OC Transpo flagging 10 bus routes for capacity boosts as feds return to office
Federal employees resume four-day in-person work July 6. Routes serving Parliament Hill and downtown corridors may need expanded service.
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OC Transpo is preparing for increased demand on several key routes when federal employees return to a four-day in-person work week on July 6.
The Transit Committee heard updates Friday on which routes may need added capacity to support the shift. Federal employee data will be assessed to determine whether service increases are necessary on these 10 routes:
Routes 5, 8, 13, 24, 61, 62, 63, 66, 74, and 75 — all of which serve Parliament Hill, downtown, and major federal employment hubs like Tunney's Pasture and Innovation.
Federal executives returned to five-day office work in May, but all other public service employees will make the move on July 6. The return represents a significant shift for transit planning after years of hybrid and remote work arrangements.
OC Transpo also confirmed that routes 11, 12, 15, 30, 53, 81, 82, and 168 have been modified to reflect accurate travel times and traffic patterns. The O-Train line one is fully equipped to support summer events and the return to office, and Trial Running preparations for the East Extension are underway.
The agency says it's ready for the anticipated surge in commuter volume, but the specific timing and scale of service additions will depend on federal employee data analysis.