Jeff Leiper unveils transit plan, promises to reverse OC Transpo bus cuts

Mayoral candidate Jeff Leiper unveils his transit plan at Tunney's Pasture on Aug. 4. Photo by Jean Levac /Jean Levac

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Mayoral candidate Jeff Leiper is promising to reverse recent cuts to the city’s bus service and make routes more reliable and frequent if elected this fall.

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Leiper unveiled a five-part transit plan outside Tunney’s Pasture station on Aug. 4, arguing unreliable buses have left riders worried about getting to work or school on time.

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“Every ghost bus and misconnection is time that is stolen from family and friends and your career,” Leiper said.

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Leiper’s plan would restore a citizen representative for transit riders on the city’s transit committee and introduce a “transit service guarantee” with published standards for on-time performance and service frequency.

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He also pledged to reverse frequency and route reductions introduced through the New Ways to Bus network overhaul, expand dedicated bus lanes, advance the Baseline bus rapid transit project and establish a long-term fleet replacement plan.

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“The solution to a lack of buses is more buses,” Leiper said.

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“I’ll establish a long-term fleet replacement strategy and maintenance plan so that the system has the vehicles it needs today and for years to come.”

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The New Ways to Bus overhaul, introduced in 2025, changed more than 100 bus routes across the city and was designed to reduce the transit operating budget by about $10 million.

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But a June audit by the city’s auditor general found decisions behind the overhaul were mainly driven by budget considerations rather than service improvements. The audit also found that the overhaul was based on outdated data.

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Leiper said reversing the New Ways to Bus cuts would cost about $10 million. He said the funding could be found by reprioritizing spending within the city’s budget, while larger fleet purchases would require additional support from the provincial and federal governments.

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He did not promise to freeze or reduce transit fares, despite fellow mayoral candidate Neil Saravanamuttoo proposing a “Buck a Ride” fare plan.

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Instead, Leiper said fares should be kept “as low as possible,” but argued reducing them before stabilizing the system would remove revenue needed to improve service.

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“Right now, I’m focused on delivering a service that is worth paying for, one that is reliable and convenient,” he said.

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Jeff Leiper said that if elected mayor, he would reverse $10 million in cuts to bus service. Photo by Jean Levac/Ottawa Citizen Photo by Jean Levac /Jean Levac

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Leiper made the announcement flanked by supporters holding campaign signs. He struggled to answer questions in French from reporters, apologizing on multiple occasions.

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Noah Vineberg, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 279, which represents OC Transpo workers, attended the announcement but stopped short of endorsing Leiper.

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Vineberg said the union rarely endorses municipal candidates, although it could consider doing so later in the campaign if a candidate’s platform clearly serves its members and Ottawa residents.