Undergraduate students at the University of Ottawa have voted ‘Yes’, in support of a U-Pass at $180 per term. The positive result in last week’s U-Pass referendum is the first step to ensure the continuation of the program at uOttawa. Now, it’s up to the university’s graduate students to vote. The uOttawa graduate referendum and Carleton referenda dates will be set soon. Check our blog for more info: http://bit.ly/zTsBYI

Students will be asked whether or not they want to continue for the next three years with a U-Pass priced at $180 per term, plus up to a 2.5% inflationary cost in the second and third years.

Without a successful referendum result, the U-Pass will not be available after April 2012, and the cheapest alternative for student riders will be OC Transpo’s student monthly pass, currently priced at $75 each month - or $300 per term if four months are required. Express passes cost more, at $88 per month. Infrequent riders can use tickets, priced at $2.60 per trip on the bus, or $2.85 on the O-Train.

A new option available for future U-Passes will be the ability for students to opt-out. Students living outside of the City of Ottawa, as well as at many of the rural villages and communities inside City borders, will be able to opt-out of the U-Pass program and receive a $360 refund. This includes communities such as Almonte, Carleton Place, Dunrobin, Carp, Osgoode, Russell, Metcalfe, Embrun, Rockland and so on.

For more information check the CUSA website (Carleton), or SFUO Elections 2012(uOttawa).

A new flat rate fare of $8.25 reduces fares for 96% of rural residents, as approved by City Council in the 2012 Budget.

The new flat rate is a simpler and more equitable fare system that helps improve mobility for people with disabilities in rural areas.

The cost of an average rural Para Transpo trip continues to be well-subsidized, with 95 per cent being funded from property taxes and just 5 per cent through fares, compared with a 50-50 ratio for conventional service.

Effective January 9, 2012:

• Rural flat rate of $8.25 per passenger, including companions, for a one-way trip between a rural zone and the urban transit area. 

NOTE: Trips from a rural address to another rural address will no longer be available, except via the Taxi coupon program.

• Only cash or bus tickets* accepted as valid fare on rural service. 
• Transit passes will no longer be accepted.

* Bus tickets will only be worth their face value of $1.30 each on rural service. A combination of cash and tickets can still be used. For example: 4 bus tickets (worth $5.20) + $3.05 cash = $8.25.

These changes are in addition to the new fully-accessible OC Transpo Rural Shoppers’ bus routes 201- 205.

Park & Ride at
Scotiabank Place

Residents in the west end can take advantage of a new Park & Ride option at Scotiabank Place. opened on Jnauary 9. Located in the north parking lot, 100 parking spaces are available for transit commuters between approximately 5:45 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. The lot is served by ten trips on Express Routes 261 and 263, on request, with direct rush hour service to downtown.

The “on request” service operates via a signal. Customers press the call button on the request stop pole located on the Scotiabank transit terminal platform. This will send a signal to the next bus to serve the Park & Ride lot. The green light near the top of the pole will light up to let you know the signal is working. For the return trip home, ring the bell after the bus has passed the bus stop located on Palladium Drive at the Auto Park entrance.

» download map (PDF)

»  Top 10 Transit Tips (PDF)

Below are some tips in response to the most frequently asked questions from OC Transpo riders. 

Follow these and you will be well on your way to getting to your destination: