STO and OC Transpo Routes

[JCL]

TransPLAN 2010 has been approved by Council with no objection (i.e. no debates and/or discussion).

The only proposal that was omitted was the proposed modification of Route 170, in which the recommendation ws removed at Transit Committee.

[Cre47]

http://www.sto.ca/nouvelles/communique/100527_e.html

Only additionnal trips on routes 25, 29, 37, 40, 59, 67, 82, 85, 90 and 96 but nothing in store to alleviate the worst case of over-crowding: routes 31 and 33 (and occasionnaly route 35). Good news is summer is near so we will have more people on vacations, therefore it shouldn't be too bad for the next few weeks although - but I can't imagine what it would look like in September - would it be the case in terms of reliability? Almost every day this month the 31, 33 and 35 were 10+ minutes late. Actually, the 31 today was 35 minutes late.

Essentially, they need to prohibit regular vehicles on the right lane on Wellington and they should add designated space for tour buses so they can no longer block the right lane during rush hour.

Also, they need to extend the turning/yield lane to eastbound Laurier from northbound Portage Bridge, so that the Aylmer buses and the 33/35/37/39, etc don't get clogged behind the Gatineau expresses or taxis continuing onto Maisonneuve and turn immediately on Laurier without delay.

They also need to fix the Promenade du Portage/Eddy/Tache with a longer green light for Promenade du Portage. Often there is a queue of 10 buses with other vehicules and the green light only last 15 seconds and pedestrians are also crossing the intersection which delays right turns onto Eddy thus eating most of the green light time for the buses that continues. And they should also put a traffic light at Promenade du Portage and Tache so that buses don't get stuck a minute or two because of the continuous flow of vehicules from Laurier or the Chaudiere and the traffic light at Montcalm and Tache which create a back-up thus jamming the buses on Promenade du Portage. Just the problems on the Gatineau side can cost a good 5 to as much as 15 minutes of extra delay on most routes.

And of course get the trucks out of Rideau Street and the taxis blocking some of the space at the Rideau Centre stop. Taxis have plenty of space at Nicholas so there is no reason to block bus space.

[Cre47]

Sounds like the 96 will be extended to Blair during peak periods as well as midday during the week

Others changes this summer includes some extensions of trips on the 22 in Orleans and some route 283 trips will skip Bayshore as well except for stop requests.

And that is it.

[Cre47]

Starting this fall, STO routes 20, 21, 31, 33, 35, 36, 37 and 38 will have their terminus after 9 AM during the week at the Museum, before eventually crossing to Ottawa (at first via the MacDonald-Cartier until at least October and they we will see if they continue to use it again or use the Alexandra Bridge). Not sure if that will mean less 10+ minutes off-schedule buses at 4PM. At least I get a break of that this week.

[JCL]

Councillor Christine Leadman has reported that Route 18 from Bayview to Carlingwood will be reinstated this Fall, according to a media release from the Councillor that Ken Gray obtained - http://communities.canada.com/ottawacitize...-september.aspx

OC did confirm at the May 10 Transit Committee meeting that the reinstatement was being looked into as a result of receiving the petition from the affected community.

[madsad]

Starting this fall, STO routes 20, 21, 31, 33, 35, 36, 37 and 38 will have their terminus after 9 AM during the week at the Museum, before eventually crossing to Ottawa (at first via the MacDonald-Cartier until at least October and they we will see if they continue to use it again or use the Alexandra Bridge). Not sure if that will mean less 10+ minutes off-schedule buses at 4PM. At least I get a break of that this week.

I just moved to Gatineau, and experienced the line up of buses last week coming into Ottawa down King Edward. Simply put, the STO is trying to squeeze too many buses down Wellington. There are too many routes, too many buses, with dwell times that are too long.

I hope they are reconsidering the way they move people in and out of Ottawa for the new route system in Sept 2011. Perhaps artics running on only one or two routes every 3-4 minutes during peaks would work better? The articulated routes could then use the Rapibus roadway when they arrive in Gatineau.

It is simply not possible to give every suburban transit user a one-seat ride from home to work and back. The operating costs are too high, and we see the effects in the paralysis that hits the Wellington bus lanes daily. Transferring will likely become the new reality.

[Waiting for 30 Minutes]

I just moved to Gatineau, and experienced the line up of buses last week coming into Ottawa down King Edward. Simply put, the STO is trying to squeeze too many buses down Wellington. There are too many routes, too many buses, with dwell times that are too long.

