Written by: Delaney Smith
Students living in Richmond, a growing village southwest of Ottawa, say limited and unreliable public transit options are making commuting to post-secondary institutions increasingly difficult.
For Carleton University student Courtney Smith, getting to campus is a daily challenge that often begins hours before her classes start.
“A typical day of getting to school is way more difficult than it should be,” said Smith, a full-time criminology student.
“I have classes at 8:30 a.m., which means I’m commuting during rush hour. A drive that should take 40 minutes often turns into an hour and a half.”
Richmond is currently served by OC Transpo’s Route 283, one of the only active bus routes connecting the village to Ottawa.
Trip-planning tools show that travelling from Richmond to Carleton University in the late morning can take between one hour and 30 minutes to nearly one hour and 45 minutes, often requiring multiple transfers and long walks.
Some routes include an 18-minute walk to the bus stop, followed by Route 283, transfers to other buses or the O-Train, and additional walking time. Several trips also indicate service alerts and diversions, adding uncertainty to already lengthy commutes.
“My transportation options are minimal,” Smith said.
“There’s one bus route in Richmond, and I have to walk about 25 minutes to the stop in minus-20 weather, and some days it doesn’t even run.”
Other options are financially unrealistic. Smith said taking an Uber or taxi can cost more than $50 one way, while driving daily means paying for fuel during a time of rising gas prices.
“I lose about 90 kilometres’ worth of gas just getting there and back,” she said. “Gas is not cheap.”
Smith said the lack of transit options affects more than just her schedule. She has bonded with other Richmond residents over the shared frustration.
“I have a co-worker who also lives in Richmond, and we’ve bonded over how ridiculous the transportation situation is,” she said.
“The shared frustration among Richmond residents is very real.”
The unreliable commute has also taken an emotional toll.
“The lack of reliable transportation makes me anxious every time I leave the house,” Smith said.
“I’m constantly worried about being late. I’ve been late to multiple classes.”
When she began university last fall, Smith did not yet have her driver’s licence and relied on her mother to get to campus.
“My mom drove me every single day,” she said.
“She had to rearrange her work schedule to get me to school, which often made her late.”
As housing developments continue to expand in Richmond, Smith believes transit service has not kept pace with the community’s growth.
“I wish the people in charge of Ottawa’s transit understood that one bus route isn’t enough for a fast-growing community like Richmond,” she said.
“I see new houses going up every day. We need more options, especially for people who can’t access or afford a vehicle.”
OC Transpo has not announced any changes to Route 283 service.