OC Transpo launching new bus route from east end LRT stations to Ottawa Airport

An Alstom LINT train arrives at Airport Station at the Ottawa International Airport on Monday. The new O-Train Line 4 runs between South Keys station and the Ottawa Airport. (Dave Charbonneau/CTV News Ottawa)

OC Transpo is rolling out a new bus route connecting the Ottawa International Airport with St-Laurent and Hurdman Stations, eight months after O-Train Line 4 opened with direct rail service to the airport.

In a memo to council, Transit Services acting general manager Troy Charter announced new Route 105 will be introduced this fall, offering 24 hours a day bus service between the airport and two O-Train stations.

Charter says the new route will “offer more options for east-end residents accessing the airport.”

“Route 105 will provide direct connections to the Airport from O Train Line 1 at Hurdman Station and from intercity buses and trains at St-Laurent and Tremblay stations,” Chartier wrote Thursday morning.

“Route number 105 was selected in honour of the Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow, a supersonic aircraft and symbol of Canadian innovation.”

Route 105 will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, approximately every 30 minutes.

An OC Transpo spokesperson told CTV News Ottawa Route 105 is being introduced to “enhance connections” between the airport, the southeast Transitway, the Via Rail Station, intercity buses and the east end.

“This route is scheduled to launch at the end of August and is designed to make connections easier for riders travelling from east of Hurdman Station to key destinations along the Transitway and to the airport,” OC Transpo said in an email.

“Route 105 is primarily being introduced to improve overall connectivity between major intercity travel hubs, including St-Laurent Station, the Ottawa Train Station, and the airport. For most riders, the O-Train will continue to be the fastest option for travel to downtown and the west end.”

Charter says when O-Train Line 1 is not running overnight, buses will connect to the Ottawa Airport from Rideau and Hurdman stations.

“The new overnight service will replace Route N98, and the new service to the Airport will replace part of Route 197,” Charter said.

“Frequency and capacity along the Southeast Transitway will be unchanged.”

OC Transpo opened O-Train Line 2 and Line 4 in January, offering service between Bayview Station and Limebank Station, with a spur to the Ottawa International Airport. O-Train riders must board Line 4 to the airport at South Keys Station.

OC Transpo told CTV News Ottawa Thursday afternoon that approximately 1,000 customers per day ride Line 4 between South Keys Station and the Ottawa Airport station.

Under the current O-Train operations, commuters wanting to ride the O-Train to the airport from the east end must ride Line 1 to Bayview Station, transfer to Line 2 and ride to South Keys Station, where you can board Line 4 to the airport.

Route 105 will launch on Sunday, Aug. 24. According to the OC Transpo travel planner, Route 105 will take 33 minutes to travel from St. Laurent to the Ottawa Airport.

Line 2 schedule changes

OC Transpo says O-Train Line 2 will start earlier this fall.

Charter says there will be earlier start times on Line 2 for Monday to Saturday service. More details will be announced when schedule arrangements are complete.