OC Transpo’s expanded fare evasion crackdown resulted in more than $353,000 in revenue last year.
A document prepared for the Transit Committee shows transit fare inspectors issued 4,309 tickets and 89 warnings in 2024. The report also includes data showing 613 tickets and six warnings were issued in January 2025.
The fine for not paying the fare is $260.
OC Transpo raised $353,105.20 in 2024 from fare enforcement, revenue that will go back into funding transit operations; however, this only accounts for 41 per cent of all tickets issued. The report says approximately 30 per cent of the tickets that were issued last year were paid on time, 11 were paid late and incurred additional fees and 59 per cent remain outstanding.
“Efforts are underway in collaboration with Finance and Corporate Services to improve payment rates for 2025,” the report says.
The fare enforcement program was expanded last year with eight new temporary fare inspectors, for a total of 12 across the network. Staff say the temporary positions were extended to the end of 2025.
The cost to fund the additional eight fare inspector positions from August to December 2024 was approximately $300,000 and was funded from within existing budgets, the report says. The estimated cost of the Fare Compliance Initiative, including permanent staff and the temporary positions extended until the end of 2025, is $1.264 million. The 2025 operating budget includes an expected $1 million revenue from fare enforcement fines.
OC Transpo is facing a $120 million funding shortfall in 2025. Fares went up 5 per cent in 2025 to help cover the deficit, and the budget includes a $36 million line item for expected cash from senior levels of government.
Transit rider, Devin Barry, says while he has seen more inspectors during his daily commutes, he believes more money should be allocated to build a more robust and reliable transit system across the city.
“I did see one guy a few months ago I think he was using somebody else’s UPass and they were really giving him hell over that, they took him off the train and I assume they would have given him a ticket,” he said. “But (given the state of the transit system) I think the resources could be put to better use.”
But Ottawa councillor and chair of the transit committee Glen Gower, argues the benefits of the program outweigh its cost.
“Fare compliance is not about making money for OC Transpo, it’s about making sure that people pay the right fare and making sure people are aware,” he said. “Just the visibility of having the fare compliance officers on a bus or on a train, it makes people know that there is someone watching and looking out. There’s another benefit to fare compliance officers, they’re trained in first aid, they’re also customer service agents, so there is somebody there who can help you if you need help as well. So, it’s not about making money, it’s just making sure that people are doing the right thing and paying their fare.”
Discount tickets removed from ticket machines
The report says that part of the fare enforcement initiative also includes efforts to crack down on people using discount fares for which they’re ineligible, such as senior fares.
In 2022 and 2023, adults would purchase child fare tickets from ticket machines for themselves. When OC Transpo expanded free ridership for children 12 and under, child fare tickets were removed from automatic ticket machines, which led to a three-fold increase in the volume of senior fares being purchased, according to staff.
Children 11 and 12 now pay a $2 fare with a Presto card, while ridership is free for kids 10 and under.
Staff said ticket machines now no longer issue single-ride tickets with discounted fares, which has led to a decrease in riders using ineligible fares.
Transit Committee meets March 17.
With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Tyler Fleming
