Sweeping Ottawa bus changes take effect Sunday
OC Transpo's 'New Ways to Bus' cuts some routes, adjusts others
A long-planned overhaul of Ottawa's bus routes takes effect Sunday in what the city calls the largest bus service change in its history.
OC Transpo says its "New Ways to Bus" initiative adjusts service to post-pandemic ridership and realigns routes with its expanded rail network.
The changes will affect most bus routes: some are cut completely, while others are being reduced or expanded in certain neighbourhoods.
The changes on a whole are expected to mean 74,000 fewer service hours per year, or 3.5 per cent less service.
"This is in response to our ridership, to seeing different trends and how folks are taking public transit," said public information officer Katrina Camposarcone-Stubbs.
"We're going to continually be giving people service no matter where they live. It's just, how they're receiving the service might change a little bit."
The following routes are not changing: 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 and 277.
You can see how the changes affect your commute on OC Transpo's New Ways to Bus website.
Rider concerns
Nelly Desrosiers is a public servant who rides the bus to work three days a week. She said her commute will be longer starting Monday and she's disappointed there wasn't more input from the federal government when it comes to how many federal workers get to the office.
"We should be the ones, you know, that are trying to make a difference and taking the bus and now we have another impediment," she said.
Roman Hebert used to take the 99 from Barrhaven to Hurdman station, but starting Sunday that route will only go as far as Limebank station. Hebert said that means he will have to switch to the north-south Trillium Line.
"If the train goes down (with) no backup then we're kind of left stranded," Hebert said. "If a bus went down, you could always wait for the next bus 15, 20 minutes later and then get on with your day."
Other riders like Emily Veselovsky said the changes will make bus travel more convenient. The new Route 12 extends to Tunney's Pasture, meaning Veselovsky will no longer have to switch to the train to visit her parents in Westboro.
"I'm not sure if it's going to change the amount of time, but it will change the convenience of it," she said.
'These are service cuts'
Barrhaven East Coun. Wilson Lo said on CBC Radio's All in a Day the changes are necessary to improve the transit service's reliability, but he acknowledged riders are getting an overall service reduction.
"However you dress them up, these are service cuts," Lo said. "Right now, OC Transpo can't even provide all the service that it advertises."
Lo said the rationale for the cuts goes beyond the transit service's budget shortfall.
While previous staffing issues have been addressed, he said the city is dealing with an aging bus fleet as suppliers experience "severe manufacturing delays."
Ridership has consistently and significantly lagged behind the national urban trend since the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Petition to keep existing routes
Transit rider Jamie Brisson recently started a petition to keep existing bus routes until the east and west LRT extensions are fully operational, which could take until some time next year.
"They're cutting out bus routes that are essential to our transport," Brisson said, adding that longer distances to reach some new or modified routes will impact people with mobility issues.
Brisson said he's written to OC Transpo, but received an email that didn't address his concerns. His goal is to get the transit operator's attention but he doesn't expect things would change until more people start to notice how their commute has been affected.
"At some point, OC Transpo will have to pay attention to the needs of their commuters," he said.
'Evolution of the network'
Transit commission chair and Stittsville Coun. Glen Gower said the new plan still makes sense without the LRT extensions to Trim, Moodie and Algonquin stations.
"It's about an overall evolution of the network," he said.
"Adjusting and changing our route network so that we're delivering transit to where people want to go is one way that we can improve overall the reliability of the service."
He said OC Transpo will be watching closely in the first days and weeks for issues such as overcrowding and connections that aren't working properly.
"We can make some of those small changes as we go and make sure that we keep on improving service," he said.
Gower said the reaction he's been hearing about the overhaul has been mixed — some people have expressed concerns, while others are excited about routes that serve newer neighbourhoods like Potter's Key in his ward.
OC Transpo said outreach staff will be providing support and answering customer questions at transit stations across the city as the new system is rolled out.
OC Transpo and Para Transpo service will also be free May 3 and 4 to encourage customers to try the new routes.
With files from Jodie Applewaithe and CBC Radio's All in a Day