Ottawa Communities
Urban and suburban
Canada's capital is a large, multicultural city made up of several distinct urban and suburban areas.
An area of undeveloped greenspace - the "greenbelt" - surrounds the central urban areas. Outside of the greenbelt, three dominant suburban centres are situated to the east, south and west.
These communities are all within the 'Urban Transit Area', where regular daily bus service is provided:
Central Ottawa
Centretown
The central business area of Ottawa is situated west of the Rideau Canal, between Parliament Hill in the north, and the Queensway to the south. All Transitway service crosses centretown along Albert Street, headed west, or Slater Street, headed east. Other streets with frequent bus service include Bronson, Somerset, Bank and Elgin.
Lebreton Station, at the western edge of the downtown central area, is a major transit terminus for Transitway bus routes, as well as for connections to Gatineau.
Out of town connections to Greyhound and Voyageur bus service are possible at the Central Bus Station, on Catherine Street, near the Queensway at Kent.
A pedestrian bridge at the east end of Somerset Street provides quick access to Transitway service across the canal at Campus Station.
The Glebe and Ottawa South
These historic communities flanking the Rideau Canal have frequent transit service on main corridors Bank Street and Bronson Avenue. Rapid transit route 101 travels across the northern edge of the Glebe, alongside the Queensway. Billings Bridge Transitway Station in the south provides connections to rapid transit routes 97 and 98. On Bank Street, Lansdowne Park, including the Civic Centre is a popular destination for many major events. Carleton University is situated at a major O-train station.
Sandy Hill and Lowertown
Home to the Byward Market, University of Ottawa, historic Sussex Drive, and The Rideau Centre shopping complex, these central communities are within easy reach of all central bus service. The Transitway, with major stations at Mackenzie King and Campus, provides high-frequency rapid transit bus service 24 hours/day. Other major cross-town routes travel along Rideau Street, or meet at the Rideau Centre, corner of Sussex and Rideau, where Transitway connections can be made with service at Mackenzie King Station.
Ottawa East
Historic Ottawa East, home to St. Paul's University, is tucked in between the Rideau River and Rideau Canal, with bus service on Main Street, Riverdale, Lees Avenue and across the Pretoria Bridge.
East Ottawa and Vanier
Vanier and Overbrook
Montreal Road, St. Laurent Boulevard and the Vanier Parkway are alll served by high-frequencey bus service, which travels to Hurdman or St. Laurent Stations in the south, or to downtown at the Rideau Centre. Route 12 on Montreal Road travels to Blair Station in the east.
Other destinations, such as the Government of Canada employement centre on River Road, or Père Blanc library and community centre, are also served by transit routes travelling through the community.
Manor Park and Rockcliffe
Transit routes travel through the community to St. LAurent Station in the south, or to the Rideau Centre in downtown Ottawa. Destinations such as Rideau Hall, Beechwood Cemetery and Rockcliffe Park are all within convenient walking distance of transit.
Ottawa West
Little Italy and Chinatown
These two adjoining communities are intersected by bus service on Somerset and Preston Streets. O-Train connections are available at Bayview Station in the north, or Carling Station in the south. Lebreton Transitway Station, just west of downtown Ottawa, serves as a connection to Gatineau bus service and a major terminus for Transitway service to all parts of the city.
Hintonburg, Westboro, Tunney's Pasture, Highland Park and Laurentian View
Several established communities in the west end of Ottawa are served by high-frequency rapid transit service at Tunney's Pasture, Westboro and Dominion Stations, with service provided by Routes 94, 95, 96, 97 and 98.
Carling Avenue, Richmond Road and Scott Street also have high-frequency bus service.
Major destinations served directly by transit include Tunney's Pasture, the Civic Hospital Campus and Royal Ottawa Hospital on Carling Avenue, and the Dovercourt Community Centre in Highland Park.
Carlingwood, Carlington, Woodpark and Glabar Park
Lincoln Fields Transitway Station and nearby Carlingwood Shopping Centre are transit centres for these west-end communities. Rapid Transit routes 95, 96 and 97 travel through Lincoln Fields; high-frequency bus service is also provided along Carling Avenue and Richmond Road.
Gloucester North
Blair Station is the transit centre in Gloucester North, serving the communities of Beacon Hill, Blackburn Hamlet, Pineglen, Rothwell Heights and Carson Grove. Major destinations include the Aviation Museum, Gloucester Centre Mall at Blair Station, La Cité collégiale, and Montfort Hospital.
Transitway routes 94, 95 and 101 travel through Blair Station, with connections to all local service.
Nepean North
Bayshore and Lincoln Fields Transitway Stations are major hubs for bus service in the communities of Britannia, Bayshore, Bells Corners, Bel Air, Crystal Beach, Lincoln Heights, Pinecrest and Queensway Terrace.
