Bus 'tweaks' possible in wake of LRT delay

OC Transpo will look at "tweaking" about a dozen bus routes that were altered in anticipation of a 2018LRT launch, some of which now stop blocks short of major downtown destinations, transit boss John Manconi said Wednesday morning.

More than two dozen bus routes were changed in recent weeks to integrate with the light rail system, whichwas supposed to be up and running before the end of the year. Most of the changes were designed to deliver passengers to LRTtransfer points rather than final destinations.

But last week, Manconi announcedRideau Transit Group (RTG) the consortium building the light rail system would not meet its completion deadline of Nov. 2.

It appears there'sstill no firm completion date for the $2.1-billion project.

Given thatuncertainty, councillors and the public have asked for bus routes to be improved or even restored.

But it might not be that simple: Manconisaidroute changes on this scale take many months to plan because of interconnections and driver schedules.

"You'd have to untangle a whole maze of routes," he said Wednesday.

Nevertheless,Manconi said transit staff might be able to make a few simple changes in relatively short order.

For example, Routes 11 and 12 might be extended by a stop or two to end in more convenient locations for riders.

"Our No. 1 goal is to take care of our customers, we know they're going through a lot of pain, we thank them for their patience," Manconi said. "We know it's a tough sell to say LRT is coming. I continue to be optimistic about the system we're going to have when it's up and running, but I want to acknowledge that they're going through a lot and I thank them."

Councillorsgauge mood

Four urban citycouncillorsboarded OCTranspobuses Wednesday morning to hear directly from riders affected by the recent route changes.

Couns.TobiNussbaum(Rideau-Rockcliffe) and MathieuFleury(Rideau-Vanier) boarded a downtown-bound Route 12bus in the east end, while Couns.CatherineMcKenney(Somerset) andJeffLeiper(Kitchissippi) rode in on a Route 11 from the west.

Until that train is up and running,let's get people to where they're trying to go.- Coun. Jeff Leiper

"Tobi, Catherine, Jeff and I regularly receive complaints about the 11 and 12 specifically. We're hearing it loud and clear,"Fleurysaid.

Fleurybelieves there's a case to be made forreturning the westbound 12 to its original final destination of Bank and Slater streets. This would beespecially helpful for passengers withmobility issues who will be forced to travel several blocks throughto make certain connections.

There's a similar problem with the eastbound 11, Leiper said.

"We're going to be dumping people [at Confederation Square], having to make them walk to the Rideau Centre through the slush and the freezing rain and the snow.... That's not acceptable," Leiper said. "Until that train is up and running,let's get people to where they're trying to go."

"We were able to talk to few people on the bus who definitelyhave been affected by the changes and aren'thappy," McKenney said. "This is an extra walk to get to the Rideau Centre. It's still nice but people know the bad weather is coming and they're worried about it."

Bus riders annoyed by truncated routes

6 years ago

Duration 0:31

Route 12 rider Sam Boswell, who started the Ottawa Transit Riders' Group on Twitter, says OC Transpo should reverse its decision to shorten some bus routes, which now stop short of major destinations in the downtown core.

Sam Boswell, who recently formedOttawa Transit Riders' Group on Twitter, rode the Route 12 downtown Wednesday morning.

"Where it stops doesn't make any sense. It doesn't connect to anything. A lot of the 11 and 12 riders use wheelchairs and walkers. The whole thing is just a mess," Boswell said.

"Right now we have a city that views OCTranspoas a business. There's amentalitychange that needs to happen. OCTransponeeds to be viewed as a service, something thatpeoplecan rely on."