Fall 2020 transit service changes will start on Sunday, August 30, 2020. As part of the OC Transpo Recovery Plan approved by the Transit Commission on June 1, school services will resume. School services and service levels on routes serving post-secondary institutions may be adjusted further depending on the needs of customers travelling to and from those locations.
Service Improvements
- Service on O-Train Line 1 will be increased so that trains run every 3 to 4 minutes in the morning peak period. This increase is dependent on the provision of 15 trains each day by Rideau Transit Group (RTG).
- Upon completion of the bus-only extension of Raven Road to connect with Bronson Avenue at Carleton University, replacement buses for O-Train Line 2, as well as Routes 10 and 111, will be modified to use the new roadway. This will reduce travel times for customers and will improve the reliability of service on these routes.
- Some trip times will be adjusted on Routes 30 and 34 to provide a more even spacing between trips.
- The Route 99 schedule will be adjusted slightly to improve connections from St. Francis Xavier High School in the afternoon.
- Connection times will be reduced for customers who transfer downtown between overnight Routes N39, N57, N75 and N97 on weekdays. Reduced connection times between overnight routes on weekends were made earlier this summer.
Service Adjustments
- Select trips on Routes 6, 7, 10, 12, 18, 25, 39, 40, 44, 61, 63, 66, 75, 87, 88, 93, 99, 111, 179, 234, 235, 236, 256, 257, 270, 272, and 277 will be temporarily suspended to respond to reduced ridership demand across the system, due to COVID-19.
Seasonal Service Changes
School Services
- School trips and school routes in the 600-series will resume and new school routes will be operational. Changes to school service have been made based on observed ridership levels and in consultation with school boards, based on students’ past and current travel needs. Additional adjustments may be required depending on decisions by the Province and the four school boards.
- The afternoon trips on Routes 35 and 639 from Gisèle-Lalonde will be adjusted so that all trips from the school will depart at the same time.
Seasonal Capacity Adjustments
- With the start of the fall semester, seasonal reductions on routes serving post-secondary institutions will end. Additional adjustments may be required depending on decisions by the institutions on on-campus versus distance learning.
- Service levels on O-Train Line 2 replacement buses and Routes 10 and 111 serving Carleton University will be increased from the summer.
- Service levels on Route 25 serving La Cité will be increased from the summer.
Summer Weekend Service to Seasonal Destinations
- The last day of operation for the seasonal service on Route 25 to the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, Route 139 to Petrie Island, and Route 185 to the Canada Agriculture Museum will be Monday, September 7.
Construction Detours
- Several major road construction projects that began previously will continue to affect transit service during the fall.
- Rideau Street – Routes 5, 6, 7, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 114, N39, N45, N57, N61, N75, and N97 will continue to be detoured due to construction between Sussex Drive and Dalhousie Street.
- Scott Street – Routes 16, 50, 81 and 153 will continue to experience increased travel times as they are detoured between Island Park Drive and Ross Avenue.
- Routes 14 and 53 will continue to operate on detour through the Tunney’s Pasture campus until the completion of intersection modifications at Scott Street and Parkdale Avenue.
Holidays
- Labour Day – On Monday, September 7, service will operate on a Sunday schedule.
- Thanksgiving – On Monday, October 12, service will operate on a Sunday schedule.
- Remembrance Day – On Wednesday, November 11, service will operate on a regular weekday schedule.
Full details of these service changes will be communicated to customers through August using a variety of transit information materials accompanied by in-person customer outreach at key locations and times. OC Transpo has a number of customer-friendly applications and tools so that customers can access timely information about our service while on the go. These include texting 560560 for real-time bus schedule information, downloading the OC Transpo iPhone app or an independent app, signing up for text alerts on octranspo.com to receive the latest information, checking transit information screens at many major stations, as well as visiting octranspo.com from a smartphone. Real time information is also available by calling 613-560-1000 plus the bus stop number.
Once the fall service changes begin on August 30, customers can find up-to-date schedules and real-time information by using these applications and tools. Please direct customers to octranspo.com or to the OC Transpo Customer Service Centre (613-741-4390) for more information.
These fall service changes will be evaluated based on feedback collected from customers and operating staff, as well as ridership and operational data measurements.
