Your ride made better: OC Transpo launches transit improvements and fall service changes on August 30

OC Transpo’s fall service change takes effect on Sunday, August 30 and includes significant transit improvements and other planned service adjustments for the fall. 

Fall transit improvement details, new schedules and maps are available on octranspo.com. Before you travel, use the Travel Planner or Transit app to plan your trip.  

Major improvements are planned for transit service as part of OC Transpo’s Customer-First Action Plan and in support of the City’s Transportation and Mobility Action Plan. Improvements aim to enhance the customer experience with new transit options for commuters, as well as stronger service and reliability across the network.

• O-Train Line 1 weekday frequency will increase to every four minutes at peak periods (previously five), every six minutes mid-day (previously 10), and every seven minutes in the early evening (previously 10).
• O-Train Line 2 service from the south will begin earlier, with first trains from Limebank Station at 6 am (previously 6:13 am) and from Carleton at 6:05 am (previously 6:15 am). 

• Seven new Express Routes (526, 539, 561, 562, 563, 565, 566) to save customers time with more direct bus service at peak periods, connecting Park & Ride lots in Orléans and Kanata, O-Train Line 1 stations, and key employment areas.
• New trips on Routes 74, 75, 561, 562, and 563 will extend to and from Gatineau, providing a direct connection for customers in Kanata and Barrhaven without the need to transfer.
• Increased service on several other key routes across the city, with additional buses available on standby to support service where required.
• More accurate, reliable schedules on 22 bus routes. Combined with schedule changes earlier this year, schedule reliability has been improved for 30 routes serving 50 per cent of OC Transpo’s bus customers.

• Increased trip availability for Para Transpo customers, with new six- and seven-metre Para Transpo minibuses added to the fleet to improve customer experience.
• A new late-night service pilot starting September 4 will extend Para Transpo service hours to 2 am on Friday and Saturday nights, supporting more spontaneity for customers. 

• Customers can find details of all planned fall transit improvements at octranspo.com/YourRide.
• Additional OC Transpo staff will be present across the network starting August 31 to support customers and safety.

In addition to changes included under the Your ride made better transit improvement campaign, some seasonal changes are planned this fall.

• Some routing adjustments are planned on bus Routes 11, 48, 99 and 173.

• Service will be added on Routes 7, 25, 75, and 88 to prepare for higher ridership at post-secondary institutions with the new academic year.
• The last day for weekend service to summer destinations is September 7 (Labour Day) on Route 8 trips to Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, Route 125 to Canada Aviation and Space Museum, and Route 139 to Petrie Island.

• School service on 600-series routes and school trips on regular routes will resume, with changes to some school service based on observed ridership and the result of some schools transferring student transportation to yellow school buses.

Road reconstruction and other infrastructure projects may cause delays, detours, and longer travel times on some routes this fall. Customers can find the latest information on detours and stop impacts on the OC Transpo’s alerts page.  

 For more information on fall transit service visit octranspo.com or call 613-560-5000. For trip planning assistance, use OC Transpo’s Travel Planner or use the Transit app. Customers can also connect with OC Transpo on Facebook, Bluesky, X and Instagram.