An audit released in June 2026 [2] found that OC Transpo’s “New Ways to Bus” scheduling overhaul relied on outdated and inaccurate data.

The findings highlight a systemic failure in transit planning that has left commuters facing unreliable service. Because the agency used flawed metrics to determine route efficiency, many passengers experienced frequent cancellations and unpredictable wait times.

Auditor General Nathalie Gougeon said the massive route overhaul that rolled out in April 2025 [1] was mainly driven by budget considerations. The report indicates that the desire to cut costs led the agency to rely on obsolete data rather than current ridership patterns.

This data gap created a disconnect between the scheduled service and the actual needs of Ottawa residents. Commuters have described the resulting instability as a primary failure of the system. Charles Djamou said he cannot rely on the bus predictions because the buses are like ghosts that never show up.

OC Transpo General Manager Rick Leary responded to the findings by acknowledging the errors in the planning process. Leary said the agency accepts the audit recommendations and will work to correct the data issues.

The audit suggests that the prioritize-budget approach compromised the operational integrity of the network. By attempting to reduce spending through a data-driven overhaul—using data that was no longer representative of the city's movement—the agency inadvertently degraded the user experience.

“The massive route overhaul that rolled out in April 2025 was mainly driven by budget considerations.”

The failure of the 'New Ways to Bus' initiative demonstrates the risk of prioritizing fiscal austerity over operational accuracy in public infrastructure. When transit agencies use outdated data to justify cost-cutting measures, the resulting service gaps often lead to a loss of public trust and decreased ridership, potentially offsetting the initial budget savings through lost revenue and increased political pressure for emergency funding.