Here is an overview of OC Transpo’s winter service changes, effective Sunday, December 24, 2023. Regular schedule adjustments take place four times a year – spring, summer, fall and winter – and council receives memos in advance of each new schedule period.
The winter service change includes several types of changes:
• Service adjustments and improvements
• Service adjustments for construction
• Seasonal service changes
Service Adjustments and Improvements
Routes 261 and 263 will be changed to operate via Palladium Drive to Highway 417 to improve service to the community surrounding Derreen Avenue. As part of this change, these routes will be removed from stops on Huntmar Drive between Palladium Drive and Cyclone Taylor Boulevard, and from the Canadian Tire Centre bus loop. Service to the Canadian Tire Centre and the Park & Ride lot there will be maintained on Routes 62 and 162.
As part of the regular review of schedules to improve on-time performance and service reliability for customers, schedule adjustments will be made to Routes 5, 12, 15, 50, 51, 56, 62, 82, and 110 on weekdays, and Routes 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 30, 34, 35, 38, 39, 40, 42, 44, 45, 51, 55, 57, 61, 62, 63, 74, 75, 80, 81, 82, 85, 87, 97, 131, 138 and 170 on Saturdays and Sundays. The same number of trips will still provide the same capacity as today.
Service Adjustments for Construction
Several road reconstruction and infrastructure projects will be suspended temporarily for the winter and minor service reliability improvements are anticipated as a result.
Suspended projects are planned to be reinitiated in the spring. To accommodate ongoing construction activity related to the Stage 2 O-Train extension project, Transitway service between Westboro Station and Lincoln Fields Station will continue to be detoured nightly from 11:30 pm to 6 am.
Seasonal Service Changes/ Severe Storm Schedule for Buses
OC Transpo will implement a Severe Storm Schedule for buses on weekdays when 31 cm or more of snow is predicted to fall or under other severe weather conditions. When a Severe Storm Schedule is in effect, bus service will follow a reduced schedule in order to provide a safer and more reliable service during major storms.
Customers will be able to use OC Transpo’s Travel Planner to see how their trip may change when the Severe Storm Schedule is in effect.
• Many articulated buses will be replaced with 40-foot and double decker buses to improve service reliability.
• Para Transpo and O-Train service levels will not be reduced, but customers should still plan ahead and expect delays.
• When a severe storm is forecast for a Saturday or Sunday, the Severe Storm Schedule will not be implemented but some articulated buses will be replaced with 40-foot and double-decker buses to improve service reliability.
• OC Transpo will implement a robust communications plan to inform customers in advance of any bus schedule changes due to severe weather. They will communicate through octranspo.com, text alerts, a public service announcement, social media posts, and transit information screens at stations.
• For more information on OC Transpo’s Severe Storm Schedule, customers can visit octranspo.com.
Year-round Rack & Roll
The Rack & Roll program is now permanently year-round, so it will again be offered through the winter on the entire bus fleet. This is great news for all-season cyclists. Whether travelling to work, school, or just out enjoying Ottawa’s winter weather, OC Transpo encourage customers to consider combining biking and transit with ease through OC Transpo’s Rack & Roll year-round program.
School Services
Select school trips on 600-series school routes may be shifted by up to 15 minutes earlier in the morning or up to 15 minutes later in the afternoon, to allow more reliable service system-wide. Information will be provided to customers on these routes through the school boards and customers will be encouraged to check the Travel Planner to confirm any changes to their trip times.
Other changes to school service have been made based on observed ridership levels and in consultation with school boards and their student transportation agencies. Full details will be available at octranspo.com.
Holidays
Christmas Eve – Sunday, December 24, 2023 – There will be no changes to bus and O-Train Service, which will operate on a Sunday schedule.
Christmas Day – Monday, December 25, 2023 – Bus service will operate on a Sunday schedule. O-Train Line 1 will operate on a Sunday schedule from 8 am to 11 pm. Line 2 bus service will operate on a Sunday schedule from 7:15 am to 11 pm. The Shopper Route 301 will not operate.
