OC Transpo launches winter service, adds new Barrhaven route

Winter service has begun for OC Transpo,with a few changes over the holiday season and a plan to help ease congestion in Barrhaven.

As of Sunday, several routes have new permanent schedules.They've been updatedin response to the changing needs of riders, OC Transpo wrote.

Routes 38, 80, 89, 95, 105, 153, 175, 277, 278 and 283 all havealtered schedules.

Route 275 was also introduced Monday as a more expedientroutefor some Barrhaven residents at peak periods. The new route was added in response to commuter complaints about overcrowding and gaps in service.

The route will travel between Cambrian Road and the MacKenzie King Bridge. In the downtowndirection, there are six OC Transpostations Baseline, Lincoln Fields, Iris, Queensway, Dominion, and Westboro where riders will be able to get off the bus, but not board.

Aside from Baseline station, the route will bypass those stations completely on the way back toBarrhaven.

Free ridesNew Year's Eve

Holiday service begins Christmas Eve, with buses operating on either a reduced weekday schedule or a Saturday or Sunday schedule until Jan. 5, 2019.

On New Year's Eve, anyone can ride the buses for free starting at 8 p.m.

Para Transpo is also operatinga holiday service on Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year's Day, with regular trips cancelled.

The agencysaid any regularly scheduled pickups are cancelled for Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year's Eve. Customerswill have to rebook those trips.

OC Transpo will also be introducing detours on routes 5 and 14 on Jan.7 as part of the Elgin Street renewal project.