OC Transpo offers free-fare weekend as it rolls out route overhaul
Article content
Article content
'It's a way to say a huge thank you for your patience, because we have been working hard to improve the service, and it was tough on (the) customers,' said transit service general manager Renée Amilcar in a press conference Thursday at Bayview Station.
Article content
Article content
Amilcar said the free-fare weekend is 'not as much' about compensating riders for frustrating delays and disruptions. 'It's a way to say, this is the new OC Transpo, come and try it, and I'm sure you will love it,' she said.
Article content
Article content
Amilcar acknowledged staff are working out some 'glitches' with the 'New Ways to Bus' launch, and OC Transpo has already heard from some riders who are upset over the large-scale bus route changes that came into effect April 27.
Article content
'First and foremost, we have heard a lot of complaints (over the years) about the reliability — or non-reliability — and we have spent a lot of money, billions of dollars, to build transit here with the LRT,' Amilcar said.
Article content
'Now, we're bringing the buses to the LRT because the LRT doesn't need to deal with traffic. And the service is now reliable, so we know exactly what time (the trains) will come and what time it will be at your destination,' she said. 'It's a change, definitely, and it's hard to accept changes, but (the overhaul is) a good thing and when people use it, I'm sure they will love it.'
Article content
Article content
Amilcar rated the new bus route launch as 'so far, so good.'
Article content
'Absolutely we have anticipated some glitches, and we have to deal with those glitches,' she said. Amilcar encouraged riders to contribute their comments and feedback through OC Transpo's website.
Article content
'We will continue to improve the service, we will continue to listen to our customers and we'll do our best… we are open to any kind of comments that can help us to improve the service,' she said.
Article content
The free-fare weekend will cost OC Transpo about $285,000.
Article content
'For me, it's an investment. Because we have worked very hard to improve the system, we stabilized Line 1 (over the) months and years, we successfully launched Lines 2 and 4 and we implemented New Ways to Bus last Sunday… It's an investment, but it's a good use of taxpayer money, I would say,' Amilcar said.
Article content
She was asked on Thursday why the free fares were limited to one weekend — when service is running on a reduced weekend schedule — instead of the free month OC Transpo offered in December 2021 as an apology for disruptions in train service during that summer.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Ottawa Citizen
9 hours ago
- Ottawa Citizen
OC Transpo to launch new direct bus route to airport Aug. 24
Article content OC Transpo will debut a new route to the airport from St-Laurent and Hurdman stations on Aug. 24 and will return to school service as part of its fall schedule. Article content The new Route 105 will run approximately every 30 minutes, 24 hours a day, seven days a week to the Ottawa International Airport. Article content Article content The route replaces part of Route 197 and some trips on Route 98, the transit authority said. Article content Article content The new route is designed to offer more options for east-end residents accessing the airport, OC Transpo said, and will provide a direct connection to the airport from intercity bus and train service at St-Laurent and Tremblay stations. Article content Article content During overnight hours when O-Train Line 1 is not running, buses will connect to the airport from Rideau and Hurdman Stations. The new overnight service, named Route N105, will replace Route N98. Article content OC Transpo said it chose the route number 105 'in honour of the Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow, a supersonic aircraft and symbol of Canadian innovation.' Article content The transit authority is also implementing seasonal service changes and returning to school service on Sunday, with additional route adjustments and adjustments for construction. Article content OC Transpo will increase frequency of trips on Routes 7 and 25 with a return to higher ridership related to Carleton University and La Cité Collegiale. Article content Article content The 600-series school routes and school trips on regular routes will resume for the new school year. Changes to school service have been made based on ridership levels and in consultation with the four school boards and their student transportation authorities, OC Transpo said. Article content Article content Labour Day, Sept. 1, will be the last day of special summer weekend service on Route 8 to the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, Route 125 to the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, and Route 139 to Petrie Island. Article content OC Transpo is making adjustments to Route 58, with most trips extended to run to and from Tunney's Pasture Station, connecting to O-Train Line 1 and replacing select trips on Route 57. Article content Trip times will also be slightly adjusted on Routes 25, 30, 32, 33, 35, 39, and 221 departing from Blair Station. Article content
CBC
06-08-2025
- CBC
A few more O-Train changes in August for extension, wheel work
Partial closures and schedule changes continue this month for Ottawa's rail transit system. OC Transpo said Tuesday that Line 1 service will be scaled back Saturday Aug. 16, Sunday Aug. 17 and Sunday Aug. 31 for more work on the extension east from Blair to Trim stations and on the St-Laurent station tunnel. On Aug. 16 and 17, trains won't run east of Tremblay station. R1 buses will connect Hurdman station and Blair, with the usual shuttle between St-Laurent and Cyrville stations. R1 buses will run instead of the east-west rain line the morning of Aug. 31. Trains should come back at noon. This eastern connection work includes cameras, security systems and software and allows more driver training through the 12.5 kilometres of new track and five stations, according to OC Transpo. There should be more changes in September. The transit service's website says the east extension should open this year. The target for its western extension to Moodie Drive and Algonquin College is 2027. Fewer Line 2 trains some nights The north-south Line 2 will run every 24 minutes instead of every 12 minutes after 8 p.m. from Aug. 11 to 15. This will let OC Transpo install equipment to monitor the axle bearings on its trains. Problems with those bearings, part of what hold the wheels to the train, have plagued Line 1. Line 4 to and from the airport won't be affected.
CBC
31-07-2025
- CBC
OC Transpo offers new 24-hour bus route to airport
OC Transpo is introducing a new bus route to the airport starting near the end of August for residents in the east end of the city — and celebrating a short-lived high speed military aircraft from the 1950s. In a memo, the City of Ottawa says starting on Sunday, Aug. 25, a new 24-hour bus route, Route 105, will be introduced to Ottawa's Macdonald–Cartier International Airport with planned trips from Tremblay, St-Laurent and Hurdman stations. The route is set to offer seven-day-a-week service, operating every 30 minutes, offering an alternate option for residents who have late night or early morning flights, after or before the O-Train is running. As well, when the O-Train isn't running overnight, a new overnight service will run from Rideau and Hurdman stations, replacing Route N98 and part of Route 197. The number of the route was picked specifically to honour a symbol of Canadian aviation history — the Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow, a supersonic, but short-lived aircraft from the 1950s. Other route changes OC Transpo says it plans to stop the youth monthly pass by the end of August. Those using a youth pass will be charged an adult month pass at the beginning of September. The service also says it plans to ramp up trips on Routes 7 and 25 when there are more riders headed to Carleton University and La Cité and Sept. 1 will be the last day of trips on Route 125 to the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, Route 139 to Petrie Island and the extension of Route 8 to the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum.
