Councillor promises improvements to Barrhaven bus service

Councillor Jan Harder is rolling out a plan to improve OC Transpo service between Barrhaven and downtown Ottawa.

Frustrated transit riders have complained about full buses during peak periods on popular routes serving the Barrhaven area.

In a Facebook post, Harder says the City of Ottawa and OC Transpo have “worked diligently to address issues and develop solutions that we hope will improve service."

Some of the plans will be implemented this week, while Harder says others will take months to roll out.

Starting Thursday, November 15, a morning trip will be added on Route 277. It will leave from Nepean Woods Station at 7:26 a.m. Harder says the additional trip will reduce ridership/capacity ratio on Route 277 north of Fallowfield Station.

Jamieson Andrews moved to Barrhaven a few months ago and is already feeling the frustration.

"If I was getting on at Fallowfield, it's like a nightmare," said Andrews.

"There's a crowd of people always on the sidewalk, everyone's trying to jam in at the same time."

Also starting as soon as Thursday, six more afternoon trips will be added on Route 95 to Cambrian Road.

John Deneumoustier commutes in from Barrhaven five days a week for work. He says with winter around the corner, the help can't come soon enough.

"It's very welcomed news, it's about time," said Deneumoustier. "It's about time, sometimes it takes us two hours to get home."

Harder says capacity will be increased on several routes in 2019 following the opening of the O-Train Line 2. More high-capacity articulated and double-decker buses will be assigned to buy routes on the system.

Staff are also continuing to review options, costs, and construction of a new park and ride lot at Barrhaven Centre Station.

Harder is also recommending a new Route 275, with four trips in the morning and seven in the afternoon. If approved, the new route could begin as soon as December 27^th.

And Harder is also proposing revisions to Route 278 to provide additional service along Longfields Drive and on Mount Shannon and Oriska.

Sam Boswell, the founder of Ottawa Transit Riders Group says routes to and from Barrhaven are not the only ones in need of a fix.

"It's everywhere," said Boswell. "Literally, think of a neighbourhood, and they have transit issues."

Boswell says the Vanier area too has problems with overcrowding, delays, reliability and lack of communication.

"You need to be able to look at a schedule and know that a bus is showing up at a certain time," said Boswell. "The bus needs to show up."

Boswell is feeling optimistic that Harder's changes could mean a positive shift for riders in the future.

"I'm going to choose to view this as hopeful that OC Transpo realizes there's issues," said Boswell. "That they're willing to work with groups around the city."