OC Transpo cancels 255 weekday trips amid bus maintenance struggles

An OC Transpo bus with a "Not in service" sign is seen in this undated image. (CTV News Ottawa)

OC Tranpso says it has temporarily cancelled 255 regular weekday trips to accommodate for a bus shortage.

According to a memo sent to City Council Friday afternoon, OC Transpo implemented a revised bus schedule on Jan. 12 that includes a reduction of weekday 255 trips. OC Transpo says it will deliver 7,224 trips each weekday and the reductions will require the use of 20 fewer buses.

“This step was taken to respond to customer concerns about unreliable trip planning information,” Troy Charter, interim general manager of Transit Services, wrote. “Moving forward, customers will see this revised and updated trip schedule in travel planning tools.”

Charter says the trips will be added back once bus availability improves.

Between Jan. 4 and Jan. 10, Charter says bus service delivery averaged 94.1 per cent. Charter also says an average of 467 buses were available during the week, while the schedule typically requires 520 buses.

Last week, OC Transpo revealed in a memo that over six per cent of trips were going undelivered, mainly due to the organization’s aging fleet and a lack of mechanics. The transit service cancelled 2,768 trips last week, including 800 trips on Jan. 5 and nearly 500 trips on Jan. 7.

According to Charter, 46 per cent of trips were cancelled due to no buses being available.

Transit users can view updated schedules through OC Transpo’s Travel Planner or the Transit app. Users can also text 560560 or call 613-560-1000 for trip information.

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