Boxing Day – Tuesday, December 26, 2023 – Bus service will operate on a Saturday schedule, with additional resources available to supplement busy routes as required.
O-Train Line 1 will operate on a Saturday schedule from 6 am to 2 am. Line 2 bus service will operate on a Saturday schedule from 6:30 am to midnight.
Christmas Week – Wednesday, December 27 to Friday, December 29, 2023 – Bus service will operate on a reduced weekday schedule. O-Train Line 1 will operate on a reduced weekday schedule from 5 am to 1 am (2 am on Friday), with peak period frequency reduced to every five minutes. Line 2 bus service will operate on a reduced weekday schedule from 5:45 am to midnight. School service including 600-series routes will not operate as schools will be closed on these days.
New Year’s Eve – Sunday, December 31, 2023 – Bus service will operate on a Sunday schedule, with additional resources available in the evening to supplement busy routes as required. O-Train Line 1 will operate on an extended Sunday schedule from 8 am to 2 am. Line 2 bus service will operate on an extended Sunday schedule from 7:15 am to 1 am. Para Transpo will operate until 3 am. Free transit service will be provided after 6 pm on buses, O-Train Line 1 and Para Transpo courtesy of Safer Roads Ottawa and MADD.
New Year’s Day – Monday, January 1, 2024 – Bus service will operate on a Sunday schedule. O-Train Line 1 will operate on a Sunday schedule from 8 am to 11 pm. Line 2 bus service will operate on a Sunday schedule from 7:15 am to 11 pm.
New Year’s Week – Tuesday, January 2 to Friday, January 5, 2024 – Bus service will operate on a reduced weekday schedule. O-Train Line 1 will operate on a reduced weekday schedule from 5 am to 1 am (2 am on Friday), with peak period frequency reduced to every five minutes. Line 2 bus service will operate on a reduced weekday schedule from 5:45 am to midnight. School service including 600-series routes will not operate as schools will be closed on these days.
Family Day – Monday, February 19, 2024 – Bus service will operate on a normal weekday schedule. O-Train Line 1 will operate on a normal weekday schedule from 5 am to 1 am. Line 2 bus service will operate on a normal weekday schedule from 5:45 am to midnight. Service on the 600-series routes will be suspended, however school trips on regular routes will operate.
March Break – Monday, March 11 to Friday, March 15, 2024 – Bus service will operate on a reduced weekday schedule. O-Train Line 1 will operate on a reduced weekday schedule from 5 am to 1 am (2 am on Friday), with peak period frequency reduced to every five minutes. Line 2 bus service will operate on a reduced weekday schedule from 5:45 am to midnight. School service including 600-series routes will not operate as schools will be closed on these days.
Good Friday – Friday, March 29, 2024 – Bus service will operate on a Sunday schedule. O-Train Line 1 will operate on a Sunday schedule from 8 am to 11 pm. Line 2 bus service will operate on a Sunday schedule from 7:15 am to 11 pm
Easter Monday – Monday, April 1, 2024 – Bus service will operate on a reduced weekday schedule. O-Train Line 1 will operate on a reduced weekday schedule from 5 am to 1 am, with peak period frequency reduced to every five minutes. Line 2 bus service will operate on a reduced weekday schedule from 5:45 am to midnight. As schools will be closed, school service including the 600-series routes will not operate.
Customer Information
Full details of these service changes will be communicated to customers throughout December. OC Transpo has several customer-friendly applications and tools to assist customers in accessing timely information about our service while on the go. These include texting 560560 for real-time bus schedule information, downloading the Transit app, signing up for text alerts 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 24, customers can find up-to-date schedules and real-time information by using these applications and tools. Customers can visit octranspo.com or contact the OC Transpo Customer Service Centre (613-560-5000) for more information.
These winter service changes will be evaluated based on feedback OC Transpo collects from customers and operating staff, as well as ridership and operational data measurements.