Rapid Transit routes 95, 96 and 97 all travel along the Transitway through these communities, which are also served by route 101 along the Queensway.
Bayshore Shopping Centre is connected by a pedestrian walkway to Bayshore Station.
An OC Transpo Sales and Information Centre operates 6 days a week at Lincoln Fields Station.
Nepean Centre
Baseline Station adjacent to Algonquin College is the centre of transit activities for central Nepean communities, including Centrepointe, Craig Henry, Manordale, Meadowlands and Parkwood Hills.
Rapid transit Route 95 travels through Baseline Station to downtown via the Transitway. High frequency bus service is also provided on Baseline Road, Meadowlands Drive, and along the commercial corridor of Merivale Road.
Algonquin College, Ben Franklin Place, and City of Ottawa building on Constellation Drive are all within a short walking distance of Baseline Station.
The Nepean Sportsplex on Woodroffe Avenue is accessible from Rapid Transit Route 95 and other routes travelling along the bus-only roadway adjacent to Woodroffe.
Alta Vista and Elmvale
The southeast branch of the Transitway extends from Hurdman Station through Billings Bridge and south to Walkley Station, providing transit connections to eastern communities including Alta Vista, Faircrest Heights, Riverside, Heron Park, Guildwood, Urbandale, and Elmvale.
Elmvale Acres Shopping Centre on St. Laurent functions as a transit terminus at the east end of these communities.
In addition to Rapid Transit Routes 97, 98, and 106, high-frequency bus service is also provided along Smyth, Alta Vista, Heron, Walkley, and St. Laurent Boulevard.
Rapid Transit Route 106 connects the hospital complex on Smyth Road with Smyth, Lycée Claudel and Hurdman Stations.
Hunt Club and Greenboro
Rapid Transit Route 98 and other local and commuter routes provide service to these communities along the southeast Transitway, through Greenboro and South Keys Stations to Billings Bridge, then north to Hurdman Station and downtown.
South Keys and Billings Bridge Shopping Centres are both easily accessible from Transitway stations.
Route 97 provides a connectioon to the Ottawa International Airport.
The O-Train, which travels north from Greenboro Station, provides a direct connection to Confederation Heights employment centre and Carleton University.
Kanata
Kanata bus service is centred around Terry Fox Station in the west, with other high-frequency connections through the park & ride lots at Eagleson Station in the east.
Rapid Transit Routes 96 and 101 provide a connection to Bayshore, Lincoln Fields, and Queensway Stations in Ottawa's urban area, and to downtown.
Express commuter routes operate during weekday rush hours to downtown from all residential parts of Kanata.
Transit service to employment areas in Kanata is available from Terry Fox and Teron Stations.
Scotiabank Place is served by special event 400-series routes, which travel through Eagleson and Terry Fox Stations.
Orléans
Orléans consists of a collection of suburban neighbourhoods including Convent Glen, Orléans Wood, Chapel Hill, Queenswood Heights, Fallingbrook, Avalon, Notting Gate and Chatelaine Village.
Travelling by bus, the commute to downtown Ottawa takes about 25 minutes from Place D'Orléans Station, located just north of Place D'Orléans Shopping Centre.
Place d'Orléans and the Orléans Park & Ride are served by Rapid Transit Routes 95, 101, 102 and 118 which travel west along the Transitway.
The Orléans Park & Ride lot fills up quickly each morning; nearby Trim Park & Ride lot also offers over 500 spaces to park your car and is served by route 95 heading downtown.
In the south ern part of Orléans, Rapid Transit Route 94 travels from Millenium Station along Innes Road to Blair Station, Hurdman, and downtown.
The community's recreation facilities include Ray Friel Centre, Millennium Park and the Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Complex. The two main libraries are located at Ray Friel and on Orleans Boulevard. Place D'Orléans Shopping Centre is largest in the area.
Barrhaven
Rapid Transit Route 95 serves the community of Barrhaven at Fallowfield Station in the north, and Strandherd Station in the south.
Local bus services connect to the Transitway at both stations.
Commmuter express routes travel directly to downtown from all parts of Barrhaven via the Transitway; travel time from Fallowfield to downtown is approximately 30 minutes.
Riverside South
This new residential community south of Ottawa International Airport has transit connections to downtown via the southeast transitway at South Keys Station, and to the O-Train at Greenboro Station.
Service Change
Winter service is now in effect. The next service change will occur on Sunday, April 22nd.
Transecure Outstanding Call of the Month
The TRANSECURE Outstanding Call for November 2011 goes to Jacques Rinquette.
Avoid lineups
Be sure to purchase your March pass early!