Ottawa-Carleton Regional Transit Commission
Languages | English |
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Ottawa-Carleton Regional Transit Commission | |
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http://i.imgur.com/6e3a3.jpg | |
Info | |
Managed by | City of Ottawa |
Transit type |
Bus Para-transit Train |
Number of lines | 248 |
Daily ridership | 535,600 (Daily) |
Headquarters |
1500 St. Laurent Bvld Ottawa, Ontario |
Website | www.octranspo.com |
Operation | |
Began operation | August 1st, 1972 |
Number of vehicles | Approx. 1050 |
OC Transpo, formally known as Ottawa-Carleton Regional Transit Commission is the urban transit service for the Ottawa region of Ontario. Some routes enter the city of Gatineau, Quebec during peak hours.
OC Transpo provides a regular (accessible and non-accessible) bus service, a para-transit service (Para Transpo), and a light-rail train service (O-Train).
History
On August 1st, 1972, OC Transpo took over the Ottawa Transportation Commission (OTC) in order to expand it's services throughout neighboring cities. In early 1973, the commission revealed their new livery, giving them a distinctive red and white livery to the their ever growing fleet of buses. They also added 11 km of dedicated bus lanes. The commission continued to grow and provide improvements and in 1974 lauched a para-transit service, offering a door to door service for people suffering from various disabilities, and this such service was named Para Transpo in 1981.
In 1976, 2 new systems were introduced, the first people the start of exact fare aboard buses (tested in 1974, during the evening routes only, expanded to regular routes in 1976), and the launch of the monthly pass, giving a user who purchases it, to have unlimited access to the bus through the valid month. In order to gain ridership and popularity, OC Transpo started offering Sunday service on some of it's routes and launched an automated telephone schedule system on 560 east-end bus stops, which later was expanded to all stops in 1981.
The launch of the Proof of Payment in 1982 was introduced in 1982, the same year as the purchase of 21 GM New Look articulated buses. and a new fare structure, to encourage use of the system all day was launched in 1987. In 1998, a face-lift to the livery of the buses was done. Dubbed as the KFC livery, for the resemblance to the KFC colors, came the same year as the purchase of the first low-floor series, providing wheelchair accessible service throughout the network.
In 2000, a pilot project was launched, The O-Train (officially started service in 2001) is a light-rail train service connecting key parts of Ottawa. Though a pilot project, the line has been kept running because of disagreements and political deadlock with the city council. 2009 marked the year, OC Transpo launched 24 hours service on Route 95 Orléans & Trim, a first in Canada.
Other projects and service improvements launched by the commission include;
- Schedules and route maps were installed at bus stops to inform riders (1983).
- Introduction of a color coding system for bus routes (1983).
- Major changes made to downtown service, coinciding with the opening of 2 large malls (1983).
- 15 buses converted into propane powered buses, a study introduced by the Federal Government (1984).
- Voted for best Large transit system in North America by APTA (1987).
- Annual student pass is introduced. (1998).
- First articulated New-Flyer buses are purchased (2001).
- Bio-Diesel is introduced (2007).
- Testing of Hybrid diesel-electric Orion VII buses (2008).
- Trial of Double-decker buses (2009).
- Presto soft launch released in may of 2012
History of 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)
- 75 cents (off-peak)
- 2009 - $3
- 2010 - $3.25
- 2012 - $3.30
On February 22 2012, OC Transpo General Manager Alain Mercier was terminated from his position immediately and to be replaced by City of Ottawa Councillor John Manconi.
Transitway
The transitway is a bus-only dedicated lane. Conception of the plans for this transitway were started in 1978. The first portion of the transitway opened between Lees and Hurdman, and Lincoln Fields and Baseline in 1983, along with the opening of the Billings Bridge Terminal. Downtown service was changed because the bus-only lane near the Rideau Mall was opened up to traffic.In 1984, 3 new stations were integrated into the transitway; LeBreton, Tunney's Pasture and Westboro, with the opening of the new portion of the transitway between LeBreton and the Ottawa River Parkway (renamed Dominion Station). The transitway between Hurdman and St. Laurent stations, including the tunnel below the St-Laurent Shopping center was introduced in 1987 and the frequency of Route 95 Orléans & Trim was increased to 4 minutes at rush hours and 5 minutes off rush hour. Between St. Laurent and Blair, was completed in 1989. The whole transitway, approved in the plan of 1978 was completed in 1996.
http://www.octranspo1.com/images/files/maps/large/rtn_map.gif Current Transitway Map (September 2011)
Routes
OC Transpo has an extensive way of organizing it's route numbers according to the destination and type.
