Ottawa mayoral candidate Neil Saravanamuttoo has unveiled a congestion relief plan that calls on the federal government to run park-and-shuttle services from underused federal parking lots, aiming to get more commuters out of their cars and off the city's most jammed corridors.
The Plan
Saravanamuttoo, who is running in the 2026 City of Ottawa municipal election, wants Ottawa commuters to be able to park at underused federal lots and catch a shuttle bus the rest of the way into the city, rather than driving all the way in or fighting for space at existing park-and-ride lots.
The plan also includes a new 'People's Office for Better Construction,' meant to coordinate construction work happening across the city.
Why He Says It's Needed
Saravanamuttoo pointed to specific pain points around the city to make his case. He said the Fallowfield park-and-ride is full by 7:15 in the morning, leaving commuters with nowhere to park before their trip has even started.
"Ottawa is nowhere near ready" to handle its congestion problems, Saravanamuttoo said, framing the shuttle proposal as a practical fix rather than a long-term infrastructure build.
"We need to focus on the congestion on streets that we have, and what we can do to alleviate that for the residents and commuters that have to deal with this very real problem today," he said.
The Ottawa Angle
The Fallowfield park-and-ride filling up before 7:15 a.m. means commuters who work a normal daytime schedule are often out of luck if they leave home even a few minutes late.
By pitching federal parking lots as shuttle hubs, Saravanamuttoo is betting that unused federal real estate, rather than new roads or rail extensions, could be the fastest way to chip away at those daily delays.
What Led Here
The congestion plan is the latest addition to Saravanamuttoo's campaign platform. Earlier this month he pitched ottown's earlier report, a plan built around transitional tiny homes for people experiencing homelessness and a review of police spending, as he continues to roll out policy positions ahead of the city's mayoral race.
What's Not Yet Known
Saravanamuttoo's office has not released details on which federal parking lots would be used for the shuttle service, how many buses would run, a timeline for launch, or a cost estimate. It's also not yet known whether the federal government has responded to the request, or whether it fits within any current federal transit funding programs.
Sources: CTV News Ottawa
