OC Transpo Fall 2016 services changes outlined

_ (Memo via OC Transpo General Manager John Manconi) _ This memo provides an overview of the Fall 2016 transit service changes that will be starting on Sunday, September 4. These changes are part of OC Transpo’s regular schedule adjustments, which take place four times a year – April, June, September and December. Transit Commission and City Council members are provided with a summary of the service changes in advance of each new schedule period.

The Fall service changes include three types of modifications:

• Service adjustments during O-Train Confederation Line construction;

• Transit network improvements and adjustments; and,

• Seasonal adjustments to service levels and capacity.

Transit Service during O-Train Confederation Line Construction

In September, adjustments are being made to some of the current service arrangements to accommodate O-Train Confederation Line construction, as well as a change to the location of the bus platform at LeBreton Station as construction continues.

On September 4, LeBreton Station will be relocated from its current temporary location at Albert Street and Preston Street to a new temporary location at Albert Street and Booth Street. This change will be made when Booth Street reopens between Albert Street and the Sir John A. MacDonald Parkway, and when the temporary Preston Street extension closes. We will have staff on site assisting customers with these changes.

Scheduled running times will be adjusted on Route 91, which travels on bus-only lanes on Regional Road 174 / Highway 417, to better match observed travel times and to improve service reliability.

Service levels will be adjusted on Routes 95 and 98 serving King Edward Avenue, and on Routes 91 and 97, which travel via Nicholas Street and provide faster parallel service. Route 95 will operate with double-decker buses on certain trips, which will allow the same number of customers to be carried on fewer trips. During peak periods, capacity is generally being shifted from Routes 95 and 98 to Routes 91 and 97 to better match observed ridership demand.

Improvements to the Transit Network:

Staff continue to make service improvements across the system, where possible and where warranted by ridership levels. These service changes have been coordinated with ward

Councillors and are based on input from customers.

Carling Place Campus – Department of National Defence (DND):

• To improve service in conjunction with the first major phase of the Department of National Defence’s relocation to Carling Place, several adjustments will be made. All trips on Route 103 and peak period, peak direction trips on Route 101 will be extended from Bayshore Station to Carling Place via Highway 417, using a new bus stop and exclusive busway on the DND grounds at Carling Place. In addition, Route 182 will be extended to start at Tunney’s Pasture Station rather than Lincoln Fields Station to provide easier connections for many customers. Service levels and capacity on these routes will be increased to match expected ridership demand.

Stittsville:

• To transition from the existing privately-operated Blackstone community shuttle to OC Transpo service and better serve the growing area west of Terry Fox Drive and north of Fernbank Road, new Route 167 will provide peak period, peak direction service between Blackstone and Terry Fox Station. Service will operate every 30 minutes.

Other Service Adjustments:

Adjustments will be made to Routes 34 and 134 and school routes 612, 622, 641, and 648 to accommodate the permanent closure of Pagé Road at Brian Coburn Boulevard. As part of these changes, Route 34 will travel along Renaud Road east of Pagé Road, bringing service closer to the residents of the Trailsedge and Eastboro communities. The changes to Routes 34 and 134 are scheduled to begin as a detour on July 18.

The departure times of some Route 92 trips in the evening will be adjusted to better accommodate shift end times at Tanger Mall.

The schedule of Route 114 will be adjusted to improve the spacing of trips with Route 106 on their common section between St-Laurent Station and Elmvale Mall. In addition, most short trips on Route 114 along the same corridor will be removed, to better match observed ridership levels and reduce duplication of service.

Seasonal Service Changes:

Changes to system-wide service – Every year, ridership increases across the system as the summer ends and customers return back to regular commuting patterns. The frequency of service is adjusted to reflect these changes in ridership, and the capacity provided is adjusted to carry the increased number of customers travelling during this time. Seasonal reductions on most routes will end, with most services returning to their pre-summer levels. Certain trip times will be adjusted on Routes 104, 111, and 114 to match current ridership patterns.

School service – Special school trips on regular routes and the 600-series school routes will resume. The school trips on Route 114 that provide service to Canterbury, Hillcrest, Ridgemont and St. Patrick’s High Schools will be renumbered as new school routes 644, 649 and 698, with similar routings and service levels. School routes 612, 622, 641 and 648 will be adjusted due to the closure of Pagé Road. Some school trips on Route 128 will be extended from Blair Station to Hurdman Station, which will ease platform congestion at Blair Station and improve connections. Based on observed ridership levels, the number of school trips will be reduced on Routes 106, 128, 131, 148, and 171.

Summer Weekend Service to Leisure/Recreation Destinations – The last day of operation for the summer weekend service on Route 129 to the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, Route 185 to the Canada Agriculture Museum and Route 198 to Petrie Island will be Monday, September 5.

Construction Detours – Several major road construction projects that began previously will affect transit service during the fall. Routes will continue to be detoured around work on Queen Street, Lyon Street and Main Street. Service will also be detoured around Crystal Beach Drive.

Holidays – During the fall, service will be provided as follows:

• Labour Day – On Monday, September 5, a Sunday schedule will operate.

• Thanksgiving – On Monday, October 10, a Sunday schedule will operate.

• Remembrance Day – On Friday, November 11, a regular weekday schedule will operate.

Full details of these service changes will be communicated to customers through July and August with the use of printed and electronic materials, as well as direct customer outreach. The Next Stop Announcement System will be used to alert customers on specific routes leading up to the service change. Please direct customers to octranspo.com or to the OC Transpo Customer Service Centre (613-741-4390) for more information. Once the new service begins, customers can find up-to-date schedules by using octranspo.mobi or the MyTransit iPhone app, by calling 613-560-1000, or by texting 560560.

These 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, Assistant General Manager, Customer Systems and Planning, at ext. 52205 or myself at ext. 52111. _ Original signed by _ _ John Manconi _