OC Transpo Route 96

Map of the rapid transit routes, including the 96

Route 96 is a major bus-rapid transit route that travels between Terry Fox Station and St. Laurent Station via downtown Ottawa and the Transitway. Selected route 96 trips are also extended to serve Stittsville Station.[1] It is one of the busiest routes operated by OC Transpo, and provides rapid transit service in Kanata along with route 92[2] and route 93.[3] Route 96 is also the most congested route in service.

History

The Old Route 96

Before the current 96 existed, there was an older version of route 96. The route travelled from the Carlingwood Mall and ended at the Ottawa International Airport, following the current route 97 that travels from Bayshore Shopping Centre to the Airport. This was also before the Southeast Transitway was completed, so route 96 travelled via most of route 87's current routing between Billings Bridge Station and Hunt Club Road and travelled through CFB Uplands (current route 147). Route 96 was the main route serving the Airport, although route 97 provided some evening and Sunday service as both routes were running every 30 minutes during the evenings and all day Sunday. It provided a quicker link for users that wanted to travel from Carlingwood Mall towards the central transitway from Westboro Station to Hurdman Station including downtown. However, it did not provide a link to Lincoln Fields Station for transfers to route 95. While it was also serving Kanata at first before the introduction of route 97, the route was retired during the late 1990s and the portions of Woodroffe Avenue that were served by old route 96 were left unserved by any transit route for a few years. That portion is now served by crosstown route 87 which travels from Greenboro Station to Baseline Station and Carlingwood Mall during shopping hours (its previous terminus was at Lebreton Station). The portion between Westboro and the Airport was served afterwards by only route 97, although route 95 provided extra service between Lincoln Fields Station and Hurdman Station, as the 95 was serving eastern areas of the city. The early morning trips where route 97 currently serves the former Uplands air force base, northeast of the Airport, were also previously served by old route 96.

Creation of the new 96

In 2003 and 2004, the City of Ottawa had proceeded through a series of massive bus cuts that had significantly reduced bus services for many local bus routes. However, starting in fall 2004, OC Transpo implemented an unexpected transit change which was not included in the Transplan 2004 public consultations. The transit company divided route 97 into two distinct routes, one of which is the new route 96. The 96 travels from Hurdman Station to Stittsville. The 97, which was traveling from Stittsville to Kanata at the time, lost the Kanata portion of the route as well as the early morning service to OC Transpo's Pinecrest Garage just off Pinecrest Road and Highway 417.

The 96 travels on the 417 between Bayshore Station and Queensway Station before joining the 97 at Lincoln Fields Station. The 96 is currently serving Pinecrest Garage during the early mornings on weekdays. The combination of the two have provided a much frequent service to Bayshore Station and between Lincoln Fields Station and Hurdman Station which is also served by route 95 and for significant portions of it by routes 8, 85, 86 and 87. Residents of Kanata have a faster trip to downtown from Kanata than the 97, as route 97 travels via Richmond Road and Carling Avenue. However, on some occasions due to long traffic lights at Pinecrest, the 97 can be faster than the 96. In addition, the 96 is also susceptible to traffic congestion or road closures on the 417. However, it is expected in the coming years that a new transit roadway wiil be built between Bayshore and the southwest transitway, thus avoiding possible traffic problems from the Queensway.

Service improvements

Despite these changes, service declined in some portions once served by the 97 in Kanata and during the weekends. To deal with this, in the following two years, OC Transpo increased frequency on the 96 on all 7 days except during the early morning and the route was extended to Terry Fox Station in 2005 when the station was opened. Previously, before the city built the Castlefrank Road overpass (now called Valour Bridge) that crossed above the 417 towards the Kanata Centrum, the 96 (and the 97 before) ended at Kanata Town Centre and the shopping centre had limited service from Monday to Saturday by the 97.

In 2006, there were additional changes made by Transplan 2006. The route was slightly modified in Stittsville to increase the service coverage in the area. In the meantime, service on Terry Fox Drive was removed and the route travels on Castlefrank Road, which is much closer to Kanata's second shopping centre, the Hazeldean Mall just a few blocks to the east. Service to Stittsville was increased also with half-hour service from Monday to Saturday and hourly service on Sunday. Stittsville had no Sunday service before this. Sunday service to/from Stittsville has been increased to every 30 minutes as Stittsville is now a part of the Urban Transit Area. Previously, Stittsville was part of the Rural Transit Area, meaning rural express fares were required on all routes, with the exception of route 96.

