Route and fare changes coming for OC Transpo
Posted Dec 23, 2016 11:18:31 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA — Just before the New Year, some changes are coming to OC Transpo and their riders.
The changes to routes and fares will mean some travellers will be paying more, while some will see a fare drop.
All riders can now get one set monthly pass, which will cost $113.75, which means express riders will see a $17 drop in cost, but regular riders will pay an extra $8.
Pat Scrimgeour, OC Transpo’s Director of Customer Systems and Planning said those changes are because there really isn’t much of a difference between express routes and regular routes anymore.
Single ride cash fares will also drop to $3.40 from $3.65 but Presto users will pay an extra 35-cents a ride.
OC Transpo is trying to stop penalizing people from using cash, Scrimgeour said.
“Which really has discouraged people from using transit spontaneously, from using transit when they have to for one day and they look at the price and say, ‘$3.65, that’s a lot of money’, ” said Scrimgeour.
Routes will also be changing on Christmas Day, as the city gets ready for the opening of the O-Train Confederation Line in 2018.
The new Rapid Transit Innovation Station opens Sunday and express routes will be converted to 200-series Connexion routes.
A new Route 5 will operate between Billings Bridge and the Rideau Centre, whereas a new route 19 travels between St. Laurent and Bank St.