I hope they are reconsidering the way they move people in and out of Ottawa for the new route system in Sept 2011. Perhaps artics running on only one or two routes every 3-4 minutes during peaks would work better? The articulated routes could then use the Rapibus roadway when they arrive in Gatineau.

It is simply not possible to give every suburban transit user a one-seat ride from home to work and back. The operating costs are too high, and we see the effects in the paralysis that hits the Wellington bus lanes daily. Transferring will likely become the new reality.

Does that mean you're also suggesting OC Transpo cut all their red and green routes to end at the nearest Transitway station rather than go through downtown, while making everyone transfer onto one of the 90s routes to get downtown?

[tomsbuspage]

Does that mean you're also suggesting OC Transpo cut all their red and green routes to end at the nearest Transitway station rather than go through downtown, while making everyone transfer onto one of the 90s routes to get downtown?

Well, that could reduce the number of buses flowing through downtown during rush hour. It's also what my city councillor is trying to promote, using a hub-and-spoke model similar to the TTC where the vast majority of bus routes connect to the subway out in the burbs. The LRT will operate that way so eventually express routes will become few and far between in any case.

[MCIBUS]

Well, that could reduce the number of buses flowing through downtown during rush hour. It's also what my city councillor is trying to promote, using a hub-and-spoke model similar to the TTC where the vast majority of bus routes connect to the subway out in the burbs. The LRT will operate that way so eventually express routes will become few and far between in any case.

like it or not "if" the LRT ever gets built thats the way its going to be take local bus(peak & urban express) will be canceled(local routes will increase to take up load) to the nearest Transitway Station(Orleands local routes) will probally be extended to Blair(since thats where the LRT will end) and you'l have to transfer to the LRT. The worst will be those working in Hull two transfers.

and this wil make it faster to gt to work?

[jlarocque2005]

Does that mean you're also suggesting OC Transpo cut all their red and green routes to end at the nearest Transitway station rather than go through downtown, while making everyone transfer onto one of the 90s routes to get downtown?

I agree the Sto/Oc should rethink how buses are brought into and out of downtown ottawa I think a big interprovincial terminal should be built in lebreton flats and connect the rapid busway to it

[Cre47]

Upcoming changes on top of those already mentionned with Transplan 2010

24-hour service on the 97 on weekdays (but from Lebreton to the Airport only)

Route 18 extended to Carlingwood on weekdays thus replacing the 159

Route 162 will be replaced by an extension of route 60

Early morning route 95 trips will travel on Industrial and Trainyards, I guess due to the new garage there.

Additionnal trips in the morning on the 105 and the 61

More trips on the 22 extended south of Millenium

Earlier (Monday to Saturday) and later trips on the 94 with some early morning trips serving Industrial and Trainyards. The early Saturday trips ends at Blair

Minor change on the 101 serving Hewlett-Packard in Kanata

Route 99 will start serving the Leitrim P&R

Minor changes on the 190 in the CSIS area near Blair

The 800s are canned replaced with earlier trips on routes 5, 7, 18, 94, 95, 120, 124, 126, 129, 130, 170, 172 and 181

[jlarocque2005]

Upcoming changes on top of those already mentionned with Transplan 2010

24-hour service on the 97 on weekdays (but from Lebreton to the Airport only)

Route 18 extended to Carlingwood on weekdays thus replacing the 159

Route 162 will be replaced by an extension of route 60

Early morning route 95 trips will travel on Industrial and Trainyards, I guess due to the new garage there.

Additionnal trips in the morning on the 105 and the 61

More trips on the 22 extended south of Millenium

Earlier (Monday to Saturday) and later trips on the 94 with some early morning trips serving Industrial and Trainyards. The early Saturday trips ends at Blair

Minor change on the 101 serving Hewlett-Packard in Kanata

Route 99 will start serving the Leitrim P&R

Minor changes on the 190 in the CSIS area near Blair

The 800s are canned replaced with earlier trips on routes 5, 7, 18, 94, 95, 120, 124, 126, 129, 130, 170, 172 and 181

891 will be the only early morning route to remain as it serves Pinecrest,Merivale and St Laurent Garages

Also for those returning to Carlton and U of O .

Students at Carleton University and the University of Ottawa will have the freedom of getting around without worrying about exact fare, buying bus tickets or their next monthly pass.

