OC Transpo

OC Transpo

Coordinates: 45°24′44.5″N 75°37′55.5″W / 45.412361°N 75.632083°W / 45.412361; -75.632083

OC Transpo
logo
image
Headquarters 1500 St. Laurent Boulevard
Locale Ottawa, Ontario
Service area National Capital Region
Service type bus service, paratransit, bus rapid transit, light rail
Routes 248 (includes school routes)
Fleet 1 048 buses, 91 wheel trans buses, 9 light rail cars [1]
Daily ridership 535,600[2]
Fuel type Biodiesel, Diesel, Hybrid Technology, Ultra-low Sulfur Diesel
Operator City of Ottawa[3]
Web site www.octranspo1.com

OC Transpo is the urban transit service of the City of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. An integrated hub-and-spoke system of services is available consisting of: (1) regular buses travelling on fixed routes in mixed traffic, typical of most urban transit systems; (2) a bus rapid transit (BRT) system — a high frequency bus service operating on the transitway — a network of mostly grade-separated dedicated bus lanes within their own right-of-way and having full stations with Park & Ride facilities further supported by on-road reserved bus lanes and priority traffic signal controls; (3) a light rail transit (LRT) system known as the O-Train operating on one north-south route; and (4) a door-to-door bus service for the disabled known as ParaTranspo.

OC Transpo routes also provides service to the downtown core of the nearby city of Gatineau, Quebec, especially during rush hour.

Contents

Features

OC Transpo currently has a fleet of 1,048 buses (as of August 2010) that run on regular streets, of which roughly 945 are fully accessible[4]. The vast majority of regular routes are served by low-floor buses. OC Transpo utilizes many articulated buses to provide service. Some of the routes that run on the Transitway, including the city's most-used bus routes, are served almost exclusively by articulated buses (e.g. 95, 96, and 97). It is the most expensive public transportion in Canada.

In 2001, a pilot diesel-powered light rail service project, known as the O-Train, was introduced. The local government had announced expansion plans for the light rail to other parts of Ottawa, including a possible link to the Ottawa International Airport. Service to Gatineau would have also been possible, over the nearby Prince of Wales railway bridge over the Ottawa River. However, on December 14, 2006, City Council led by Mayor Larry O'Brien had cancelled the north-south extension project. A new model of the project, to have a city-wide integrated light rail system, has been made and the revised project should be completed by 2007, with work beginning as early as 2008. This new project upgrades one single section of the bus-based Transitway, but only does that after adding 65 km of new busways. The final LRT system duplicates many of the existing busways, not replace them. It also includes the 2006 NS-LRT as a component.

For a number of years, OC Transpo has carried bicycle racks on some routes as a part of the "Rack&Roll" campaign. These racks carry up to two bicycles at the front of the bus, and fold up against the bus when not in use. Although it started only on three routes, this service has been expanded to include routes 1, 2, 4, 7, 12, 14, 85, 95, 96, 97, 99 101, 102, 105, 118, the O-Train, all articulated (long) buses[5] and several new Invero low-floor buses (in addition, bike racks do randomly end up on other routes from time to time). Traditionally, the racks have been available only between April and October, and there has been much debate over continuing the program throughout the year. However, cyclists may use the racks at any time, on any bus that is equipped with a rack (including routes that don't normally offer them), provided there is room for the cyclist in the bus.

There are four bus depots located throughout the city. The largest and headquarters is located at 1500 St. Laurent Boulevard, with two other smaller but frequently used depots being located at 168 Colonnade Road (Merivale Garage) and the other on Queensview Drive (Pinecrest Garage). A depot which opened its doors late 2010 is located on Industrial Ave. The Queensview and Colonnade garages are usually for employees working during the rush hour and generally not used during weekends. For the latter two stations, it consists mostly of older buses although some articulated buses (in the 60xx's) can be found at Colonnade and other low-floor buses at both Colonnade (Inveros in the 42xx's) and Queensview (Orion VI).

