OC Transpo rolled out its ‘new Ways to Bus’ network on Sunday, an overhaul of the bus route system with changes to dozens of bus routes and new connections to the O-Train and in neighbourhoods.
“The New Ways to Bus route network launches on Sunday, April 27, and will be the largest bus service change in the City’s history,” Renee Amilcar, OC Transpo’s general manager, said in a memo to council.
“New Ways to Bus is a big step towards OC Transpo’s goal of increasing service reliability to 99.5 per cent, improving connectivity to community hubs, and providing a sustainable network that needs the evolving needs of our customers.”
Amilcar has said the new bus system will “align with customer travel patterns” and connecting to the new Trillium Line 2 and Line 4.
OC Transpo says the new bus network with more than 100 routes will feature 27 frequent routes that run seven days a week, including every 15 minutes or less during the weekdays. There will also be 59 local routes “designed to take you to your neighbourhood destinations and transit hubs” and 18 Connexion routes that “provide fast, peak-period connections to the O-Train,” according to the transit service.
The transit service also cancelled dozens of bus routes, including the 200 series ‘Connexion’ routes from the suburbs to downtown Ottawa.
The changes also include revised bus service to hospitals, universities and colleges and between Ottawa and Gatineau.
What is changing?
OC Transpo says the new bus network will “focus on frequency, local service in your neighbourhood, and connections to key destinations.”
“You will see a shift from downtown-focused bus routes to routes that improve connections to community hubs and key destinations. Some customers may have to go further to the bus stop, have additional transfers to buses or trains, and/or have faster travel times,” OC Transpo says on its website.
“In addition to fewer Connexion routes, some routes will be retired due to low ridership and to improve connections to new routes and the O-Train. Retired routes will be replaced with alternative service nearby.”
No changes to routes
OC Transpo says there will be no changes to 26 bus routes.
The routes are 6, 14, 19, 21, 23, 38, 42, 44, 45, 47, 49, 51, 57, 67, 84, 87, 90, 98, 125, 139, 158, 221, 222, 228, 262, 277.
Routes changing or cancelled
There will be changes to 123 bus routes across the city.
OC Transpo says several routes will be shortened, extended or adjusted as part of the New Ways to Bus initiative, and some routes will be removed.
“Routes that will be extended may replace removed routes or the removed portion of another route,” OC Transpo said.
The following bus routes are being removed, with routes replaced by new routes: 16, 27, 28, 37, 46, 50, 54, 55, 64, 83, 89, 96, 97, 114, 131, 140, 141, 153, 154, 155, 164, 166, 171, 175, 176, 185, 186, 190, 199.
The following 200 series ‘Connexion’ routes that connect suburban communities to downtown Ottawa are being eliminated: 231, 232, 236, 252, 257, 258, 264, 267, 268, 270, 271, 272, 273, 278, 282, 290, 291.
The frequent bus routes
OC Transpo says there will be “frequent routes” that run seven days a week, including every 15 minutes or less during the weekdays.
OC Transpo says the buses will run every 15 minutes or less from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays.
The new 27 frequent routes are: 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 14, 25, 39, 40, 41, 44, 45, 57, 61, 62, 63, 68, 74, 75, 80, 85, 87, 88, 90, 98, 111.
School service
OC Transpo says following the launch of the new bus network, there will be changes to many of the 600-series school routes and regular routes with special school service.
For information on changes to school routes, visit https://www.octranspo.com/en/plan-your-trip/service-changes/new-ways-to-bus/school-service.
Changes to service
The New Ways to Bus system will see OC Transpo reduce the number of bus service hours offered, as the system connects people with O-Train Lines 1, 2 and 4.
A memo from Amilcar in November 2023 said the change to bus service will result in 74,000 fewer hours of bus service each year.
Staff have said the savings in bus operating costs will be reallocated to support operating costs for O-Train Lines 2 and 4.
Informing riders
OC Transpo says it has launched an advertising campaign to inform riders of the New Ways to Bus, with the campaign continuing into May.
Mailouts have been sent to all residents to provide information on the changes.
For more information on the route changes and schedules, visit www.octranspo.com.