Starting in September 2006, OC Transpo added trips that by-pass Bayshore Station in order to speed up the service to/from downtown. The AM rush hour special trips started at Eagleson Station and the PM trips ended at Terry Fox Station. However, due to congestion on Highway 417 starting often before Bayshore Station, some of the special 96's (and West end express routes) were using the same route as regular 96's to avoid being caught in the gridlock. Since April 2007, the special trips start at Terry Fox Station and access Highway 417 directly via Castlefrank Road without travelling on Katimavik Road as Eagleson Station is directly accessible from the offramp at Eagleson Road.

In 2009, with the inauguration of a new Transitway corrdior between Bayshore Station and Pinecrest Station, all D96 trips travel along the new section, and thus all trips serve Bayshore Station and the shopping centre, as well as all Kanata and Stittsville express buses. D96 trips in the morning still bypass Katimavik Road and Eagleson Road.

Route 96 was extended in the East from Hurdman Station to Blair Station on 28 June 2010 for selected weekday peak and all weekday midday trips in both directions. Route 96 still terminates at Hurdman Station for all weekend trips, as well as early morning and late evening weekday trips. This extension in the East is to ease full express buses serving Orleans of riders who do not need to travel beyond Blair Station during peak hours, as well as providing more options for OC Transpo customers.

On 4 September 2011, route 96 was modified in Stittsville, and route 96A was created. Route 96A originally provided service from Scotiabank Place along Palladium Drive and Katimavik Road before joining regular route 96 trips at Terry Fox Station. Route 96A only operates during weekday midday and peak periods. At the same time, peak trips on route 96 serving Stittsville became route 96C trips. In the morning, route 96C access Highway 417 to serve Eagleson Station without serving Terry Fox Station or Katimavik Road. Afternoon 96C trips travel via Katimavik Road, but travel via Castlefrank Road and do not serve Terry Fox Station.

In September 2012, route 96 and route 96C trips were shortened to start/end at the Goulbourn Recreation Complex on Shea Road. Route 96A trips were also extended to/from the Complex, replacing route 96 and 96C trips on Granite Ridge Drive and also serving Kanata West along Huntmar Drive.

On April 20, 2014, route 96 stopped serving the Kanata Town Centre on Katimavik Road. Buses instead remain on Katimavik Road. The change is intended to speed up service by remaining on Katimavik Road instead of deviating to enter the Centre, and because of the low number of passengers using the bus stops at the Centre.[4]

As of June 28, 2015, route 96 is split into two separate routes. New route 92 replaces all route 96A trips during the week, as well as most evening and weekend trips on the 96 that did not travel to/from Stittsville.[5] Route 92 also replaces route 164 on Campeau Drive between Kanata Avenue and Eagleson Road.[2] As a result, most trips on the 96 travel from Stittsville to St. Laurent Station, except during early morning and late evening/night, when route 96 has trips shortened to/from Terry Fox Station in the west end.[1] In addition, route 96 also has trips that end at Hurdman Station in the east end during morning rush hour.[1]

Purpose

The 96 is currently a key commuter route that serves the center of Kanata, especially its two park and ride facilities at Terry Fox Station and Eagleson Station. However, it is much slower than all express routes that serves the suburb, as the 96 serves Moodie Drive, Pinecrest Road and Bayshore Shopping Centre, which extends the trip by several minutes. In addition, most express routes only drop passengers out after exiting the Queensway. However, the special 96D trips are faster than the regular 96 trips by several minutes, as they avoid travel time on Katimavik Road between Castlefrank Road and Eagleson Station. In addition, special 96C trips to/from Stittsville offer faster service than 96 trips by avoiding Terry Fox Station and, like the 96D trips, Katimavik Road in the morning.

The route, like route 95 and route 97, travels through the heart of the touristic district of the downtown core. The Rideau Canal, the Byward Market, the National Arts Centre and Parliament Hill are all located within a few blocks from the transitway.

This is another route for shoppers, as many shopping centers are located alongside several stations, which includes the Kanata Centrum at Terry Fox Station, Bayshore Shopping Centre, Pinecrest Shopping Centre just off Greenbank Road and Highway 417, Lincoln Fields Shopping Centre, the Sparks Street Mall, the Bank Street Promenade and the Rideau Centre.

The University of Ottawa is also a major destination and many students use Campus Station located on the western edge of the complex.

Future Expansions

There are no current expansion plans for the route in the West end in upcoming years as there are no further developments south/west of Stittsville.

Buses

During its first year, the new route 96 was served by mostly D60LF New Flyer articulated buses. However, in 2005, OC Transpo had switched to the new Invero buses. The seating capacity of those buses are much lower than the articulated buses which increases the risk of buses being full. The frequency of the route was increased due to the lower capacity buses.

