelessly to keep customers and employees as safe as possible. By signing on to the APTA Health and Safety Commitments Program with more than 100 public transit systems, OC Transpo and the public transit industry are actively working to instill confidence in riders that it's committed to protecting their health and safety.
The program was developed after asking transit users from across the country what measures would make them feel more confident riding public transportation amid concerns about COVID-19. From this research, the industry identified four key areas that transit systems need to address to earn riders' confidence:
- Following public health guidelines from official sources
- Cleaning and disinfecting transit vehicles frequently and requiring face coverings and other protections
- Keeping passengers informed and empowered to choose the safest times and routes to ride
- Putting health first by requiring riders and employees to avoid public transit if they have been exposed to COVID-19 or feel ill
OC Transpo has pledged to continually meet these commitments and has earned the Seal of Commitment by adopting practices and policies that make sense for our transit system, riders and community. A key component of the Health and Safety Commitments Program is the shared responsibility of our system and our riders to follow the guidelines. Riders rely on us to follow these commitments, and OC Transpo relies on riders to protect themselves and other customers.
We're all in this together. OC Transpo remains committed to the highest standards of health and safety. We're following official public health guidelines; we ask riders to continue following them, too.
The Seal of Commitment will be displayed across the OC Transpo transit system soon.
Source : City of Ottawa