OC Transpo switches to fall schedules Sunday, minor changes

_ (press release) _ ** Ottawa ** – On Sunday, September 4, new fall schedules go into effect on most routes; LeBreton Station will be shifting eastward, and some routing improvements will be implemented, including new service to Carling Campus on Moodie Drive and a new route serving Stittsville.

Fall service highlights:

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New route 167 will serve the growing community of Blackstone in Stittsville, with weekday rush hour service to Terry Fox Station for connections to other routes serving downtown, work and school.

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Improved service to Carling Campus on Moodie Drive to accommodate Phase 1 of the relocation of employees to this facility, with extensions on Routes 101 and 103 from Bayshore to the Campus, and on Route 182 to Tunney’s Pasture Station as well as increased frequency.

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Route 92 will have several evening trips adjusted later to better serve Tanger Outlets.

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Routes 231 and 232 will be renumbered 228 and 222 respectively as the first routes that will need to be re-numbered to prepare for the introduction of the O-Train Confederation Line in 2018.

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Special summer-weekends-only service will be suspended after Labour Day on Route 185 to the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum and Experimental Farm, on Route 129 to the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, and on Route 198 to Petrie Island.

Seasonal schedule adjustments will be made on many bus routes. Customers should check their route schedule at octranspo.com .

** On Track 2018 – LeBreton station is moving **

LeBreton Station will move one block east to Albert Street at Booth Street due to the closure of Preston Street north of Albert. Buses will be rerouted to use Booth Street between the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway and Albert Street. The bus stop arrangement will be similar to the current service, with buses to Gatineau at a new stop on Booth Street just north of Albert. Call 613-560-1000 or text 560560 plus 3010 for real-time bus departures at LeBreton Station. For more information, visit ontrack2018.ca .

** Place d’Orléans Park & Ride overflow lot is moving **

The Park & Ride overflow lot, located at Place d’Orléans Shopping Centre, is moving to a new area conveniently located in the covered parking section just north of the current area. It can be accessed from Place d’Orléans Drive on the west side of the shopping centre.

** Students **

Eligible university and college students can get their new 2016-17 U‑Pass (fall/winter) on campus at Carleton University, Saint Paul University, the University of Ottawa and Algonquin College. The Fall/Winter U-Pass is valid from September 1, 2016 until April 30, 2017. The 2016 Summer U-Pass expired August 31.

While Campus Transitway Station remains closed for construction of the O-Train Confederation Line, the main campus at uOttawa is well-served at Laurier Station, on Laurier Street at Cumberland, and along King Edward Avenue. As well, the pedestrian underpass linking the campus to Colonel By Drive has reopened. Pedestrians at these intersections are reminded to be safe and pay attention to traffic signals and vehicular traffic.

Eligible elementary and secondary students will receive their transit pass on a Presto card at school. All other full-time students ages 13 to 19 who do not currently have a Presto card can get a student discount set on their Presto card at an OC Transpo Customer Service Centre with proof of eligibility. Service to French-language schools starts Tuesday, August 30, while service to English schools starts Tuesday, September 6, to coincide with school schedules. Check octranspo.com for details about eligibility, school route changes and schedules.

Students should note that monthly paper passes will no longer be available after September. Beginning in October 2016 students wishing to purchase a monthly pass must do so on a Presto card.   An October monthly student pass can be loaded on a Presto card beginning on September 17. Visit octranspo.com for more information.

** Labour Day **

On Monday, September 5, OC Transpo will operate a Sunday schedule, meaning only those routes that normally run on Sundays will be in service. The DayPass will be valid as a family pass on Labour Day. A family or group of up to six people, with a maximum of two individuals 13 years of age or older, can ride all day with one $8.50 DayPass. Holiday schedules are available at octranspo.com . OC Transpo Customer Service Centres and the Transit Information Call Centre will be open. On Saturday, September 3, Customer Service Centres at Lincoln Fields, Place d’Orléans and St-Laurent will also be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for added convenience.

Para Transpo will operate a holiday service on Labour Day. Regular scheduled trips are automatically cancelled, but customers may book trips for Labour Day by calling 613-244-7272 on or after August 29.

** Safety is always the priority ** The return of students to school and end of summer will see an increase in passengers and large numbers of pedestrians. The City is asking that everyone make pedestrian safety a priority and pay attention to traffic signals. To ensure everyone’s safety, OC Transpo reminds its customers to walk instead of running to catch buses that have started to depart and to avoid crossing in front of buses after disembarking.

Real-time schedule information is available 24 hours a day, up to six days in advance, by calling 613-560-1000 or texting 560560 plus the four‑digit bus stop number. For more details, travel planning assistance, and new timetables, customers should call OC Transpo at 613-741-4390 or visit octranspo.com .