OC Transpo cuts off-peak evening LRT service frequency to 10 minutes

Cuts to Ottawa's LRT service during off-peak hours will be more extensive than first thought.

In a memo to city councillors Friday, OC Transpo says that starting on Aug. 26, trains on the east-west Confederation Line will run every 10 minutes between about 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on weekdays.

On Monday,OC Transpo announcedthat service will be reduced to every 10 minutes on weekdays between about 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Currently, trains are running roughly every five to six minutes during those periods.

• OC Transpo to cut midday LRT service frequency to 10 minutes

O-Train Line 1 runs until 2 a.m. on Fridays, with service every 10 minutes from 6:30 p.m. until the end of the service day.

OC Transpo saidtrains are not even half full during off-peak hours.

"There is an opportunity to adjust off-peak service to align with demand, while minimizing disruptions to our customers," the memo said.

It also says that the decision to make the change at the end of August gives customers enough notice to incorporate the new schedule into their plans to return to school or work.

Poor timing?

Not everyone agrees that this change is coming at a good time, consideringthe federal government's plan to require public servants to head to the office three days a week.

"We're about to see a lot more riders coming in more days per week," said Canadian Association of Professional Employees president Nathan Prier after the initial announcement Monday.

• Federal public servants to return to the office 3 days a week this fall

• Extra office day for public servants could add 2.7M annual OC Transpo trips

The timing of OC Transpo's schedule change makes "no sense," Prier said. Hundreds of his members start work outside peak hours, particularly those with caregiving responsibilities, he said.

"We don't think that a reduction in LRT frequency is a solution to helping to transform downtown Ottawa," he said.

Friday's memo announcing the change includedprojected ridership for the fall including an allowance for increased on-site work compared with Line 1 capacity on the adjusted schedule to show that the changes are predicted to work.

OC Transpo said staff will monitor the changesto build an accurate picture of how many people are using the system.

"Should we see the need for more capacity, staff can respond quickly by putting more trains into service," Friday'smemo stated.