History

Pre history

Ottawa's first public transportation system began in 1886 with the operation of a horsecar system.[6] The horse-drawn streetcars travelled back and fourth from New Edinburgh to the Chaudière Bridge.[6] The horsecar would remain a staple means of public transportation until 1891 after Thomas Ahearn founded the Ottawa Electric Railway Company. This private enterprise eventually provided heated streetcar service covering the downtown core.[6] Electricity had been employed in a few places in Ottawa since the first demonstration of the incandescent bulb in 1883 (the earliest were Parliament Hill and LeBreton Flats).[7] In May 1885, electric lighting commenced in the city. In 1885 council contracted Ottawa Electric Light Company to install 165 arc lamps on the city's streets.[7]

1973: Formation

Transit in Ottawa was provided by the Ottawa Transportation Commission until 1973, when transit service in the city and its suburbs was transferred to the auspices of the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton. Its formal name was the Ottawa-Carleton Regional Transit Commission, but the service would be promoted in both English and French under the OC Transpo name, whose OC initials are derived from Ottawa-Carleton.

1979: Strike

The 20-day 1979 strike was fought over a wage difference of a nickel and became known as "the five-cent bus strike." A pay increase of 16.5% was rejected by the union.[8]

1980s: Transitway

In the early 1980s, OC Transpo began planning for a bus rapid transit system, the Transitway. Construction of its various stations and segments followed over many years. The first segments were from Baseline to Lincoln Fields in the west end and from Lees to Hurdman in the east end.

1996: Strike

The second strike for OC Transpo ran from November 25, 1996 to December 16. The strike ended under arbitration.[8]

1999 shooting

On Tuesday April 6, 1999, former OC Transpo employee Pierre Lebrun shot six people, killing four, in a shooting spree at OC Transpo's St. Laurent Boulevard garage, before killing himself.[9][10] Lebrun had been fired in August 1997 but was later reinstated, and quit again in 1998.[10][11]

An inquest into the shooting revealed that Lebrun had been the subject of teasing for his speech impediment, and that his complaints to management had not been investigated.[12] The inquest revealed an "atmosphere of bullying", described as a "poisoned" environment by an employment equity manager.[10][12] In response, OC Transpo instigated zero-tolerance policies regarding workplace harassment, a new employee-management communications program, and increased training on workplace respect.[13] However, studies in 2003 and 2004 found there to be lingering elements of a negative work environment,[13] and employee-management communication was reported to be strained following the 1996 strike.[10]

History from 2001 to October, 2008

Transition to new city government

The province of Ontario ordered the amalgamation of the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton and its component municipalities into a single City of Ottawa municipality. When the new local governance took effect in 2001, OC Transpo became a department of the new city.

Following amalgamation, a bilingual replacement backronym for "OC" was sought, but no suitable candidates have been found. The now-ambiguous acronym has been kept, instead of the costly task of replacing the decals on all buses, bus stops, bus stations, and promotional material.[citation needed]

December 12, 2005: Southwest Transitway extension

A new section of the southwest Transitway opened on December 12, 2005, between the Nepean Sportsplex and Fallowfield Station. The new section runs parallel to Woodroffe Avenue and was built at a cost of $10 million. The new section has no stations and has replaced service along Woodroffe Avenue between the Nepean Sportsplex and Fallowfield Station. There are further plans to extend the Transitway south into the heart of the ever-growing community of Barrhaven where a new station called Strandherd opened on January 2, 2007. There are also long range plans for other extensions in the Orleans and Kanata areas to keep up with more growing communities there too.

December 14, 2006: Light Rail Expansion cancellation

During the 2006 municipal election campaign, Larry O'Brien (who would be elected as mayor) was sceptical of the project's benefits, and promised to cancel the project if elected, assuming the City's legal position did not preclude this[citation needed]. After multiple votes deciding the fate of the city's north-south light rail expansion project, post-election City Council decided to annul the project by a margin of 13-11 on December 14, 2006.

