Ottawa-Carleton Regional Transit Commission
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Ottawa-Carleton Regional Transit Commission, commonly known as OC Transpo is the urban transit service of the City of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Some routes provide service to the downtown core of the nearby city of Gatineau, Quebec, mostly during peak periods and one route provides service to the Township of Russell, Ontario to serve the Vars Park & Ride, only during peak periods.
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History
For a complete and detailed history, including a timeline, click here
The Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton took over transit operations from the Ottawa Transportation Commission (OTC) on August 1, 1972 in order to expand services into neighbouring cities within the region. In 1973, OC Transpo introduced its distinctive red and white livery to its fleet of buses and dedicated 11km of bus-only lanes in Ottawa. In order to provide door-to-door transit services for persons with disabilities, a parallel transit system was launched in 1974, renamed Para Transpo in 1981. The exact fare policy was introduced in 1974 during evenings only, and was expanded to all service periods in 1976, along with the introduction of monthly passes the same year. Sunday service was introduced in 1978, first as orange limited service routes. In 1980, the "560" telephone automated scheduling system was introduced in the east end, and was expanded to cover all stops by 1981. The proof of payment (POP) concept was introduced with the delivery of 21 GM articulated buses in 1982, the same year Telidon screens were installed at the Voyageur Bus Terminal and St. Laurent, the first agency in Canada to provide transit information in such a manner. A new fare structure was introduced in 1987 to encourage off-peak use of the system, the same year OC Transpo was voted the best large transit system by the American Public Transit Association. In 1998, the new "KFC" livery was introduced on OC Transpo along with the introduction of new low floor buses with the purchase of the Nova LFS. Construction began on the O-Train in 2000, and the line opened in 2001, originally intended as a pilot project, but political deadlock has since kept the line running for nearly ten years. In 2009, 24-hour service was introduced on route 95, becoming the first rapid transit system in Canada to operate such a schedule.
The Transitway
The Transitway opened between Lees and Hurdman, and Lincoln Fields and Baseline in 1983, along with the Billings Bridge transit terminal, and downtown service was changed as the formerly bus-only "bus mall" on Rideau Street between Sussex and Waller was open to all traffic. Lebreton, Tunney's Pasture, and Westboro were inaugurated as stations in 1984 with the opening of the Transitway between Lebreton and the Ottawa River Parkway (present-day Dominion Station). 1987 brought the opening of the Transitway between Hurdman and St. Laurent Stations, including the tunnel below the St. Laurent Shopping Centre, and route 95's headway was increased to four minutes during peak hours and five minutes off-peak. The section between St. Laurent and Blair would be completed in 1989. The 31km Transitway approved in 1978 was finally completed in 1996 with the opening of the southeast Transitway between Hurdman and South Keys.
General Managers
- 1958-1975: George Brady
- 1976-1980: Hector Chaput
- 1981-1991: John Bonsall
- 1992-1998: Ian Stacey
- 1999-late 2005: Gord Diamond
- late 2005-March 2006: Helen Gault (Acting)
- March 2006-late 2006: Alain Carle
- late 2006-March 2007: Helen Gault (Acting)
- March 2007-February 22, 2012: Alain Mercier
- February 22, 2012-present: John Manconi
Statistics
OC's average weekday ridership is 346,800 and covers 413 sq. km of service area. In 2006 OC Transpo recorded 91.8 million riders, an increase of 2.6% from 2005. There are approximately 2,734 people employed by OC Transpo, and 6,360 bus stops located across the City of Ottawa.
Services
System map
A new system map is printed every September, in conjunction with major changes which occur during the month as well.
System maps may be viewed in PNG format here.
Route types
Colours The colour coded route system began in 1983.
- Black: These routes generally operate seven days a week from about 6:00am to midnight, and from about 7:00am to 11:00pm on Sundays & most holidays, with some exceptions. If a route, or a section of a route, doesn't operate during certain time periods, it will be displayed in black with crosshatches on the bus stop flag. Orange routes denote limited service routes, such as evenings or weekends only. Some routes provide early morning service as early as 4:00am on weekdays, and 5:00a.m. on Saturdays. Ottawa's three main transitway routes (95, 96, and 97) also provide early morning service on Sundays.
- Red: These routes used to generally operate Monday to Friday from 6:00am to 9:00am towards (but not necessarily into) the downtown core, and from about 3:00pm to 6pm away from (but not necessarily out of) the downtown core. They still generally operate Monday to Friday from 6:00am to 9:00am and from 3:00pm to 6:00pm, but now OC Transpo has mainly reduced these routes to local trips.
- Green: Much like the red routes, these routes generally operate Monday to Friday from 6:00am to 9:00am towards the downtown core, and from about 3:00pm to 6:00pm away from the downtown core. Most green routes travel to suburban areas, however, some of them also travel to rural areas, and extra fares apply to all green routes depending on where and when you board.
- Blue: These routes generally operated Monday to Friday from about 4:00am to 6:00am in one direction only. Routes 824, 825, and 830 also provided Saturday service from about 5:00am to 7:00am. All of these routes have been discontinued now.
See routes in the navagation box at the bottom of the page for individual routes.
