Ottawa Voters Prioritize Transit Improvements in Municipal Survey

Ottawa residents identified public transit as the city's top service needing improvement, according to a CTV News Ottawa and Nanos Research survey of 762 residents conducted from October 4 to October 8, 2026. The survey examined municipal priorities ahead of the mayoral debate and found transportation concerns dominated across the capital.

Nanos Research reported that 55 percent of respondents ranked transit as the service requiring the most improvement, ahead of roads and sidewalks at 27 percent and winter snow-clearing operations at 5 percent. The survey was conducted by telephone and online with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Transit concerns were strongest in downtown Ottawa, where 63 percent of respondents selected it as the biggest area needing improvement. The figure was nearly 60 percent in the west end, 52 percent in the east end, and 47 percent in rural Ottawa, according to Nanos Research.

Residents were divided on whether the city and OC Transpo should prioritize rail service or bus reliability. Nanos Research found 34 percent wanted improved light-rail transit service, while 33 percent preferred more reliable buses. Better roads received 21 percent support and safer walking and cycling routes received 8 percent.

"Majority of Ottawa residents cite transit as the top priority for improvement. Top solutions include better LRT service and more reliable buses," said Nik Nanos, Chief Data Scientist with Nanos Research.

The transit focus follows service disruptions involving OC Transpo, including reduced O-Train Line 1 service after a spalling issue was detected on axle-bearing assemblies and hundreds of cancelled bus trips linked to fleet challenges.

Beyond transit, Nanos Research found residents had mixed views on Ottawa's overall direction and City Hall's responsiveness. The survey showed 34 percent believed the city was moving in the right direction, 15 percent believed it was moving in the wrong direction, and 48 percent remained neutral.

"Residents of Ottawa give mixed reviews on the job that Ottawa City Hall does at listening to citizens. Ottawa residents are twice as likely to rate that the city is going in the right direction (34%) than the wrong direction (15%), 48% are neutral on the direction the city is going," said Nanos Research.

The survey used a randomly recruited dual-frame sample of Ottawa residents aged 18 and older, weighted by region, age, and gender according to the latest Canadian census data. The CTV News Ottawa mayoral debate was scheduled for October 14 at 10 a.m.