Changes to school service
This fall, some of the school service that was previously provided by OC Transpo will transition to yellow school buses.
OC Transpo has worked closely with its school transportation partners, Ottawa Student Transportation Authority (OSTA) and the Consortium de transport scolaire d’Ottawa (CTSO), to identify opportunities to transition students to yellow school bus service.
Changes for the 2026-2027 school year will affect the following 8 schools:
Service to be provided by OSTA
- Bell High School
- Cedarview Middle School
- John McCrae Secondary School
- AY Jackson Secondary School
- Holy Trinity High School
Service to be provided by CTSO
- École secondaire publique Gisèle-Lalonde
- École secondaire publique Pierre-de-Blois
- Collège catholique Franco-Ouest
Why are these changes happening?
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, OC Transpo added additional school trips to support the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority (OSTA) and the Consortium de transport scolaire d’Ottawa (CTSO) while they faced significant pressure on resources. As these resource and capacity pressures ease, more students can be accommodated by yellow school buses—a service designed for direct and consistent student transportation.
Transitioning some school service back to OSTA and CTSO also helps to support OC Transpo’s Customer-First Action Plan by making about 20 additional buses available for peak-period transit service.
Will students lose their transportation to school?
Service is not being reduced. Students affected by the changes will receive school transportation on yellow school buses instead of OC Transpo school service. OC Transpo has worked closely with partners at OSTA and CTSO to ensure all students have transportation to school.
How many students are impacted by these changes?
Approximately 3,560 students who had school service provided by OC Transpo will be transitioned to yellow school bus service in the fall.
How do I learn if my school transportation is changing?
Students whose school transportation will be provided by yellow school bus service in the fall will be notified in advance by OSTA or CTSO. If you have questions, please reach out to the school transportation provider for your school board.
Details on OC Transpo’s school service for the fall will be published to our website later this summer.