One billion and counting for the Transitway

Ottawa – This morning at 8:15, Norman Smith stepped off the route 3 bus at Hurdman Station to find out he was the one billionth passenger to ride the Transitway. The designation means Mr. Smith will receive free transit service for one year. Mayor Bob Chiarelli presented the prize, amid a party atmosphere of balloons and strolling minstrels. Mr. Smith also received a plaque commemorating the event, as did Martin Daly, the driver of the bus. 

A regular transit rider and Federal government employee, Norman Smith uses the bus regularly to travel from his home in Overbrook to get to work downtown. The Transitway is an important part of Mr. Smith's daily trip. “I think it’s a great system for getting back and forth, especially to the downtown area. Anybody who can, is well advised to use the Transitway, says Mr. Smith. 

“The Transitway is an efficient, economical way to transport large numbers of people across the city. It is the envy of cities all over the world,” said Mayor Chiarelli. “City representatives from every part of the globe have traveled to Ottawa to see why the Transitway is such a successful public transportation system.”  

Ottawa's Transitway is a dedicated system of bus only roadways that provides a rapid transit link across much of the urban area, 22 hours a day. OC Transpo carries 85 million people every year, more than 70 million of whom ride on at least some portion of the Transitway.

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