Update on Transit Service during Confederation Line Construction – December 2015 and January 2016

Councillor Stephen Blais, Chair of the Transit Commission, and John Manconi, OC Transpo General Manager, along with staff from the Rail Implementation Office and OC Transpo delivered a technical briefing today on the next phase of transit service adjustments to allow for O-Train Confederation Line construction.

Transit service between Lees and Hurdman Stations will be adjusted on December 20, and service between Merton Street and Empress Avenue will be adjusted on January 17, 2016. Lees and Hurdman Stations will remain open, Bayview and LeBreton Stations will be relocated to Albert Street and Bayview O-Train Trillium Line Station will be relocated slightly south of its present location. These adjustments have been designed to minimize impacts on customers and residents, continue to serve customers’ destinations, maintain key transfer points and provide a cost-effective service.

Approximately 87 per cent of OC Transpo customers will not be impacted by the adjustments in December, and approximately 86 per cent will not be impacted by the adjustments in January 2016. Some customers will, however, have slightly longer travel times and some customers will see changes to stations, stops and connections between routes.

“City Council has invested $74 million in mitigation measures, including the construction of bus-only lanes, in order to minimize customer impacts during the construction of the O-Train Confederation Line,” said Mayor Jim Watson. “I encourage transit customers and residents to keep an eye on the light at the end of the tunnel, because Ottawa will soon have a world-class light rail transit system that will make commuting more convenient and efficient for everyone across our great city.”

Additionally, based on feedback from transit customers and OC Transpo employees, a number of improvements related to the June 2015 service adjustments will be implemented on December 21. Approximately 5,000 customer-trips each day on express routes to Orléans will have a faster travel time in the afternoon peak period by eliminating the stop at Blair Station. Also, approximately 250 customers who now use Route 101 during peak times will have an additional option with the new Route 103, which will save up to five minutes in the morning by eliminating the stop at Hurdman Station, and up to 16 minutes in the afternoon by eliminating the stop at St-Laurent Station.

“We’ve been listening to the Ottawa community and have received excellent feedback and suggestions from transit customers and OC Transpo employees related to the June 2015 service adjustments,” said Councillor Stephen Blais, Chair of the Transit Commission. “We’ve taken those suggestions seriously and we’ll be implementing a number of improvements that will reduce travel time for transit customers and the likelihood of congestion.”

A comprehensive communication program will be utilized to ensure that all customers are aware of the upcoming changes in a timely manner. Customers are encouraged to look for “Our Transit Future Is On Track” messages, and to visit octranspo.com over the coming months for more information.

The Transit Service during Confederation Line Construction – Update for December 2015 and January 2016 report will be tabled at the October 21 Transit Commission meeting.