Free rides on OC Transpo on New Year's Eve

_ (press release) _ ** Ottawa – ** With special 2017 New Year’s Eve Celebrations happening on December 31, the free city-wide bus service normally offered will start earlier this year to encourage families to take part in the festivities.

OC Transpo, in partnership with MADD Ottawa, the City’s Safer Roads Ottawa program and other partners, will start its free bus and Para Transpo service at 4:30 p.m. this year. Public transit is the best option for travelling to New Year’s Eve festivities downtown and across the city.

Several roads will be closed in and around the downtown core due to special events taking place. Residents are encouraged to plan ahead and arrive early, and to use public transit, carpool or choose a designated driver for their travels on New Year’s Eve.

The free transit service will continue until 3 a.m. for those who want to celebrate New Year’s Eve into the early morning hours on January 1.

Para Transpo will be operating a holiday schedule on New Year’s Eve. Regular scheduled trips will be automatically cancelled, but customers can book trips by calling 613-244-7272 on or after December 25.

Due to the Flames of Friendship relay, there will be short delays to OC Transpo buses near the Mackenzie King Bridge from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. and the bridge will be closed to motorists, cyclists and pedestrians from 8 p.m. until 2 a.m. OC Transpo customers who usually use the stops on Mackenzie King Bridge can catch their bus on Albert or Slater Streets and at Laurier Station.

Transit customers are encouraged to check octranspo.com for up-to-date information on detours or delays.

Follow the City of Ottawa and OC Transpo on Twitter – @ottawacity and @oc_transpo – for the most up-to-date information leading up to, and during, New Year’s Eve activities. Information about road closures and the resulting impacts to traffic will be available on ottawa.ca in the coming days and will be updated as details are confirmed.

For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca , octranspo.com or call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-9656).  You can also connect with the City of Ottawa via Facebook , Twitter and Instagram , and OC Transpo via Facebook and Twitter .