Route Reset: OC Transpo’s Big Overhaul Hits the Streets Sunday

If you take the bus to work, be sure to check OC Transpo’s virtual trip planner and give yourself extra time on Monday—especially if you’re heading to a polling station to vote. As of Sunday, April 27, Ottawa’s long-planned New Ways to Bus overhaul is officially rolling out.

The updated service delivery model comes in response to a shift in how Ottawans use public transit. With more people working from home or commuting less frequently, the days of high-volume, long-haul rides into the city core are waning. In turn, the new strategy aims to better align with current rider habits and transit needs.

Informed by community consultations, rider feedback, and internal reviews, New Ways to Bus brings significant changes: over 100 routes are being improved, replaced, or newly added. Riders should be aware that their usual stop may have changed, potentially involving a longer—or shorter—walk. The focus of the new system is connecting people more efficiently to the O-Train, meaning transfers may become a new part of your commute.

The strategy received formal approval from City Council and is supported by many community members. Still, concerns about reliability persist. Several councillors, including River Ward’s Riley Brockington, have flagged issues like buses not arriving on time—or not arriving at all—as ongoing problems. In March 2025, OC Transpo reported on-time performance rates of 82 percent for frequent routes and 75 percent for less frequent ones.

Brockington tabled a motion at the April 10 Transit Committee meeting, which was unanimously passed, calling for OC Transpo to deliver a timeline for achieving improved on-time service. The system overhaul is, in part, a response to these concerns, aiming to reduce missed or delayed trips and increase service dependability. Only time will tell if the changes achieve their goal.

Not everyone is convinced. Sam Hersh of Horizon Ottawa criticized the changes on social media, calling New Ways to Bus an “austerity plan,” and arguing, “…this is one of, if not the largest, cuts to our transit system in decades.”

Only 27 routes will remain unchanged: 6, 14, 19, 21, 23, 38, 42, 44, 45, 47, 49, 51, 57, 67, 84, 87, 90, 98, 125, 139, 158, 221, 222, 228, 262, and 277.

Riders will also notice new signage starting Sunday. The existing blue circle symbol for Rapid Routes will be retired. In its place, OC Transpo is introducing a fresh visual system:

• Frequent Routes: Marked with a blue hexagon, these operate every 15 minutes or less from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and run seven days a week along major roads.

• Connexion Routes: Identified by a mauve-pink horizontal oval, these serve weekday morning and afternoon rush-hour commuters, connecting neighbourhoods to the O-Train.

• Local Routes: Denoted by a grey box or outlined grey box, these offer custom routing to key local destinations.

To help riders adjust, OC Transpo has been hosting city-wide public information and outreach sessions. Click here for a list of remaining dates and locations.

With so many changes hitting at once, even seasoned riders are encouraged to plan ahead—because come Monday morning, it’s business as “new” usual.