Mayor Sutcliffe pledges 30 percent cut to OC Transpo monthly pass — from $138.50 to $95
The plan would cost the city $8–10 million annually with expected ridership boost, or $15–17 million without. It's Sutcliffe's first major re-election campaign platform.
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Mayor Mark Sutcliffe pledged Monday to cut the OC Transpo adult monthly pass by 30 percent — from $138.50 to $95 — in the first major platform announcement of his re-election campaign.
Senior and low-income passes, already discounted, would remain unchanged. Sutcliffe unveiled the plan at Terry Fox Station in Kanata, saying the reduction would boost ridership enough to offset some costs.
The reduced fare revenue would cost Ottawa $8–10 million annually if ridership rises as projected. Without that boost, the city estimates the cost at $15–17 million per year. Sutcliffe pointed to the anticipated upload of LRT operating costs to Metrolinx as a way to cover the shortfall, calling it a "game-changer" that will free up millions for other transit priorities.
OC Transpo ran a $52 million deficit in 2025. Sutcliffe said his administration has already increased transit spending 30 percent over four years, launched two new LRT lines, and purchased more than 500 new buses — including zero-emission vehicles and a new ParaTranspo fleet. Bus reliability is now at its highest level since 2019, his campaign said.
"When I came to office, public transit was a mess," Sutcliffe said. "My focus has been on implementing the recommendations of the public inquiry, stabilizing the system, restoring confidence in public transit, and being Ottawa's strongest transit advocate to the other levels of government. We've worked hard to fix the problems we inherited from the last term of council."
Three of Sutcliffe's mayoral challengers have already released their own transit platforms. The city has not confirmed the Metrolinx upload timeline or the exact amount the province will assume.
When will Metrolinx formally confirm the upload of LRT operating costs, and how much will the province assume annually?
What ridership increase does the city's $8–10 million projection assume, and how is that based on similar fare reductions elsewhere?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
How much would Ottawa's OC Transpo monthly pass cost under Mayor Sutcliffe's plan?
The adult monthly pass would drop to $95 from the current $138.50 under Mayor Sutcliffe's pledge announced on Monday, August 17, 2026.
What would the pass reduction cost Ottawa annually?
The city estimates OC Transpo would incur $8–10 million in annual costs if ridership increases as projected, or $15–17 million per year without that ridership boost.
Which transit passes would remain unchanged under this plan?
Senior and low-income passes would remain unchanged, as they are already discounted.
