The following information lists the OC Transpo service changes that will start on Sunday, September 5, 2021. Regular schedule adjustments take place four times a year – April, June, September and December.
As of the end of July, transit ridership in Ottawa has returned to approximately 30 percent of the pre-pandemic level, up from 15 to 17 percent earlier in the year. On the basis that the current positive public health situation continues, ridership is expected to continue to increase, as more students return to in-person learning in September, as more workplaces reopen, and as events and out-of-home activities resume. The current service levels are sufficient to accommodate increased ridership. The routes that have been temporarily suspended because of low ridership will continue to be suspended for the remainder of the year. Staff will continue to monitor ridership levels on every trip of every route and will make arrangements for additional capacity where required. Staff are in contact with all school boards, universities and colleges, and will ensure that the travel needs of their students are met.
The fall service change includes several types of changes:
- Service Improvements;
- Construction Detours; and,
- Seasonal Service Changes.
In addition, the first four battery-electric buses are expected to be placed into service this fall, operating on a variety of routes across the city. OC Transpo will provide further updates as this project continues.
Service Improvements
- All trips on Route 11 that currently start or end at Elgin Street will be extended across the Mackenzie King Bridge, improving connectivity to the Rideau Centre and the University of Ottawa.
- Additional trips on Route 110 will be added and select trips on Route 99 will be extended to CitiGate to accommodate shift times at the new Amazon fulfilment centre, which is expected to be operational this fall.
- Routes 167 and 252 will be adjusted to operate along recently completed portions of Cope Drive, increasing service accessibility to residents and shopping destinations in the area.
Construction Detours
Stage 2 Construction:
- Routes serving Bayshore Station will have bus stop changes at the station to accommodate utility work.
- Moodie Station will be temporarily relocated, and the West Transitway between Moodie Station and Holly Acres will close to allow the construction of the Stage 2 station and the conversion of the Transitway to rail. As a result:
- Routes 61, 62, 63, 64, 158, 252, 256, 257, 261, 262, 263, 264, 265, 267, 268, 301, 303, 404, 406, 454, 660, and 661 will be adjusted to travel on Highway 417 and will service the temporary Moodie Station location with new and/or upgraded stops on off-ramps at the Moodie interchange.
- Route 57 – Most trips that currently start/end at Bells Corners will be extended to start/end at DND Carling Campus, seven days a week, and some additional trips will be extended to provide frequent service to DND Carling Campus during peak periods.
- Route 58 – Most trips will be shortened to start/end at DND Carling Campus, and will no longer operate to/from Moodie Station. Limited weekday trips will extend to/from Abbott Point of Care.
- Route 66 will be adjusted to travel on Highway 417 between Bayshore Station and Moodie Drive, and from there will continue to/from DND Carling Campus, Shirley’s Bay, and Kanata North.
Seasonal Construction:
- Routes 61, 63, 66, 75, and 85 will experience increased travel times due to construction on the Chaudière Crossing.
- Route 228 will be detoured in the morning due to the one-way closure of Navan Road.
Seasonal Service Changes
Seasonal Capacity Adjustments:
With the start of the fall semester, weekday seasonal reductions will end on Route 25 serving La Cité and Line 2 Buses serving Carleton University, restoring weekday frequency to pre-pandemic fall/winter service levels.
School Services:
- School trips and school routes in the 600-series will resume. 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 still to be taken by the Province and the four school boards.
- Afternoon trip times on Routes 80 and 171 from Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School will be adjusted to better align service with bell times.
- New trips servicing Bell High School (Routes 88 and 658), Colonel By Secondary School (Routes 35 and 630), École secondaire publique Gisèle-Lalonde (Route 30), Ridgemont High School (Route 93), Sir Robert Borden High School (Route 82), St. Patrick’s High School (Route 92), Canterbury High School (Route 644), École secondaire catholique Franco-Cité (Route 645), École secondaire publique De La Salle (Route 609) and Notre Dame High School (Route 51) will be added.
- New school Routes 667 and 668 will be introduced to provide direct service between Holy Trinity High School and the Bridlewood area. Three trips will operate on each route in the morning and afternoon.
- Extended trips on Routes 99, 171, and 173, and new Route 699 will be introduced to provide service to École secondaire publique Pierre-de-Blois. One trip on each route will operate in the morning and afternoon.
- Route 639 serving École secondaire publique Gisèle-Lalonde will be extended to Famille-Laporte Avenue and Cardinal Creek Drive, to improve service to the Cardinal Creek neighbourhood.
Summer Weekend Service to Seasonal Destinations:
Monday, September 6 will be 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.
NCC Weekend Bike Days:
The NCC Weekend Bike Days will continue in the early fall, through to October 11 (Thanksgiving), requiring a detour on Routes 57, 61, 62, 63, 74, 75, and 87.
Holidays:
- Labour Day – On Monday, September 6, bus and train service will operate on a Sunday schedule.
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – On Thursday, September 30, bus and train service will operate on a regular weekday schedule.
- Thanksgiving – On Monday, October 11, bus and train service will operate on a Sunday schedule.
- Remembrance Day – On Thursday, November 11, bus and train service will operate on a regular weekday schedule.
Full details of these service changes will be communicated to customers throughout August using a variety of transit information materials and outreach. 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 September 5, customers can find up-to-date schedules and real-time information by using these applications and tools and visiting octranspo.com or to the OC Transpo Customer Service Centre (613-560-5000) for more information.
These fall service changes will be evaluated based on feedback they collect from customers and operating staff, as well as ridership and operational data measurements.
