Ottawa – May 5, 2011 – The Canadian Transportation Agency today issued its decision (Decision No. 157-AT-MV-2011) on the City of Ottawa's request for the Agency to modify its order that OC Transpo bus operators call out stops.
In earlier decisions, the Agency found that OC Transpo's failure to call out stops was an undue obstacle to the complainant and other persons who require that a stop be called because of their disability. The Agency therefore ordered OC Transpo to ensure that bus operators call out major and requested stops on all of its routes.
In September 2010, the City of Ottawa requested that the Agency modify its ordered corrective measures to take into account the installation of the Next Stop Announcement System (NSAS).
Following its investigation, the Agency found that the appropriate accommodation for the complainant and other persons with similar disability-related needs is the NSAS, together with an enforced policy which requires that OC Transpo operators announce major and requested stops, in a manner that is at all times audible, whenever the NSAS is not installed or not operational, including during planned or unplanned route deviations.
The decisions, including this variance, require OC Transpo to:
- Create and implement a policy that requires OC Transpo operators to ensure that major and requested stops are called out, in a manner that is at all times audible, when the NSAS is not installed or not operational, including during planned or unplanned route deviations.
- Modify its Transit Operation Handbook and all other relevant information sources to include the above-noted policy.
- Update all relevant training programs, including NSAS training, to include the above‑noted policy.
- Monitor compliance with the above-noted policy through the use of inspectors or other persons on board OC Transpo buses.
- Create a report which indicates on a year-to-date basis: the number of complaints filed by, or on behalf of, persons with disabilities regarding the calling of stops; the number of non-compliant incidents identified through OC Transpo monitoring; the number of complaints and incidents that resulted in disciplinary action; and the number of complaints and incidents remaining in the disciplinary process.
- Update and publish the report monthly on OC Transpo's Web site and send a copy to the complainant with each update. Unless continued by OC Transpo, the monthly reporting will not be required to extend beyond December 31, 2013.
About the Agency
The Canadian Transportation Agency is an independent tribunal which operates like a court to render decisions on a case-by-case basis. The Agency's legislative mandate with respect to persons with disabilities is found in Part V of the Canada Transportation Act, which contains a regulation-making authority and a complaint adjudication authority, both for the express purpose of removing undue obstacles to the mobility of persons with disabilities from the federal transportation network.
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Related Agency decisions:
Decision 200-AT-MV-2007: April 25, 2007
Decision No. 610-AT-MV-2007: November 30, 2007
Decision No. 85-AT-MV-2009: Application by OC Transpo pursuant to section 32 of the Canada Transportation Act, S.C., 1996, c. 10, as amended, for a review of Decision No. 610-AT-MV-2007 dated November 30, 2007
For more information:
Media Relations
Canadian Transportation Agency
819-953-8926
media@otc-cta.gc.ca
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