(PHOTO: “New Flyer”. Photo by Justin S. Campbell, via Flickr. Used under a Creative Commons License.)
OC Transpo fares will go up in 2017, along with some route changes and a major overhaul to the express bus system.
NEW FARE TABLE
- The adult monthly pass will cost $113.75, from $105.75.
- The per-semester U-pass will increase to $202.46 from $197.52
- The base cash fare will decrease from $3.65 to $3.40.
- Paper tickets will now be on par with the cash price, with two tickets equal to $3.40.
- Presto e-purse increases from $3 to $3.35.
- A full 2017 fare table is on OC Transpo’s website.
If you still use paper passes, those will be discontinued so you’ll have to get a Presto card for $6 soon.
OUT WITH THE OLD…
A new winter schedule begins Christmas day Dec. 25, but won’t be felt until Jan. 7 when OC Transpo ends its reduced holiday service. Express buses will be replaced by “connexion” routes, which won’t charge a premium fare. The connexion buses, whose route numbers are all in the 200s, are meant to ferry passengers between the suburbs and downtown LRT stations. Buses in the 260 range will serve Kanata and Stittsville.
SOME STATIONS NOT SERVED BY CONNEXION
If you take an express route home to Stittsville, you may need to use different stations on the way home. Most will skip Westboro, Dominion, Lincoln Fields and Pinecrest in the afternoon. You’ll have to travel to Bayshore to catch them instead.
A full list of every route being changed in 2017 is on octranspo.com.
NAME CHANGES TOO
Express buses are not the only service getting re-categorized. The “rapid” category includes Transitway routes under number 100 such as 96 or 98 and is meant to provide “quick, station-to-station bus service.” It’s indicated by a blue circle.
The “frequent” category is also under number 100 and provides “service every 15 minutes or less along main routes with connections to light-rail.” It’s indicated by an orange flag.
Local buses don’t change much, but get a new flag design.
NEW PARK & RIDE IN KANATA NORTH
A new park and ride lot will open Christmas day in Kanata North at Innovation Station. The lot includes 250 free parking spaces, with plans to add another 480 in the future. Also included is a multi-use pathway connecting to nearby communities, a bike repair station and a public art installation by Lynda Cronin called “Tempus.”
For more on changes to your route, check octranspo.com
(This post originally appeared on our sister site OttawaStart.com.)