Route 12 changes halted amid backlash

The City of Ottawa has changed plans for busroute 12 following rider backlash.

The OCTranspobus normally runs from Blair station toMontreal Road and Rideau Street, thenalong Wellington Street and up Bank Street to Slater Street.

As part of the new fall schedule,the route was no longer going to go through the downtown core.

The city had said the measurewould ease congestion downtown by cutting back the number of buses there.

Instead, route 12would havestopped at Confederation Square, where the National War Memorial is located, and users would have had to walk or get off at the Rideau Centre to take light rail.

Residents inVanierwho took the bus downtown criticized the planned change, saying it would add time to their commute.

On Friday morning, Rideau-Vanier Coun. Mathieu Fleury tweeted that theroute will nowgo tothe intersection of Queen and Metcalfe streets.

Fleurysaid it takes the bus further downtown whilestill avoidingthe most congested downtown intersections.