OC Transpo says it will be increasing the frequency of trains on O-Train Line 1 this fall, as students return to the city and as more public servants travel to downtown offices. In a post on its website, OC Transpo says changes that are set to come into effect on Aug. 30 will include improved weekday frequency on Line 1 and adjusted bus schedules. Line 1 trains will come every four minutes instead of every five during peak periods. During the midday, trains will come every six minutes instead of every 10. There will be seven-minute headways in the early evenings. “As part of the Customer-First Action Plan, OC Transpo is introducing attractive new options for commuters, while continuing to increase service and reliability across the transit network and on Para Transpo to support the return to work and school,” OC Transpo says. Notably absent from the announcement was the Line 1 east extension. To date, there is no timeline for when the extension of Line 1 from Blair Station to Trim Station in Orléans will open to the public. The line achieved substantial completion in March, but has yet to undergo trial running, a key step that requires 21 days of continuous, problem-free simulated service before the system is officially launched. At the June 11 transit committee meeting, general manager of Transit Services Rick Leary said he was not ready to commit to a timeline to begin the 21-day trial running period while work on increasing the number of LRT vehicles available for service continued. OC Transpo and Rideau Transit Group are also installing a conditioning monitoring system on the cartridge bearing assemblies of all Line 1 trains to monitor for excess wear on the axles, which has been a consistent problem on the line and led to significant service disruptions in the winter and spring. Bus system improvements Schedules will be adjusted to 30 bus routes in the fall, which OC Transpo says will improve reliability for a majority of riders. The affected routes will be: 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 25, 30, 41, 42, 48, 51, 53, 61, 63, 73, 75, 81, 82, 85, 88, 117, 163, 168, and 173. OC Transpo will also be introducing new express bus service, with peak period trips serving Park and Ride lots, “key employment areas” and O-Train Line 1 terminus stations. These routes will have fewer stops and will use the same fare as regular bus service. OC Transpo is also promising more service to Kanata North, Gatineau, and the Department of National Defence Carling Campus. “OC Transpo is committed to anticipating and meeting the evolving needs of Ottawa’s transit users. Stay tuned for more details on fall service enhancements,” OC Transpo said. This announcement comes on the heels of city staff introducing a multimillion-dollar plan to improve commutes for all residents in the fall. Staff anticipate at least 65,000 additional weekly trips into downtown Ottawa starting in September with the four-day federal workplace mandate and the return of post-secondary students. According to a report prepared for the July 15 city council meeting, the city is looking at spending more than $20 million on improvements to the Bowesville Park and Ride, and $1.1 million to establish additional express routes and on other routes from Park and Rides and from places like Barrhaven, Kanata, Place d’Orléans, and South Keys. The plan also includes $240,000 on overtime for OC Transpo maintenance workers to get buses back into service quickly and $300,000 to hire more red vest transit staff at major stations. Another proposed change would be the introduction of a “low-cost trial transit pass” that would allow public servants to “test the system before committing,” according to a city document. The suggested pass would allow 20 trips over three months, but a suggested cost was not included. The fall schedule planning also includes the removal of several school routes, affecting around 3,600 students in Ottawa. Leary said the move would bring 20 buses per day back into the regular fleet, improving service on other major routes.
