OC Transpo 2018 Route Network –

Transformation to Coordinate with

the O-Train Confederation Line

Multimodal Operations

Technical Briefing June 7, 2016

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Benefits of the O-Train Confederation Line

• Increased capacity through downtown, providing room

for growth;

• Reliable and easy commuting via the tunnel through

downtown;

• Operational savings that will grow as ridership

increases;

• A better downtown environment by replacing many bus

trips with a train in a tunnel; and,

• Lower emissions by replacing many bus and car trips

with zero-emission electric trains.

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2018 Route Network Overview

• The O-Train Confederation Line will replace bus routes

along the Transitway between Blair and Tunney’s

Pasture;

• Bus routes will connect to the O-Train Confederation

Line at one of 13 stations along the line;

• Some stations will be major transfer stations with

integrated bus and train operations:

– Blair Station in the east;

– Tunney’s Pasture Station in the west; and,

– St-Laurent and Hurdman in the central parts of the

system.

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Making Connections

• Bus routes will operate along the same streets within

Ottawa’s communities although customers’ travel

experiences will change when the O-Train

Confederation Line opens;

• Making connections will be an integral part of the 2018

route network;

• Many customers will have to make a new connection

from bus to train or bus to bus; and

• O-Train Confederation Line stations have been

designed to make these connections easy and comfortable.

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Before Transformation

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After Transformation

2018 Bus lines connect to O-Train

Confederation Line Stations

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O-Train 2018 Bus Connections

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Bus and Train Connections

Buses from these

areas...

...Connect with the O-Train Confederation Line at

these stations

Barrhaven Tunney's Pasture and Hurdman

Kanata/Stittsville Tunney's Pasture

Orléans Blair

Ottawa Centre Tunney's Pasture, Pimisi, Lyon, Parliament and Rideau

Ottawa East/Est Blair and St-Laurent

Ottawa South/Sud Hurdman

Ottawa West/Ouest Tunney's Pasture

Riverside South/Sud Tunney's Pasture and Hurdman

Vanier Rideau, Hurdman and St-Laurent

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An Improved Travel Experience

• The transition to a multimodal transit system in 2018

will affect most current transit routes and customers;

• Many customers will have a different journey compared

to today, as they may:

– Have to make a new connection from bus to train or

from bus to bus;

– Use a fare gate; and,

– Use a bus route with a different number than today;

• Transit fares and customer information will be simplified

and easier to understand; and,

• Stations will make any waiting time more comfortable.

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Steps for a Typical Trip

to Work in 2018

• Inbound

– Catch bus at neighbourhood bus stop;

– Pay fare or tap pass on bus;

– Travel to nearest O-Train station;

– Exit bus inside the fare-paid area;

– Walk to train platform and board train – no fare transaction;

– Trains run very frequently;

– Exit train at destination; and

– Ascend escalator, exit fare gates, walk out to street and to work.

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Steps for a Typical Trip in the

Homebound Direction in 2018

• Homebound

– Walk to nearest O-Train station;

– Pay fare or tap pass to enter the station;

– Walk to train platform and board train;

– Trains run very frequently;

– Exit train at transfer station;

– Walk to bus platform – no fare transaction;

– Check video display for bus status and departure time; and

– Travel to neighbourhood bus stop.

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An Easier Way to Ride

• Many changes in 2018 will make the transit system

easier to understand and use;

• Steady communication with customers will be made in

many forms throughout the different stages of the

transformation; and,

• Customers will be well informed through the “18 Minus

18” program of the new system in advance of the

opening in order to ensure a smooth and successful

transition to multimodal operation.

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• Stations will be comfortable, attractive, and secure, with

Transecure waiting areas designated on both train and

bus platforms;

• Next-bus and next-train arrival information will give

customers real-time information on both the train and

bus platforms;

• Stations have been designed based on universal

accessibility principles;

• Public art has been incorporated into all stations; and,

• Sheltered bicycle parking and connections to multi-use

pathways.

Easy and Comfortable

Connections at Stations

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An Easier Way to Purchase Fares

• All O-Train stations on the Trillium Line and

Confederation Line will have automated fare control:

– Fare vending machines allow customers to buy fares

and to purchase and reload Presto cards;

– Fare vending machines will provide a direct

audio/visual link to customer service representatives

for assistance; and,

– Fare gates accept smartcards and transfers with

barcodes.

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O-Train Confederation Line Stations

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Quick and Easy Transfers

at Major Transfer Stations

• Tunney’s Pasture, Hurdman and Blair Stations will

serve as major connection points for many customers;

• Integrated bus loops at these stations will allow quick

and easy connections;

• Arrival bus stops located adjacent to station entrance to

minimize walking distances;

• Departure bus stops will be organized by destination

geography using alpha identifiers; and,

• Real-time next bus departure information will be

available on video screens near each bus stop.

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Fare-paid Zones:

Fast and Seamless

• Tunney’s Pasture, Hurdman and Blair Stations will have

fare-paid zones to simplify connections;

• Customers arriving at the station will be dropped off

within the fare-paid zone at the station;

• No fare transaction will be required within the fare- paid

zone; and,

• In the afternoon, buses will load within the fare-paid

zone with all doors open to ensure fast boarding at the

station.

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Fare-paid Zone

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O-Train Confederation Line Platforms

• Access to and from the train platform will be via

stairwells and elevators at all stations and escalators at

9 of the 13 stations;

• Twelve of the 13 stations will have backup elevators in

order to minimize the incidence of elevator service

disruptions; and,

• Train platforms will be wide and well-lit.

