OC Transpo union calling on city to pull articulated buses in smaller snowstorms
The head of the union representing OC Transpo drivers says the city's bar for pulling articulated buses from service during snowstorms is too high.
OC Transpo replaces most articulated buses with 40-foot and double-decker buses during severe storm schedules, which are invoked when the forecast calls for more than 30 cm of snow or other serious weather issues, such as a mixture of wet, heavy snow, ice, and freezing rain. Articulated buses typically perform poorly in heavy snow, compared to other buses, OC Transpo says.
But Clint Crabtree, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 279, says OC Transpo should keep the articulated buses parked in smaller snowstorms as well.
"Once you get a big accumulation of snow, the (articulated buses) are terrible," he told Newstalk 580 CFRA's Ottawa Now with Kristy Cameron. "My members are stuck on these buses for hours and hours when they get stuck and also members of the public."
Crabtree says he couldn’t say how many articulated buses became stuck in the most recent snowstorm on Sunday, in which Ottawa saw 18 cm, but there were "enough," he said.
"I don’t have the actual numbers on how long they were waiting this time, but in the past, we've had people waiting seven or eight hours on a bus, possibly longer, before they get towed out."
Crabtree says setting the threshold to remove articulated buses from most routes at 15 cm, instead of 31, would be a wise move.
"Knock 'em off the roads or limit them from going into the local routes. Put them down the main arteries and let them run straight. You cannot have them going off the main arteries into streets that are not serviced and not plowed frequently," Crabtree said.
On streets that are not prioritized during snow-clearing operations, Crabtree says 40-foot and double-decker buses can do the job.
"We have a variety of buses. Those articulated buses do not belong on local runs," he said.
Crabtree says none of the buses in the OC Transpo fleet has snow tires. He says he's asked OC Transpo about it before.
"I think it has to do with the storage of these tires and taking them on and off the bus," he explained. "What they would have to do, change the tires off every winter and just storing the tires would be the difficult issue OC Transpo would have to face if they did have snow tires."
RETURN OF FEDERAL WORKERS COULD PROVE CHALLENGING
Looking ahead to the spring, Crabtree said he is concerned that a return to higher levels of ridership when federal public servants are regularly back in downtown offices could pose challenges for the transit system.
"There could be challenges because of the lack operators that there currently is right now," he said. "They're continuously hiring at OC Transpo but to keep up with attrition is very difficult. We have retirements of 10 to 12 operators a month right now, so they're trying to keep up with the numbers, but we're short and we're covering that with overtime."
Despite the possible challenges, he said he hopes OC Transpo can restore confidence in the transit system.
"I think that the public deserves a reliable service and we need to make the service reliable again for them so they can have the confidence in OC Transpo again, and we have to work on that," he said. "If that is the fear from the public, then improvements need to be made immediately so we can get that confidence back."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.
NASA hears from Voyager 1, the most distant spacecraft from Earth, after months of quiet
NASA has finally heard back from Voyager 1 again in a way that makes sense. The most distant spacecraft from Earth hadn't sent home any understandable data since last November.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Train derailed in Sarnia after colliding with a truck
Police are investigating after a transport truck collided with a train in Sarnia.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.