December 2008-February 2009: ATU 279 strike

OC Transpo drivers, dispatchers, and maintenance workers under Amalgamated Transit Union local 279 went on strike December 10, 2008 at 12:01am.[14] The main causes of the strike were disagreements between the City of Ottawa and the union regarding scheduling, payroll and seniority. Rona Ambrose, the Federal Minister of Labour ordered a union membership vote on January 8, 2009 on the city's contract proposal[15] in response to a request from mayor Larry O'Brien.[16] Both the city and the union published their positions on respective websites.[17][18] Vote results released on January 9, 2009 revealed that of those eligible to vote, 64% rejected the offer.[19]

Meetings were held with a mediator throughout the month, but talks were repeatedly broken off. The ATU had requested to send all issues not related to scheduling to arbitration, which the city refused as they requested all issues to be sent to an arbitrator. As the strike entered the 50th day, Ambrose, who had initially refused to table back-to-work legislation, announced that such legislation would be introduced. However, on January 29, the city and the ATU reached a deal that sent every issue to binding arbitration, thus ending the 51-day long strike.[20] On February 2, 2009 the O-Train started service after being out of service due to the strike. Buses followed the following Monday February 9, 2009. Not all buses returned at once and OC Transpo said that all buses and routes were due to return by April 6, 2009. OC Transpo offered free transit for a week. December pass holders could either use their December passes until March, or could get a refund. December pass holders were also subject to a 60% discount on March passes in order to win back transit users.

OC Transpo routes

OC Transpo has approximately 250 bus routes that are grouped both by their number and the colour with which they are represented on system maps and on bus stop signs.

Active fleet

Inside an OC Tranpo bus

Only models with at least some buses currently in service are listed, and the number in fleet is based on the number originally ordered. All GMDD models of 1982 or before (also known by many as fishbowls or New Looks) were retired by the beginning of April.

In 2006 and 2007, OC Transpo evaluated a double-decker bus on the Transitway and express routes. This bus, an Enviro500 built by British firm Alexander Dennis, can carry nearly 100 passengers. The initial service demonstration ran from June 28 to July 12, 2006, with a further demonstration under winter conditions in February 2007. The City of Ottawa purchased three Enviro500 buses and they were delivered in November 2008. OC Transpo decals were added to the buses in December, but the strike delayed the introduction of these buses. The buses started service in February.

The OC Transpo fleet numbering scheme changed in 1999. Prior to 1999, the two last digits of the year of purchase were the first two digits of the fleet number. The scheme was changed because OC Transpo ordered 140 Orion 06.501, and also because buses purchased in 2000 would have been in the 0000 series, which was not favoured by the computer system. The new numbering scheme starts with 4 for 40-foot buses, 6 for 60-foot buses, 1 for the Enviro500 double-decker buses, and 5 for the Orion VII NG HEV, followed by a three-digit consecutive fleet number.

In August 2010, OC Transpo took advantage of an offer by New Flyer Industries, replacing 226 of its older 60-foot D60LF articulated buses (purchased between 2001 and 2004), and replacing then with brand new D60LFR models. The bus exchange was completed in March 2011. OC Transpo also received other incentives as part of the deal, including rebates on the trading-in of the old buses and a credit on new parts. Eighty new D60LFR articulated buses were also purchased from New Flyer, bringing the combined total to 306 buses.[21][22] All of the 2001-2004 D60LFs are now retired.

Some of the older New Flyer D60LF sixty-foot articulated buses have caught on fire during the summer of 2006 and the Summer/Fall of 2010, due to overheating engines, effectively putting them out of service.

OC Transpo has created a business plan for their bus fleet. The plan includes a purchase of 75 more double-decker buses to replace the older 40-foot models currently in service (namely the buses purchased between 1997 and 1999). These extra double-decker buses would be used mainly on express routes. Such a purchase would lower the cost per person for OC Transpo, as double-decker buses carry more passengers than any other bus model in the fleet. Double-deckers also use about the same amount of fuel as an articulated 60-foot bus, but take up less space than 60-foot models (they take up the same area as a regular 40-foot bus), meaning they are able to free up space (especially downtown), while providing increased passenger capacity and lower operating costs. As a result of the proposed purchase, the 60-foot articulated buses would be moved from express routes to Transitway and other mainline routes, replacing the 40-foot models currently used on some trips by those routes. Those 40-foot models would replace the older 40-foot models currently used on local routes, which would be retired from service.[23] This plan was approved by the Transit Commission on April 20, 2011. The extra 75 Alexander Dennis E500 double-decker buses are expected to be in service by 2012.