Connections to STO
Connections with STO buses can be made on Rideau and Wellington Streets. STO also provides service to Tunney's Pasture Station during peak periods. OC Transpo passes and transfers may be used anywhere on the STO system, provided they are valid. Expired transfers, tickets, and the OC Transpo cash fare are not accepted, and STO fares must be paid. The same policy applies for STO fare media used on OC Transpo.
Fares
Regular cash fares are $3.30 or two tickets (at $1.30/each) for adults and students, senior regular cash fares are $2.00 or two tickets, express fares are $4.65 or three tickets. Rural express fares were eliminated July 1, 2012. Children between six and 11 can ride for $1.50 or one ticket, and those five or younger ride for free. For ticket and pass prices and a detailed fare chart, click here.
Bus fleet
Active bus roster
| Fleet number(s) | Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Destination sign | A/C | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4201-4202 | 
|
2003 | NFI | D40i | Cummins ISL | Allison B400R5 | Luminator Horizon | Yes |
|
| 4203-4273 | 
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2004 | NFI | D40i | Cummins ISL | Allison B400R5 | Luminator Horizon | Yes | Seating layout different from 4275-4526. |
| 4274-4439 | 
|
2005-06 | NFI | D40i | Cummins ISL | Allison B400R5 | Luminator Horizon | Yes | |
| 4440-4526 | 
|
2006-07 | NFI | D40i | Cummins ISL | Allison B400R5 | Luminator Horizon | Yes | |
| 5001-5002 | 
|
2008 | OBI | 07.501 NG Hybrid | Cummins ISB | BAE Systems HybriDrive hybrid system |
Luminator Titan (front) Luminator Horizon (side and rear) |
Yes |
|
| 5003-5097 | 
|
2009 | OBI | 07.501 NG Hybrid | Cummins ISB | BAE Systems HybriDrive hybrid system |
Luminator Titan (front) Luminator Horizon (side and rear) |
Yes | |
| 5098-5177 | 
|
2010 | OBI | 07.501 NG Hybrid | Cummins ISB | BAE Systems HybriDrive hybrid system |
Luminator Titan (front) Luminator Horizon (side and back) |
Yes | |
| 6351-6398 | 
|
2008 | NFI | D60LF | Cummins ISL | Allison B500R6 | Balios Orange LED | Yes | Different front end seating layout, one wheelchair position on either side, seating increased to 55 from 54 with more forward facing seats |
| 6399-6403 | 
|
2009 | NFI | D60LF | Cummins ISL | Allison B500R6 | Balios Orange LED | Yes | Unlike the 2008 D60LFs, these buses have push bars rather than touch bars to open the centre and rear doors. |
| 6404-6709 | 
|
2010-2011 | NFI | D60LFR | Cummins ISL9 | Allison B500R6 | Luminator Horizon | Yes | Began delivery August 2010 |
| 8001-8075 | 
|
2012 | ADL | Enviro500 | Cummins ISL9 | Allison B500R6 | Luminator Titan | Yes | 75 buses purchased for delivery in late 2012-early 2013, starting arriving Aug 2012 |
Retired bus roster
Future orders/deliveries
| Fleet number(s) | Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Destination sign | A/C | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8076-8115? | 2013-2014 | ADL | Enviro500 | Cummins ISL9 | Allison B500R6 | ? | Yes | 40-bus option apparently exercised from the 8001-8075 order |
Demo buses
Rapid transit
OC Transpo has two rapid transit systems: the Transitway, a bus rapid transit network, and the O-Train, a diesel-powered light rail line.
O-Train (LRT)
Since 2001, Ottawa has operated a light rail transit system called the O-Train as a pilot for the full rollout of light rail transit technology. The pilot has been deemed a success, exceeding its ridership targets significantly; it carries 10,000 passengers per weekday. The pilot route utilizes former Canadian Pacific Railway track running south from the Ottawa River a distance of 8 km to the South Keys shopping plaza, slightly to the west of the downtown core. The system is used extensively by Carleton University students who have long complained about poor bus service relative to University of Ottawa students (who have two bus stations on the central transitway).
Transitway (BRT)
The Transitway is one of the most extensive and successful implementations of bus rapid transit; many of the Transitway roads are above or below the grade of normal streets in Ottawa, by the use of overpasses, bridges, and trench highways. Thus, they rarely intersect directly with the regular traffic, and make it possible for the buses (and emergency vehicles) to continue at full speed even during rush hour. Buses that travel on the Transitway can cross very long distances (especially outside the downtown area) without stopping for a single traffic light. Most sections of the Transitway have a speed limit of 70-90 km/h (45-55 mph) between stations, and 50 km/h (30 mph) in the station areas.
Inportant phone numbers/e-mail
- Access OC Hotline (for accessible services on conventional transit): 613-842-3625
- Admin: 613-842-3636 or 613-741-6440
- Customer Service Centre: 613-842-3600 / ocserve@octranspo.com
- Charters: 613-842-3626
- Lost & Found: 613-563-4011
- Para Transpo: 613-244-1289
- Security and Emergency: 613-741-2478
- Transit Information: 613-741-4390 / ocinfo@ottawa.ca
External links
- OC Transpo Travel Planner
- OC Transpo (Official Site)
- Bus Stop Lookup
- Ticket & Pass Vendor Lookup
- O-Train (octranspo.com)