In the summer of 2006 and the winter of 2007, OC Transpo tested a double decker bus, the Alexander Dennis Enviro500 on this route as well as some express routes. The testing was made in order to determine whether double decker buses will be possible to operate within the Ottawa system as it contains a higher seating capacity than the articulated buses although with lower total capacity (including standing room only) than the latter due to the height restriction of the upper floor of the bus. . Double decker buses were re-used on the route during the summer of 2009.

Due to the increased ridership on the 96 since the 2008 winter bus strike, the frequency of the route has not changed much, but OC Transpo is using more New Flyer D60LF articulated buses on the route along with the Alexander Dennis Enviro500 double decker bus to cope with the extra passengers using the route. Currently, most of the trips are serviced with articulated buses (particularly weekdays and Saturdays), with some trips served by a regular bus (particularly peak periods and Sundays).

Additional bus rapid transit routes

Two additional rapid transit routes supplement route 96 to/from/within Kanata.

OC Transpo Route 92

Route 92 is a new rapid-transit route that entered into service on 28 June 2015 while part of the Transitway is closed for Confederation Line construction.[5] This new route replaces all route 96A trips from St. Laurent Station to Stittsville Station (service between St. Laurent Station and Blair Station was dropped from both route 92 and route 96), but route 92 travels via Campeau Drive and Teron Station between Eagleson Road and Kanata Avenue, as opposed to route 96 on Katimavik Road.[5] Eastbound route 92 trips also serve Eagleson Station.[5] Route 92 also provide a direct connection to the Ottawa Train Station on Tremblay Road along with route 96.[5]

The frequencies on route 92 are about the same as they were on route 96A. During weekday morning peak periods, hourly service is provided eastbound from Goulbourn Complex on Shea Road to Hurdman Station, and westbound trips are every 30 minutes from St-Laurent Station to Stittsville. Weekday midday service is every 30 minutes in both directions between St-Laurent Station and Goulbourn Complex. During weekdays, trips before noon travel within Stittsville eastbound on Granite Ridge Drive and Fringewood Drive and westbound via Iber Road and Abbott Street E. The opposite is true after 12 PM; eastbound trips operate on Abbott Street E and Iber Road, with westbound trips on Fringewood Drive and Granite Ridge Drive. During afternoon peak, both directions are every 30 minutes; however, eastbound trips operate from Stittsville to St-Laurent Station, while westbound trips start at Hurdman Station and end at Goulbourn Complex. After 6:35 PM eastbound and 6:50 PM westbound, both directions operate every 30 minutes, and all trips are shortened to start/end at Terry Fox Station only, with service to/from St-Laurent Station beginning at 6:35 PM eastbound and 7:20 PM westbound.[2]

Route 92 also operates on weekends. Weekend trips during shopping hours are extended from Terry Fox Station to loop around Castlefrank Road, Katimavik Road, Palladium Drive, and Huntmar Drive, then travel back to Terry Fox Station, replacing local route 196.

Saturday service is every 30 minutes, with hourly trips after 7:50 PM westbound and 8 PM eastbound. All Saturday trips operate between Kanata at Terry Fox Station and St-Laurent Station.[2]

Sunday service is similar to Saturday trips. Service all day is every 30 minutes, except with hourly service before 8:25 AM westbound and 8:30 AM eastbound and after 5:55 PM westbound and 6 PM eastbound.[2]

Route 92 destination signs include:
Westbound:

Eastbound:

OC Transpo Route 93

Originally served by route 101 (and before that, route 99), rapid transit route 93 was created during the massive bus route overhaul on 4 September 2011, replacing both route 101 and local route 160 in northern Kanata. Route 93 originally operated from Kanata North to Bayshore Station, with peak service extended from Lebreton Station in the morning and to Lebreton Station in the afternoon. Route 93's primary purpose is for workers in the Kanata North Technology Park, located in northern Kanata along March Road. It also serves as a local route for residents of Morgan's Grant, Brookside, and Beaverbrook, and serves Teron Station. Eastbound trips also serve Eagleson Station.

Frequencies are generally every 30 minutes throughout the week. Early morning and late evening Sunday trips operate hourly. Peak service from Lebreton Station in the morning, and to Lebreton Station in the afternoon, is generally every 10–15 minutes. Select peak period trips also replace local route 169 from Eagleson Station to Kanata North via Teron Station and the regular route. It is the only rapid-transit route currently served by double-decker buses, the Alexander Dennis Enviro500, since the buses were introduced in 2013. Generally, this route uses New Flyer D40i Invero buses, with peak service provided by New Flyer D60LF and D60LFR articulated buses and Alexander Dennis Enviro500 double-deckers.

