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We’re introducing a Severe Storm Schedule this winter

This winter, we are piloting a special Severe Storm Schedule for buses on weekdays. It will be in effect when 31 cm or more of snow is expected.

On weekdays, bus service will be based on a Saturday schedule. Adjustments to bus types that are in operation will be made.

O-Train Line 1 and Para Transpo service will not be reduced.

Customers will be notified a day in advance. The best and most reliable way to be in the know is to sign up for My Alerts.

As we introduce a Severe Storm Schedule pilot this winter, OC Transpo will gather data to measure its success. This will help to determine if the schedule should become permanent every winter.

Winter service changes

Winter service starts Sunday, December 25, 2022

Holiday service (December 26, 2022 to January 6, 2023) will operate on a reduced schedule to reflect lower ridership during the holidays.
Route 62 will be modified to bring service closer to businesses on weekends.
Select trips on School Route 671 servicing John McCrae Secondary School will be extended to Apolune Street.
The Rack & Roll winter pilot is happening again this winter! This time, all OC Transpo buses will be equipped with a bike rack.

NEW this winter:

A Severe Storm Schedule will be piloted for buses on weekdays. It will be in effect when 31 cm or more of snow is expected. On weekdays, bus service will be based on a Saturday schedule, with limited early morning service and weekday-only routes. O-Train Line 1 and Para Transpo service will not be reduced.

Drive with us! We’re hiring!

OC Transpo is hiring Bus Operators. Do you want to become part of an exciting and supportive work environment that directly impacts your community? If so, this could be the opportunity for you!

You would receive:

Excellent benefits for you and your family
Career growth opportunities
A comprehensive pension plan

Thanks for supporting the Christmas Food Drive!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 38th Annual OC Transpo / Loblaw Christmas Food Drive! Your generous donations are helping to put food on the tables of our neighbours who need it most.

This year’s event collected 61,775 pounds of food and $15,397 in donations for the Ottawa Food Bank. These donations will help keep the shelves stocked for the upcoming holiday season. Your help goes a long way! For every dollar donated, the Ottawa Food Bank can deliver about $5 worth of food to the community.

The Annual OC Transpo / Loblaw Christmas Food Drive is the largest annual single-day food drive in Ottawa. Since 1984 it has raised more than three million pounds of food and thousands of dollars in cash donations. Thank you for your generosity!

Our fare readers are getting an upgrade!

You might have noticed some changes to the look of fare readers on OC Transpo buses. We’re continuing to install new, red smartcard fare readers across our bus fleet. This is in preparation to offer you the ability to pay for fares with credit cards and mobile wallet in the future.

Want to test this feature out sooner? Smartcard fare readers are also being installed at all O-Train Line 1 stations. Look for the specially marked fare gates which have already been activated to accept credit card and mobile phone taps. The rest of the fare gates will be activated when installation across the system is complete.

Accessibility news

Travel training takes the spotlight

OC Transpo’s Travel Training program has been teaching people with disabilities and seniors to use transit safely and independently since 2003.

We’re excited to share the Travel Training program in a new video produced for OC Transpo by BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions. Follow along with Daniel, a past participant in travel training, as he travels around Ottawa from home to work and a night out with friends.

The video is part of the online series The Way We Move, presented by the International Association of Public Transport (UITP).

Services newsAccessibility news

Rack & Roll winter pilot returns

Good news for all-season cyclists — the Rack & Roll winter pilot is happening again this winter!

Even better news — all OC Transpo buses will be equipped with a bike rack so riders can continue to Rack & Roll.

Not sure how to use the bike rack? Find our Rack & Roll practice bike rack at new locations from December to March!

During the month of December, the practice bike rack is located at Billings Bridge Station. Find it inside the station on the main level in the stairwell area leading to the Transitway platforms.

Services newsAccessibility news

Customer Service live text now available for Para Transpo customers!

Para Transpo customers can now text 57272 (or 5PARA) to connect with OC Transpo Customer Service representatives from 6 am to 12:30 am every day. With 57272, our Customer Service Representatives are just a text away!

Text us to:

Find out the estimated arrival time of your Para Transpo vehicle
Make a direct cancellation for an upcoming trip
Ask general questions about Para Transpo service

Bookings, fit-in requests or other changes to trips cannot be done through text at this time. Instead, use My Para Transpo or call us at 613-560-5000.

Meet some of OC Transpo’s longest serving employees

On November 18, the City of Ottawa held its first in-person long service awards ceremony since 2019.

More than 400 employees were recognized for their 25 to 50 years of dedicated service.

We caught up with some of OC Transpo’s longest serving employees.

Tracking Progress: Stage 2 East Extension East meets O-Train Line 1

Construction at Blair Station to connect O-Train Line 1 to Stage 2 East Extension, early October 2022.

Over the weekend, O-Train Line 1 was officially introduced to its east extension. Stage 2 crews successfully connected the rail of O-Train Line 1 with the O-Train East Extension near Blair Station.

East end customers in Beacon Hill, Blackburn Hamlet, and Orléans are one step closer to seeing trains being tested in their community.

A change in how to sign into your Presto account

October 29:

A verified email address is now required to sign into your Presto account.

If you previously signed in with a username, you will need to add an email address.
If you previously signed in with an unverified email address, it will need to be verified.

Visit Presto website for steps on how to add or verify your email address. If you are having difficulty, please call the Presto Contact Centre at 1-8677-378-6123.

OC Transpo sees ridership climb to 63% of pre-pandemic levels

In September, OC Transpo saw ridership increase by 63% over pre-pandemic levels after providing 5.7 million customer-trips by train, bus, and Para Transpo.

We’re excited to welcome back previous customers and new ones riding our buses and trains for the first time.

Bus service reliability continues to improve thanks to a full complement of vehicles and the hiring of new vehicle operators.

For more information on ridership, visit our performance measures page.

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