Randall Denley: The addition of new LRT lines is driving transit costs up in a way the city didn’t fully anticipate and can’t handle.

You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.

The 2026 budget Ottawa city councillors passed last week was a pretty smooth process, but it did illustrate a couple of fundamental problems and reveal councillors’ penchant for focusing on little things at the expense of the big picture.

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

The largest financial issue the city faces is the runaway train of transit costs. The transit budget increased by 11.4 per cent this year and will go up 10.8 per cent in 2026. After hitting $938.7 million next year, the transit expenditure is forecast to rise again in 2027, to $1.074 billion.

Transit constitutes a huge chunk of the city’s $5.2 billion operating budget. Unlike most areas where annual cost........

© Ottawa Citizen