05/05/2026
🚍 OPTA at Queen’s Park | Update
On May 4, 2026, OPTA appeared before the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy to provide remarks on Bill 98 - Building Homes and Improving Transportation Infrastructure Act, 2026, including the proposed Fare Alignment and Seamless Transit Act.
OPTA supports the goal of improving the rider experience through better fare alignment, cross-boundary wayfinding, and more seamless transit connections. At the same time, we emphasized the importance of getting the implementation right through clear scope, careful consideration of specialized transit impacts, and meaningful consultation with the agencies that deliver service every day.
Key points shared with the Committee included:
✅ The need to clearly limit the scope of Bill 98 to cross-boundary fare and service integration provisions in the GTHA - , , , , , and , where One Fare is already in motion.
✅ The importance of protecting resources so high-cost regional trips do not displace essential local trips such as medical appointments, day programs, and regular community travel.
✅ The need for structured consultation with transit agencies before regulations are drafted.
✅ The importance of ensuring any provincial mandate is matched with full, predictable, and sustainable .
As Carla Stout, Vice Chair of OPTA and General Manager of Niagara Region Transit, shared:
“...(W)e want to ensure there are no unintended consequences in legislation or unforeseen costs to the ridership and or their local municipalities. As we’ve done in the past, we want to help provide expertise and draft the regulatory framework with this government."
OPTA and its members are ready to continue working as active, constructive partners to help shape regulations that deliver better outcomes for riders, municipalities, and transit systems across .
⏯️ Full Video available at: https://ontariopublictransit.ca/2026/05/bill-98-building-homes-and-improving-transportation-infrastructure-act-2026/
