Ottawa – Bus service improvements, bus stop changes and the return to Rideau Street start Sunday, December 20, as OC Transpo winter service takes effect. Holiday service starts December 21. New winter schedules and holiday schedules are available at octranspo.com or by calling 613-741-4390.
Service Improvements
Route Changes:
- Scott and Parkdale
Trips on Routes 14 and 53 leaving Tunney’s Pasture Station will be changed to operate east on Scott and south on Parkdale, reducing travel times for customers.
Stage 2 Construction:
- Lincoln Fields Temporary Bus Platform for Stage 2 Construction
As of December 6, all local bus routes at Lincoln Fields Station were changed to use a new temporary bus platform to allow for construction for the Stage 2 O-Train extensions. Routes 11, 50, 51, 57, 58, 82, 85, 153, 154, 186, 301, 303 and 305 are affected by this change. Information was communicated to customers through all channels, and staff have been available at the station to assist customers with the changes.
Bus Stop Changes:
- Innes Road / Blackburn Hamlet –Better Bus Stops
Based on customer and Councillor feedback, bus stops on Routes 25, 28, 622, 641, and 648 along Innes Road through Blackburn Hamlet will be adjusted. Some stops will be removed, relocated and/or enhanced with additional infrastructure. Improvements include installation of new concrete or asphalt pads, installation of benches or shelters, and new culvert installation.
- Moodie Station
Route 66 will be changed to serve Stop B to allow customers to wait in more comfort at a bus shelter.
Reinstated Service:
- Certain trips on Routes 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 16, 18, 19, 40, 44, 46, 61, 63, 66, 75, 87, 88, 93, 99, 111, 179, 234, 235, 236, 256, 257, 270, 272, and 277 will be reinstated. These trips were temporarily suspended in September 2020 as a result of changes in customers travel needs during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Ridership on these trips will be monitored and any required adjustments will be made.
School Service:
- The first two morning trips on Route 28 to Louis-Riel High School will be adjusted to depart earlier from Blair Station, to better meet customers’ travel needs; and,
- The afternoon school trips on Routes 58 and 88 from St. Paul High School will be adjusted to depart earlier, to better meet customers’ travel needs.
Service Adjustments
- The temporary turnaround loop on Hazel Street for Routes 16 and 56 at St-Paul University will be removed as per the Licensing Agreement between the developer for Greystone Village and the City. From the bus bay at Hazel, the routes will be extended to operate via Deschatelets and Oblats to Main, in accordance with the Greystone Subdivision Agreement. A new temporary stop will be installed on Hazel and Oblats near Deschatelets.
- Route 75 afternoon supplementary trips from Tunney’s Pasture Station to Baseline Station will depart every 10 minutes. Combined with the through service to Barrhaven Centre and Cambrian, sufficient capacity will continue to be provided to accommodate all customers and allow for some physical distancing onboard. Ridership on the route will be monitored and any further required adjustments will be made.
- Route 164 will be modified to start at a new stop on Acceptance Place between Hope Side Road and Meadowbreeze; this will avoid staging buses in a residential area. Customers who use the current first stop on the route, on Summitview, will be able to use the new stop.
Seasonal Service Changes
Construction Detours:
- Rideau Street between Sussex and Dalhousie – With the expected completion of utility and streetscaping work, the detours on the following routes will come to an end, returning the routes to this section of Rideau Street: Routes 5, 6, 7, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 114, N39, N45, N57, N61, N75, N97, 602, and 624. STO service will continue to operate on Mackenzie King Bridge.
- Montréal Road project – Routes 12, 14, 15, 18, 19 will continue to experience delays to service along Montréal Road due to construction between North River Road and St. Laurent Boulevard.
- Lincoln Fields Shopping Centre – Routes 11, 51 and 153 will continue to operate on detour through the mall property.
Bikesecure Parking Program
- OC Transpo is launching its Bikesecure parking program on January 1, 2021.
- The program provides sheltered bicycle parking within secure enclosures at four stations: Greenboro, Strandherd, St-Laurent, and Fallowfield.
- The enclosures have parking for a total of 52 bicycles (16 spaces at St-Laurent, 12 spaces at Greenboro, Strandherd, and Fallowfield).
- Access is restricted to registered customers using key fobs and door readers.
- Customers who register will be charged a one-time fee of $6 for the key fob and a $10 monthly fee for a reserved space within an enclosure.
- More information will be available on octranspo.com in the coming weeks.
Holidays
| Holiday | Date | Service Type |
| Christmas Week | Monday, December 21 to Thursday, December 24 | Reduced weekday schedule |
| Christmas Day | Friday, December 25 | Sunday schedule |
| Boxing Day | Saturday, December 26 | Saturday schedule, with extra service on busy routes |
| Boxing Day Holiday observed | Monday, December 28 | Saturday schedule, with service on O-Train Line 1 ending at 1 am |
| New Year’s Week | Tuesday, December 29 to Wednesday, December 30 | Reduced weekday schedule |
| New Year’s Eve | Thursday, December 31 | Reduced weekday schedule, with Line 2 bus service extended to 1 am |
| New Year’s Day | Friday, January 1 | Sunday schedule |
| Family Day | Monday, February 15 | Weekday schedule |
| March Break | Monday, March 15 to Friday, March 19 | Reduced weekday schedule; extra service may be added for Carleton University and La Cité, depending on ridership needs at the time |
| Good Friday | Friday, April 2 | Sunday schedule |
| Easter Monday | Monday, April 5 | Reduced weekday schedule; extra service may be added for Carleton University and La Cité, depending on ridership needs at the time |
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.
- Real time information is also available by calling 613-560-1000 plus the bus stop number.
Once the winter service changes begin on December 20, customers can find up-to-date schedules and real-time information by using the applications and tools listed above. Customers can visit octranspo.com or call the OC Transpo Customer Service Centre (613-741-4390) for more information.