Route number range | Type | Details |
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1 to 19 | Regular |
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20 to 79 | Rush Hour/Express |
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80 to 89 | Regular |
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93 to 98 | Rapid Transit |
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99 to 199 | Regular |
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200 to 299 | Rural Express |
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400 to 406 | Scotiabank Place Shuttle |
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500 to 599 | Contracted |
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600 to 699 | School |
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900 to 999 | Driver Shuttle |
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Color Codes
In 1983, OC Transpo decided to color code their routes in order to make them are easier to identify. The colors chosen were Black, Red and Green
Color Code | Details |
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Black |
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Red |
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Green |
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Fleet
Current Fleet
Thumbnail | Fleet number range | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Remarks | |
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4201 to 4202 | 2003 | NFI | D40i | Cummins ISL | Allison B400R | |||
File:4238.JPG | 4203 to 4273 | 2004 | NFI | D40i | Cummins ISL | Allison B400R | ||
File:4327.JPG | 4274 to 4439 | 2005 2006 |
NFI | D40i | Cummins ISL | Allison B400R | ||
File:4466.JPG | 4440 to 4526 | 2006 2007 |
NFI | D40i | Cummins ISL | Allison B400R | ||
File:5002.JPG | 5001 to 5002 | 2008 | OBI | Orion VII NG Hybrid | Cummins ISB | BAE Systems HybriDrive Hybrid System | ||
File:5042.JPG | 5003 to 5097 | 2009 | OBI | Orion VII NG Hybrid | Cummins ISB | BAE Systems HybriDrive Hybrid System |
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File:5122.JPG | 5098 to 5177 | 2008 | OBI | Orion VII NG Hybrid | Cummins ISB | BAE Systems HybriDrive Hybrid System |
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File:6380.JPG | 6351 to 6398 | 2008 | NFI | D60LF | Cummins ISL | Allison B500R6 |
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File:6403.JPG | 6399 to 6403 | 2009 | NFI | D60LF | Cummins ISL | Allison B500R6 | ||
File:6631.JPG | 6404 to 6709 | 2010 2011 |
NFI | D60LFR | Cummins ISL9 | Allison B500R6 |
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File:8043.JPG | 8001 to 8075 | 2012 | Alexander Dennis | Enviro500 | Cummins ISL9 | Allison B500R6 |
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Retired Fleet
Thumbnail | Fleet number range | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Remarks |
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4001 to 4140 | 1999 | BIA | Orion VI | Detroit Diesel | Allison B400R | ||
1201 to 1203 | 2008 | ADL | Enviro 500 | Cummins ISM | Allison B500R |
Demo Roster
Thumbnail | Fleet number range | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Remarks |
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1771 | 1984 | Orion Bus Indsutries/Ikaurs | 03.501 | N/A | N/A | ||
1780 | 1986 | Orion Bus Indsutries | 02.502 | N/A | N/A | First 25ft bus Demo in Ottawa | |
1781 | 1986 | Vanhool | AG280 | N/A | N/A | ||
1783 | 1986 | Orion Bus Indsutries | 02.506 | N/A | N/A | ||
1783 | 1986 | Orion Bus Indsutries | 01.508 | N/A | N/A | ||
1784 | 1986 | Renault | N/A Articulated Model | N/A | N/A | ||
1786 | 1986 | 1786 | D40HF | N/A | N/A | ||
1787 | 1989 | Ikarus | 436 | N/A | N/A | ||
1789 | 1989 | Orion Bus Indsutries | 05.501 ( V ) | N/A | N/A | ||
92011 | 1995 | New Flyer Indsutries | D40LF | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA 253HP |
Voith D863, 3 Speed Automatic | Borrowed from Kitchener Transit | |
1710 | 1996 | Orion Bus Industries | 6.501 | Cummins L10G, 253 hp | : Allison B400R,5 Speed Automatic | Borrowed from London Transit | |
1711 | 1996 | Orion Bus Industries | 6.501 | Detroit Diesel Series 50, 275HP | Allison B400R,5 Speed Automatic | ||
No Number | 2005 | Orion Bus Industries | 07.501 | Cummins ISB 270HP | BAE HybridDrive System with ZF Transmission | on Loan from MTA New York 6454, this bus never ran in service for OC Transpo | |
4997 | 2006/2007 | ADL | Enviro500 | Cummins ISM, 330HP | Voith D864.3, 4 Speed Automatic | First Double Deckers to be tested in Ottawa, these buses would slate the way for a purchase of 75 in 2011/2012 | |
No Number | 2006 | New Flyer Industries | DE60LF | Catepillar C9, 330HP | Allison EP50 |
Garages
Garage | Address | Details |
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Industrial Garage |
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Merivale Garage |
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St. Laurent North Garage |
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St. Laurent Garage |
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Pinecrest Garage |
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