On July 12, 2011 OC Transpo announced that all remaining high floor buses were retired.[24]

Handicapped/disabled access denotes wheelchair accessibility

Retired fleet

  • This is a list of retired GM, Ford, Orion Bus Industries and Nova bus fleets.[27]

Fares

OC Transpo fares can be paid in coins or bus tickets, which are must be purchased in advance at various retail outlets or bus stations for a lower fare ($1.30 each). Transfers are given to passengers upon boarding and are valid for minimum 90 minutes in any direction, with stopovers allowed.

OC Transpo has 3 levels of fares for its buses:

  • Regular fare ($3.25, or 2 tickets)
  • Express fare ($4.25, or 3 tickets)
  • Rural fare ($5.25, or 4 tickets)

Additionally, children 6 to 11 can ride for $1.60, or 1 ticket, and children age 5 and younger ride free. Full-day passes are $7.50 and can only be purchased on the bus.

Tickets for the O-Train light rail line are $2.75 each, and are sold at O-train stations.

Monthly and annual passes are also available for all three route classes (regular, express, and rural) with cost differences for adults, students, and seniors. Passes require OC Transpo photo ID card, which available at extra cost. Additionally, Ecopasses (reduced-rate monthly passes) are available through participating employers in the city, providing applicable OC Transpo riders with single-card indefinite passes in exchange for a flat bi-weekly, semi-monthly or monthly payroll deduction.

As of the December 1, 2005 fare increase, OC Transpo had the highest basic cash bus fares of any major transit service in Canada.[citation needed] This fare was matched by STO, the transit operator across the Ottawa River in Gatineau, Québec on January 1, 2006. OC Transpo & York Region Transit as of January 1, 2009 have the highest cash fares in Canada, at $3.25.

On July 2008, fares were increased by 7.5% because of a shortage in funding for the City of Ottawa. This fare hike is supposed to be in effect until 2010 including a 6.5% hike in 2009. This meant Ottawa residents saw regular adult passes rise from $73 a month to $81 and adult express passes from $90 to $101 a month. However, cash fares remained the same.[29]

History of Fares

This section only lists the Regular Adult fares.

  • 1951 - 10 cents
  • 1954 - 15 cents
  • 1961 - 20 cents
  • 1968 - 25 cents
  • 1970 - 30 cents
  • 1976 - 40 cents
  • 1977 - 50 cents
  • 1978 - 55 cents
  • 1980 - 60 cents
  • 1981 - 65 cents
  • 1984 - 90 cents
  • 1986 -
    • $1.50 (peak)
    • 70 cents (off-peak)[30]
  • 2009 - $3
  • 2010 - $3.25

Para Transpo

Para Transpo is an accessible paratransit service available to Ottawa patrons who find it extremely difficult or impossible to use the conventional OC Transpo routes. Service is provided directly to the residences of eligible users who book trip appointments with a call centre at least one day in advance. Para Transpo drivers will provide some assistance to passengers to board designated vehicle and to access building entrances.[31]

Para Transpo operations were contracted to First Bus Canada, previously operated by Laidlaw. On January 1, 2008, the City of Ottawa assumed complete control of this service.[31]

The transit strike of 2008 did not interrupt Para Transpo service. However, Para Transpo service has encountered delays, facing the traffic increase due to the strike.

Advertising

Advertising on OC Transpo buses is contracted to Pattison Outdoor Advertising. Advertising on bus shelters is contracted to Clear Channel Outdoor. There has also been local funding to advertise on local TV stations such as CTV and A Channel.

Amalgamated Transit Union - Local 279

The Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 279 is the OC Transpo employees' union consisting of over 1700 members consisting of bus operators as well as other staffing positions within the company, including mechanics located at various garage depots throughout the city.

