Transit users take shelter from the rain in one of the city’s new bus stop shelters near the corner of Bank and Slater streets.
Thousands of OC Transpo passengers in downtown Ottawa will wait for their rides in more spacious, puddle-proof shelters after a major rebuilding of bus stations along the Albert and Slater street stretches of the Transitway.
Reconstruction is largely finished for five stations ahead of a planned Dec. 1 completion date, according to an OC Transpo spokesperson.
The remaining work includes minor installations such as lighting, information panels, stop identification decals and permanent bus stop signs, says Pat Scrimgeour, manager of transit service design at OC Transpo.
“The most important part, which is building the platform, is all completed,” he says.
The project was funded by both the provincial and federal governments, and aims to update a total of eight bus stations along west-bound Albert and east-bound Slater streets by addressing concerns with the previous, 25-year-old shelters. These included drainage problems on the platforms, restricted flow of pedestrians, poor sight lines for buses, and aesthetics.
“They’ve been longstanding problems,” says Scrimgeour. “We want our customers to be waiting for the bus in better conditions. We knew where the problems on the platform were that were also causing delays to service . . . and we could address all of those things,” he says.
With Metcalfe Station on Slater Street previously completed, two stations remain to be rebuilt starting next summer: Albert at Metcalfe Street and Albert at Bay Street stations.
Some business owners are glad to be rid of disruptive construction activity.
“The temporary stop was a hassle for us, because our deliveries couldn’t get in,” says Sam Arian, who works at a restaurant at the corner of Albert and Bank streets. “We couldn’t get into our parking lots. Besides that, I don’t think it did any difference."
Across the street, Mark Douglas, manager of a coffee shop, says that he does not recall any difficulties with the old bus station when he used it two years ago.
“I don’t really know what was wrong with the old one; it looks the same, to be honest,” he says.
For Douglas, business was unaffected.
Laura Chant, who works in the downtown area, regularly commutes by bus. She says that while, to her, improvements over the old shelters are minor, they are still noticeable.
According to Scrimgeour, benefits of the new designs will become visible as the remaining shelters are outfitted and opened to the public.
“Until we get the shelters fully installed, we won’t realize all of the benefits because, in some cases . . . we don’t get all of the fluid movement of the passengers and pedestrians that we will in the end,” he says.
“Having a good, smooth, consistent curb is certainly helping us with keeping our bus operations fluid through downtown. All of the geometric improvements are there, and we know the rest are there in a couple of weeks.”
The corporate communications department at the City of Ottawa referred inquiries to OC Transpo.