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O-Train Confederation Line Platform

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Comfortable and Frequent Trains

• Alstom Citadis Spirit trains will provide a very smooth

and quiet ride;

• Service will operate very frequently, reliably and

quickly;

• Each train will have a capacity for 600 customers;

• Two-car trains have 14 doorways on each side;

• Customers will board trains through all doors; and,

• No fare transactions on train platform or onboard the

train.

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2018 Bus Route Network

Design Principles • The 2018 bus network will be revised to coordinate with

the O-Train Confederation Line;

• Bus routes will be revised in most cases according to

the following design principles:

– One-bus connection to the Confederation Line

during peak hours;

– Travel times that are similar or better compared to

today;

– Service frequencies that are similar or better

compared to today; and,

– Bus routes to be compatible with the 2023 transit

system.

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Rapid Routes

• Rapid routes will provide high speed, station to station

bus service;

• Provide all-day 7 days/week connections to

O-Train Confederation Line;

• Use Transitway infrastructure as well as

dedicated bus lanes; and,

• Consist of sections of current Transitway routes in the

80 and 90 number series.

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O-Train and Rapid

15 routes / lines providing station-to-station service

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Frequent Route Network

• Frequent Route Network will provide reliable, high

frequency bus service;

• Every 15 minutes or less between 6:00 a.m. and 7:00

p.m. on weekdays;

• Every 30 minutes or better at all other times;

• Operates 7 days/week;

• Many existing bus routes that operate on major arterial

roads will form the Frequent Route Network

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O-Train, Rapid and Frequent Two train lines and 34 bus routes

providing convenient service 7 days/week

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Connexion Routes

• Connexion routes will connect home locations to the

O-Train Confederation Line during weekday peak

periods; and,

• Replace current express routes, other direct-to-

downtown routes, and some current feeder routes:

– Operate on same streets as today;

– No premium fares; and,

– Will be recognizable by new numbers in 200-series.

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O-Train and Connexion 32 bus routes connecting home locations to the O-Train

Confederation Line at Hurdman, Blair, and Tunney’s Pasture

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O-Train Connections 97 bus routes connecting directly to the

O-Train Confederation Line

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Downtown Connections

• All downtown routes will connect with the O-Train

Confederation Line;

• Albert and Slater Streets will no longer be major transit

corridors;

• Routes 1, 5, 7, 14 and 16 will be shortened or split into

two separate routes to make convenient connections at

downtown O-Train stations and to improve reliability;

and,

• Bus service will continue to operate along the same

streets as today.

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Improved Reliability

• Bus operation downtown is currently susceptible to

variability caused by traffic signals, weather, auto traffic

congestion, and other day-to-day occurrences;

• The Rapid, Connexion, and Local routes that will bring

customers to O-Train stations will have improved

reliability compared with their current equivalents

because the section of the route through downtown will

be replaced by trains on the Confederation Line; and,

• Most of the Local and Frequent routes that operate on

downtown streets will also be more reliable than they

are now.

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Rideau Street

• Bus volumes along Rideau Street will be reduced as

part of changes to the 2018 network;

• Customer activity in the area of the Rideau Centre will

shift towards Rideau Street, where the Confederation

Line station entrances are located; and,

• Rideau Station will be the main O-Train connection

station for bus routes from Elgin Street, Sandy Hill,

Lowertown and Vanier areas.

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Queen Street

• Customer activity will shift towards Queen Street where

O-Train Confederation Line station entrances will be

located;

• Planned improvements will accommodate the changes

in bus volumes and customer activity along Queen

Street;

• Bus routes from Bank Street will connect to the O-Train

at Parliament Station; and,

• Bus routes from Bronson Avenue will connect to the O-

Train at Lyon Station.

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2018 Downtown Network

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Overnight Service

• The O-Train Confederation Line will shut down each night to

allow for track and vehicle maintenance:

– Monday to Thursday night, 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. the

next morning;

– Friday night, 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. Saturday morning;

– Saturday night, 2:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. Sunday morning;

– Sunday night, 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. Monday morning;

and,

• During these times the train service will be replaced by

select Rapid bus routes extended into downtown from the

east, west and south parts of the city.

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A Look Ahead to 2023

• The O-Train Confederation Line impacts every transit

customer in the City and is the foundation upon which

future light rail extensions and lines will be built;

• In 2023, all the benefits of the Confederation Line will

be multiplied as the line is extended west to Bayshore,

and Baseline and east to Orléans; and,

• The principles of the 2018 bus network will similarly be

applied in 2023 when the Confederation Line and

Trillium Line are extended.

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Transition Strategy

• Adjustments to the bus route network to coordinate with

O-Train Confederation Line service will be completed in

phases;

• Some routes have been in the process of being

adjusted since 2011;

• Some routes will be adjusted between now and 2018 in

consultation with Councillors and following normal

procedures; and,

• Direct bus service to downtown will be phased out with

the opening of the O-Train Confederation Line in 2018.

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The “18 Minus 18” Program

• A comprehensive communication, information, and

education campaign will begin in early 2017;

• Will build understanding, knowledge and excitement

about O-Train Confederation Line operations;

• Will help transition customers to the new service and

will build on the comprehensive Customer Journey

Mapping project; and,

• A report will be brought to the Transit Commission later

this year.

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Informing Our Customers

• OC Transpo will provide customers with the information

they need so that their transition to the 2018 bus route

network is seamless; and,

• Customer outreach will be conducted through the “18

Minus 18” program and for all service changes so that

customers are fully aware of when and how their trips

will change.

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Questions?