For the next eight months, students will enjoy the convenience of the NEW Universal transit pass - the "U-Pass". The U-Pass is a pilot project that will run from September 1 until April 30, 2011.

Discounted Annual, Semester and monthly passes are still available for full-time college and high school students.

[C.Flat]

891 will be the only early morning route to remain as it serves Pinecrest,Merivale and St Laurent Garages

Also for those returning to Carlton and U of O .

Students at Carleton University and the University of Ottawa will have the freedom of getting around without worrying about exact fare, buying bus tickets or their next monthly pass.

For the next eight months, students will enjoy the convenience of the NEW Universal transit pass - the "U-Pass". The U-Pass is a pilot project that will run from September 1 until April 30, 2011.

Discounted Annual, Semester and monthly passes are still available for full-time college and high school students.

Finally researched it, and according to the Carleton website the U-Pass will be as accepted full fare on any bus route (Express and Rural Express), even Para Transpo, but there is an additional fee for Para Transpo to rural areas

[jlarocque2005]

Starting August 30, on weekdays after 9 a.m. : Change in terminus for many bus routes heading in the Ottawa direction

To reflect current bus system operations, the terminus for routes 20, 21, 31, 33, 35, 36, 37 and 38 will now be the Canadian Museum of Civilization. It will still be possible to get to Ottawa by staying on the bus, or by transferring to another bus at the museum.

The routes and schedules for these buses will be updated in all the information tools this fall.

[tomsbuspage]

Starting August 30, on weekdays after 9 a.m. : Change in terminus for many bus routes heading in the Ottawa direction

To reflect current bus system operations, the terminus for routes 20, 21, 31, 33, 35, 36, 37 and 38 will now be the Canadian Museum of Civilization. It will still be possible to get to Ottawa by staying on the bus, or by transferring to another bus at the museum.

The routes and schedules for these buses will be updated in all the information tools this fall.

Good to know. BTW, these are the STO routes. I had a heck of a time trying to find this info on the OC website!

[jlarocque2005]

Good to know. BTW, these are the STO routes. I had a heck of a time trying to find this info on the OC website!

opps my bad i copied and pasted the info on my Iphone :|

[M.Wright]

Starting August 30, on weekdays after 9 a.m. : Change in terminus for many bus routes heading in the Ottawa direction

To reflect current bus system operations, the terminus for routes 20, 21, 31, 33, 35, 36, 37 and 38 will now be the Canadian Museum of Civilization. It will still be possible to get to Ottawa by staying on the bus, or by transferring to another bus at the museum.

The routes and schedules for these buses will be updated in all the information tools this fall.

Good to know. BTW, these are the STO routes. I had a heck of a time trying to find this info on the OC website!

At first I was thinking the same thing "Wow, this is a sudden change for OC Transpo, from Lebreton to the Canadian Museum of Civilization? Why the change?"

Then I read "still possible to get to Ottawa" and realized it was the STO.

Btw it's about time STO end of those routes in downtown Gatineau, maybe finally it will make their downtown a bit useful, since it appears now they will be setting up a terminal like thing at the museum.

[tomsbuspage]

The new fall timetables are now available on octranspo.com. Just go to the timetables section and enter a date after Sept. 5 to see the schedules and maps. I checked route 18 and the map shows the weekday extension to Carlingwood via Scott, Churchill, Richmond and Woodroffe.

[Cre47]

Starting August 30, on weekdays after 9 a.m. : Change in terminus for many bus routes heading in the Ottawa direction

To reflect current bus system operations, the terminus for routes 20, 21, 31, 33, 35, 36, 37 and 38 will now be the Canadian Museum of Civilization . It will still be possible to get to Ottawa by staying on the bus, or by transferring to another bus at the museum.

The routes and schedules for these buses will be updated in all the information tools this fall.

The 2010-11 schedule is available and the time passages at Rideau and Cumberland of virtually all the trips are unchanged, so there are no actual changes they don't stop at the Museum for the route change if the case (maybe 2-3 mins at most), so expect the unpredictable time passages to continue this fall for the 30-series routes... and the overcrowding as well.

[Cre47]

Looks like route 145 will no longer run on weekends due to low ridership and probably also because of the proximity of route 99. This was one of the many routes that was consistently being at risk of big cuts on weekends and evenings however that was prior to the creation of the 99, so this time it is probably less devastating, although maybe adding more 99s on weekend would be a good thing especially once the bridge to Barrhaven will be built, then there will be need to increase the frequency.

