Over 300,000 customer trips on O-Train Lines 2 and 4 in first four weeks

Transit Committee advised of a 7 per cent increase in OC Transpo ridership in 2024 and 300,000 customer-trips on O-Train Lines 2 & 4 in the first four weeks of service Members of the newly renamed Transit Committee met today to receive an overview of the first four weeks of O-Train Lines 2 and 4 service, updates on 2024 ridership, and ongoing efforts to expand OC Transpo’s electric bus fleet including facility upgrades. O-Train Lines 2 and 4 launched with weekday service on Monday, January 6, and expanded to six-day service on January 25. In the first four weeks of service, more than 300,000 customer trips were taken on Lines 2 and 4. Park and Ride usage has been high with significant capacity remaining for customers across all three lots at Greenboro, Leitrim, and Bowesville stations. Before launching seven-day service, work will continue to focus on customer information systems, closing out remaining minor works, and training activities to grow Diesel Rail Operator availability. The Transit Committee learned that year-over-year, ridership increased by seven per cent in 2024 with 67.9 million customer trips. Improvements have been made to the reliability of Line 1 rail service, reaching 98.8 per cent service delivery in 2024. In 2024, the 12-month average bus service delivery was 98 per cent. Para Transpo ridership was more than 856,000 customer trips, which is 14 per cent higher than 2023. The Committee learned that in 2024, Transit, the recommended app for OC Transpo customers, saw more than 71,000 downloads, over 113,000 average users per month, and more than 21 million trips planned. In January, O-Payment readers were activated on Para Transpo minibuses, providing the option for customers to tap their card themselves, and the first new six-metre minibus went into service, with five minibuses set to be received this year. The Committee also learned that OC Transpo recently welcomed four new zero-emission buses (ZEBs) into service, totaling eight ZEBs in the current fleet. An additional 22 ZEBs are anticipated to arrive by the end of March, followed by an additional 80 by Q1 2026, a further 124 by Q4 2026, and another 120 by Q3 2027. Garage retrofits and electrical infrastructure upgrades are underway to support the transition to zero-emission buses. Earlier this month, OC Transpo launched a rolling tribute for Black History Month by proudly displaying a vibrant new mural that celebrates Ottawa’s black heritage. Developed in collaboration with Black History Ottawa, and the City’s African, Caribbean, Black Employees Network, the mural is rooted in African heritage and pays tribute to resilience, achievement, and unity. The design reflects the City of Ottawa’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. For more information on OC Transpo, visit octranspo.com, or follow us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.