In September 2012, route 93 was slightly modified in Kanata North to better serve Innovation Drive. The route became a two way route instead of doing a loop around Kanata North, removing service on Terry Fox Drive between Flamborough Way and Legget Drive. At the same time, route 93 was extended to/from Lincoln Fields Station during off-peak hours to provide riders with better connections. On 21 April 2013, route 93 was again modified in Kanata North, with selected morning westbound and afternoon eastbound weekday trips extended via Hines Road to/from the corner of Hines/Solandt, providing better service to employment along Hines Road, Solandt Road, and March Road. Starting December 22, 2013, these trips will be signed westbound as 93 KANATA N HINES SOLANDT.

On 28 June 2015, midday service on route 93 was increased to every 15 minutes in both directions between Richcraft Complex and Lincoln Fields Station. Route 93 still operates every 30 minutes in the morning to Lincoln Fields and in the afternoon to Kanata north.

Route 93 destination signs include the following:
Eastbound:

Westbound:

Miscellaneous

Destination signs

Westbound

There are a few different destination signs used for Westbound 96 buses. They include:

There are no special signs for trips that serve Pinecrest Garage in the morning (same thing for eastbound trips), as well as the Sunday morning detour due to the Alcatel Bikedays on the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway.

Please note that all 96 buses do not serve Queensway Station when travelling westbound towards Kanata and Stittsville. As well, the D96 SPECIAL KANATA no longer exits. As a result, all route 96 trips traveling westbound towards Kanata and Stittsville travel via Katimavik Road.

Effective 28 June 2015 : All route 96A trips are replaced by route 92.[5]

Eastbound

There are currently eight different signs for route 96 buses travelling eastbound:

All route 96 trips travelling eastbound towards Hurdman Station / St. Laurent Station serve Queensway Station.

Effective 28 June 2015 : All route 96A trips are replaced by route 92.[5]

Frequencies

Since its initial service frequencies, the service on the 96 has been augmented significantly. During weekdays, the 96 travels every 2–7 minutes during rush hours towards downtown and Hurdman Station (and sometimes St-Laurent Station) in the morning (if the special D96 trips are included), and towards Terry Fox Station and Stittsville Station in the afternoon. Peak service from Stittsville in the morning and to Stittsville in the afternoon is approximately every 15 minutes on route 96C. Rush hour service is every 30 minutes to Stittsville Station in the morning and to St-Laurent Station in the afternoon. Midday service in both directions is generally every 30 minutes between Stittsville Station and St-Laurent Station (almost all weekday 96 trips operate between Stittsville Station and St-Laurent Station but a few start/end in Kanata at Terry Fox Station). Weekdays between 6 PM and 7 PM, westbound trips are every 20 minutes to Stittsville Station; Eastbound trips are every 30 minutes from Stittsville Station. Between 7 PM and 12:10 AM, service is every 30 minutes in both directions between St-Laurent Station and Stittsville Station. Service to/from Stittsville Station is every 30 minutes until around 10:55 PM to Stittsville, and until 11:40 PM to St-Laurent Station.

Saturday service is generally every 30 minutes between Terry Fox Station and St-Laurent Station. Trips to/from Stittsville are every half an hour between 6:50 AM and 6:50 PM eastbound, and between 7:10 AM and 10:55 PM westbound. There are hourly eastbound trips from Stittsville from 6:50 PM to 10:50 PM eastbound.

Sunday service is every 30 minutes throughout the day on route 96 between Kanata and St-Laurent Station. Trips from Stittsville are hourly from 7:20 AM to 8:20 AM eastbound, with 30 minute service to/from Stittsville starting at 8:20 AM eastbound and 8:40 AM westbound. Between 5:20 PM and 9:20 PM eastbound, and between 6:40 PM and 8:40 PM, Stittsville service is every hour, with 30 minute service to/from Terry Fox Station in Kanata.

Communities Served

Major Attractions/Locations along the route

References

  1. 1 2 3 "OC Transpo - Routes & Maps - Route 96". OC Transpo. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "OC Transpo - Routes & Maps - Route 92". OC Transpo. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  3. ↑ "OC Transpo - Routes & Maps - Route 93". OC Transpo. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  4. ↑ "New Spring Service". OC Transpo. Retrieved 2014-04-05.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "OC Transpo - On Track 2018". OC Transpo. Retrieved 28 June 2015.

See also


96 Stittsville Facebook Group: link title

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