OC Transpo ridership jumps to match 2023 finances forecast

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Ridership of OC Transpo buses and the Confederation Line LRT climbed to 6 million in March, 1.6 million travellers greater than in March 2022, however nonetheless nicely beneath pre-pandemic ridership of 8.9 million in March 2019.

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However the March ridership was essentially the most the community had for the reason that starting of the COVID-19 pandemic and matched OC Transpo’s forecast in its 2023 finances.

Income was up, too, reaching $11.9 million for the month, a 63-per-cent improve from March 2022, however nonetheless shy of the $13.2-million finances forecast.

The ridership figures had been delivered Thursday to town’s transit fee.

Councillors additionally obtained an replace on the water leaks that compelled the tunnel to shut for 2 weekends for inspection and upkeep.

Richard Holder, the metropolis’s director of engineering providers, mentioned contractors pumped greater than 700 litres of grout right into a gap bored into the tunnel wall east of Rideau Station, the place the leaking was worst. The grout appeared to have crammed a void that existed between the concrete tunnel wall and its plastic liner throughout building.

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The patch, alongside a 15-metre part of tunnel, seems to have labored, however it’ll take extra time to make sure, Holder mentioned.

“There’s some expectation that this may scale back water ingress, however we don’t know if it will likely be 100 per cent profitable. We’re within the strategy of remediation right here. We’re not on the level the place we will say that we’re finished.”

Further patching and filling east of Rideau Station will happen in June, when the tunnel will once more be closed for normal upkeep and rail grinding.

Comparable work should be finished west of Rideau Station, however that can be carried out a while sooner or later.

“There are not any issues structurally concerning the tunnel,” Holder mentioned.