OC Transpo doubling weekend wait times on LRT line to the airport this summer

A light rail vehicle is seen at South Keys Station on O-Train Line 2. (Leah Larocque/CTV News Ottawa)

OC Transpo will be doubling some wait times on the light rail line that travels to the Ottawa airport this summer.

O-Train Line 4 is a four-kilometre spur off Line 2, connecting South Keys Station to the airport, with a stop at Uplands Station, near the Cohere Centre, in between. It runs approximately every 12 minutes.

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In a memo to city council on Thursday, general manager of Transit Services Rick Leary said that weekend frequency to the airport will be adjusted to every 24 minutes, starting June 28.

“This schedule adjustment is temporary and ensures we can provide a reliable service for customers while we continue to stabilize staffing levels through hiring and training,” Leary wrote.

“Weekend service can be increased to every 12 minutes on Line 4 should there be an event at the Cohere Centre at Uplands Station. Route 105 bus service also continues to operate as an alternative way to travel to or from the airport.”

The Route 105 bus runs 24 hours a day between St. Laurent Station and the airport. It arrives approximately every 30 minutes.

Service reductions expected this summer

This change comes as OC Transpo adopts its summer schedule, which will see some service reductions at a time when ridership typically drops.

Leary said that some adjustments will be made this year to accommodate a “preventative maintenance campaign” that will get the system ready for the usual spike in ridership in the fall and for the coming winter.

“This means that there will be reduced frequency on some routes, which will result in increased travel times, particularly on weekends. Customer information has been updated to show planned trips. Customers are encouraged to plan their trips ahead of time using the Travel Planner or Transit app,” Leary wrote.

These adjustments will come as federal public servants return to offices more frequently starting July 6.

At this month’s transit committee meeting, Leary said OC Transpo is looking to boost capacity on 10 bus routes this summer and fall. In his memo, however, only one route was specifically mentioned.

“In this service change, additional schedule enhancements will be implemented for Route 11 as part of OC Transpo’s Customer-First Action Plan,” Leary wrote. “This is in addition to seven routes that were adjusted as part of the spring service change. An additional 22 routes will have more running time added as part of the fall service change, providing more reliable service to 50 per cent of bus customers.”

The memo said changes to Route 11, which runs between downtown Ottawa and the Bayshore Shopping Centre, will better align the route with observed travel times and mean improved on-time performance.

In an audit being presented to Ottawa’s audit committee meeting on Friday, Auditor General Nathalie Gougeon found that travel times scheduled for a significant number of bus routes were inaccurate following the implementation of New Ways to Bus last year. The audit found the schedules were based on outdated traffic data that did not accurately reflect current travel patterns in the city.

Additional changes include seasonal weekend and holiday service operating on an extension of Route 8 to the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, Route 125 to the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, and Route 139 to Petrie Island.

Summer destination service will begin June 20 on Route 139, and June 28 on Routes 8 and 125, and the last day of summer destination service will be Labour Day, Sept. 7, 2026.

Minor schedule adjustments will be made to improve Sunday morning frequency on Route 98.

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School service will end for summer vacation and will resume on Aug. 25.

The summer service period will be in effect until Aug. 29.

Leary also said buskers will be playing at select stations this summer as part of OC Transpo’s O-Buskers program.

“The program falls under the City’s #ottmusic initiative and expands City-led music programing to public transit. OC Transpo is excited for customers to experience and enjoy local musical talent during their transit journey,” he said.

Holidays and events this summer

Canada Day: Free service will be offered all day on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. Bus service and O-Train Lines 1 and 2 will operate on a special Canada Day schedule. Line 1 will operate from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m., with enhanced frequency in the evening. Line 2 service will operate from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Bluesfest: Fares to and from the event are included with the event ticket and additional buses will be available to supplement service levels where needed. O-Train Lines 1 and 2 will be extended in the evening on Sundays to end at midnight. Line 1 will operate with enhanced frequency in the evenings to accommodate attendees leaving the event.

Redblacks games: Fares to and from the event are included with the event ticket. Special 450-series service is provided to bring customers to and from the games.

Civic Holiday: On Monday, Aug. 3, 2026, bus service will operate on a Saturday schedule with enhanced service on Routes 8, 25, 63, and 74. Route 13 will provide service between Tunney’s Pasture Station and Gatineau during peak periods. O-Train Line 1 will operate on a reduced weekday schedule from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. O-Train Lines 2 and 4 will operate on a normal weekday schedule from 6 a.m. to midnight.