Light-Rail Cutbacks, Service Changes Begin Sunday

08/20/2024

This is a release from the City of Ottawa:

Subject / Objet Fall 2024 Transit Service Changes Date: August 20, 2024

The purpose of this memo is to provide an overview of OC Transpo’s fall service changes, effective Sunday, August 25, 2024. Regular schedule adjustments take place four times a year – spring, summer, fall and winter – and memos are provided in advance of each new schedule period.

The fall service change includes the following:

Service adjustments for construction
Seasonal service changes
Service adjustments

Service Adjustments for Construction

As a result of road reconstruction and other infrastructure projects, the following routes may experience delays and additional travel time:

Select trips on Route 93 and trips on Shopper Route 304 will be detoured due to the closure of Bank Street between Shuttleworth Drive and Blais Road/Miikana Road for road widening construction.
Route 48 and Canterbury High School trips will be detoured via Canterbury Avenue, Pleasant Park Road, and St-Laurent Boulevard, due to the closure of the Canterbury Avenue and Halifax Drive intersection.
Some Route 88 bus stops on Hazeldean Road between Irwin Gate and Castlefrank Road will have short-term closures due to construction activity.
Routes 165, 660 and 674 will be detoured via March Road, Maxwell Bridge Road, and Marconi Avenue due to construction activity on Klondike Road from March Road to Marconi Avenue.

Seasonal Service Changes

Seasonal Adjustments

Routes 7 and 25 will return to their regular non-summer schedules to accommodate the seasonal return of higher ridership.
Frequency on Line 2 buses serving Carleton University will be increased from summer service levels to accommodate the seasonal return of higher ridership. Peak period service will operate every 10 minutes, and midday and evening service

M E M O / N O T E D E S E R V I C E

will operate every 12 minutes. Additional trips will operate at major class times where needed to increase capacity.

Summer Weekend Service to Seasonal Destinations

Labour Day, Monday, September 2, will be the last day of operation for the seasonal service on Route 125 to the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, Route 139 to Petrie Island, and Route 185 to the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum.

School Services

School service will resume. 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 on specific changes to school routes will be available on octranspo.com.

Service to Major Events

Redblacks Games – Fares to and from the event are included in event tickets. Special 450-series service is provided to bring customers to and from the games. • Supplementary service for CityFolk, Army Run and the Panda Game will be determined closer to the event date in consultation with event organizers. Any supplemental or adjusted service for the events will be communicated to customers through OC Transpo’s regular communication channels.

Holiday Service

Labour Day – Monday, September 2, 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 7:30 am to 11 pm.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – Monday, September 30, 2024 – Bus service will operate on a weekday schedule. O-Train Line 1 will operate on a weekday schedule from 5 am to 1 am. Line 2 bus service will operate on a weekday schedule from 5:30 am to midnight.
Thanksgiving – Monday, October 14, 2024 – Bus service will operate on a Sunday schedule. O-Train Line 1 will operate on Sunday schedule from 8 am to 11 pm. Line 2 bus service will operate on a Sunday schedule from 7:30 am to 11 pm.
Remembrance Day – Monday, November 11, 2024 – Bus service will operate on a weekday schedule. O-Train Line 1 will operate on a weekday schedule from 5 am to 1 am. Line 2 bus service will operate on a weekday schedule from 5:30 am to midnight.

Service Adjustments

Starting Monday, August 26, O-Train Line 1 will run every 10 minutes from approximately 9 am to 3 pm and 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm on weekdays. Peak-period and weekend service remain unchanged. The full detailed schedule is available on octranspo.com. These service adjustments better reflect current demand and travel

M E M O / N O T E D E S E R V I C E

patterns and account for forecasted fall ridership. This change will be closely monitored and can be adjusted if there is a change in ridership levels.

Customer Information

Full details of these service changes will be communicated to customers throughout the rest of August. 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 fall service changes begin on August 25, 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 (613-560-5000) for more information.

These fall service changes will be evaluated based on feedback we collect from customers and operating staff, as well as ridership and operational data measurements. Our goal is to continue to provide excellent service for customers as their travel needs change.

Should you have any questions or comments, please contact Pat Scrimgeour, Director, Transit Customer Systems and Planning, at extension 52205.

Original signed by

Renée Amilcar

cc: Senior Leadership Team

Transit Services Departmental Leadership Team

Director, Public Information and Media Relations