Gallery of bus models

See also

References

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ "APTA transit ridership report, First Quarter, 2010" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. 2010-06-01. http://www.apta.com/resources/statistics/Documents/Ridership/2010_q1_ridership_APTA.pdf. Retrieved 2010-07-06. 
  3. ^ City of Ottawa, Main Administrative Structure
  4. ^ "Active fleet facts". OC Transpo. http://octranspo.com/admin/Facts_Figures/Facts_active.htm. 
  5. ^ OC Transpo Rack & Roll Page
  6. ^ a b c Wetering 1997, pp. 28.
  7. ^ a b Woods, pp. 162.
  8. ^ a b "Ottawa transit talks break off, strike looms". National Post. 2008-12-09. http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.html?id=1052073. Retrieved 2009-01-21. 
  9. ^ "Gunman opens fire in Ottawa, killing five". CBC News. 1999-04-06. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/1999/04/06/shooting990406.html. Retrieved 2010-10-15. 
  10. ^ a b c d "Workplace mistrust persists, 10 years after OC Transpo shooting: driver". CBC News. 2009-04-06. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2009/04/06/ot-090406-transit-shooting.html. Retrieved 2010-10-15. 
  11. ^ "Memorials planned for Ottawa transit shooting victims". CBC News. 1999-04-08. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/1999/04/08/shooting990408.html. Retrieved 2010-10-15. 
  12. ^ a b "OC Transpo inquest wraps up". CBC News. 2000-11-11. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2000/02/22/octranspo000222.html. Retrieved 2010-10-15. 
  13. ^ a b "Dying for a job - Health-care workers beware". Indepth: Workplace Safety (CBC News). 2006-04-24. http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/workplace-safety/sick-workplace.html. Retrieved 2010-10-15. 
  14. ^ "Push to call transit 'essential' fails; Ottawa bus strike continues". CBC News. 2008-12-10. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2008/12/09/transit-strike.html. Retrieved 2008-12-21. 
  15. ^ "Don't 'bow down,' striking transit workers told". Ottawa Citizen. 2009-01-05. http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/story.html?id=13bfabce-c3c9-481e-ae03-ece4ce2bd245. Retrieved 2009-01-05. 
  16. ^ "Ambrose orders Ottawa transit union to vote on strike resolution". National Post. 2009-01-01. http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=1132084. Retrieved 2009-01-04. [dead link]
  17. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions: City’s Final Offer of Settlement to ATU". OC Transpo. http://www.octranspo.com/mapscheds/Contingency/FAQ_ATU_Offer.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-30. [dead link]
  18. ^ "Ottawa Transit Strike - Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 279". Amalgamated Transit Union Local 279. http://www.ottawatransitstrike.com/. Retrieved 2008-01-29. 
  19. ^ "Ottawa transit strike still on as union members reject contract offer". CBC News. 2009-01-09. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2009/01/07/ot-090107-transit-vote.html. Retrieved 2009-01-30. 
  20. ^ "City, union reach deal to end Ottawa transit strike". CBC News. 2009-01-29. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2009/01/29/ot-090129-strike-ends.html. Retrieved 2009-01-30. 
  21. ^ a b Ottawa Citizen story on new articulated bus purchase
  22. ^ New Flyer story on new articulated bus purchase
  23. ^ http://www.octranspo1.com/about-octranspo/transit_planning
  24. ^ http://www.octranspo1.com/about-octranspo/news/39295#news-39295
  25. ^ a b Titcomb, Bert. _"Transport 2000 Canada Hot Line : 2 - Ottawa bus confusion"_. 23 September 2005. Transport 2000 Canada. Accessed May 15, 2008.
  26. ^ Zinck, Peter. _"Invero Steering Problems Resolved"_ Memorandum, Bulletin No: 305/05, 19 October 2005, City of Ottawa - Operations and Safety, Accessed 15 May 2008.
  27. ^ OC TRANSPO (1AU72-present) Fleet
  28. ^ http://ottawabuspage.fotopic.net/p31199049.html[dead link]
  29. ^ Council OKs average 7.5% bus fare hike
  30. ^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=b64yAAAAIBAJ&sjid=c-4FAAAAIBAJ&pg=5056,5218234&dq=carlingwood&hl=en
  31. ^ a b Accessible Transit

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