Route 116 will also replace some trips of route 891, while route 147 will run only every 30 minutes during rush hour.

Other changes involves route 117 (two more evening trips from Carleton), route 130 (early morning trips starting at Place d'Orleans), route 187 (trip added) and route 199 (trip times modified)

Also on Boxing Day, it will be Saturday service even though it will be on Sunday, so Routes 101 and 178 (which don't run on Sundays) for example will run on that day. Route 96 will run every 10 minutes also.

[Cre47]

On the STO side, route 62 will be eliminated

[Cre47]

Sounds like route 118 is being heavily criticized in forums lately, because apparently runs didn't showed up or are clumped together or are overcrowded, or being extremely late, etc, etc.

Someone in this city needs to realize that there is a need for a designated bus lane all along Baseline and in fact it should be from Terry Fox to Heron Station via Terry Fox, Hazeldean, Robertson, Richmond, Baseline, Heron and Data Center. Okay, Heron from Riverside to Data Center has a bus lane, but most if not all of Baseline does not and most of its intersections has heavy traffic during rush hours.

If they are not planning to built a bus-only lane on Baseline, they should split the route in two segments, with the middle point being Baseline, therefore having a Terry Fox (later Scotiabank Place) to Baseline route and a Baseline to Place d'Orleans/Trim route. Besides most of the people from the east going to Kanata would go via the 96 (or 101 in some periods) Even someone from Billings Bridge will probably transfer to a 96 and still be faster then the 118..

[306 Carlton]

Sounds like route 118 is being heavily criticized in forums lately, because apparently runs didn't showed up or are clumped together or are overcrowded, or being extremely late, etc, etc.

Similar things going on with the 114 as of late, primarily the Hurdman-Elmvale portion. This route could benefit from artics if they keep service levels the same.

[MCIBUS]

Sounds like route 118 is being heavily criticized in forums lately, because apparently runs didn't showed up or are clumped together or are overcrowded, or being extremely late, etc, etc.

Someone in this city needs to realize that there is a need for a designated bus lane all along Baseline and in fact it should be from Terry Fox to Heron Station via Terry Fox, Hazeldean, Robertson, Richmond, Baseline, Heron and Data Center. Okay, Heron from Riverside to Data Center has a bus lane, but most if not all of Baseline does not and most of its intersections has heavy traffic during rush hours.

If they are not planning to built a bus-only lane on Baseline, they should split the route in two segments, with the middle point being Baseline, therefore having a Terry Fox (later Scotiabank Place) to Baseline route and a Baseline to Place d'Orleans/Trim route. Besides most of the people from the east going to Kanata would go via the 96 (or 101 in some periods) Even someone from Billings Bridge will probably transfer to a 96 and still be faster then the 118..

The issue is simple. From Prince of Whales all the way to Woodroffe simplely widen the Road from 2 lanes to 3. And yes there is room. Cut back from the meduim and sides and you've got plenty of room.

If you dedicate busd lanes from Bronson all the way to Greenbank, you'll speed up the bus traffic.

Also if council is to keep its "promise" of only a 2.5 tax increase, there's no way thecity can keep its present level of services, be iyt transit, or other city facilities. Cost are going up

Engry

fuel

and other things.

.

With OC's contract to expire in March 2011 and the way things are presently with the OC issue with mopral and other things, I have feeling we'lll be heading into another strike, the reason being the majority of city council is right winged hence wanting to save tax payers monety expect to see bus cuts in service

2011 is the last year of 95% of city employees ciontracts be it what ever departmen you have.

In all honest I don't see things getting any better for transit in the city even with this Transit commision.

As for the issue of a possible strike(my opion) its to bad the OC works didn't go for bidding Abrtration? Most the abritator goes for the union, but thats up to the workers of OC if they want to go that opiotion.

[JCL]

The TransPLAN report recommendation is being presented to the Transit Commission meeting next Thursday: http://www.ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/cityc...e%20Changes.htm . These service changes are the result of the new Southwest Transitway that will be in operation for the Spring Service change.

A few things in the report that caught my attention:

- 10 afternoon trips on Route 95 will start at Place du Portage in Gatineau and will continue straight to Barrhaven Centre.

- Barrhaven Expresses (routes 70, 71, 73, 76, 77) will no longer make request stops between Fallowfield and Tunney's Pasture