Changing OC Transpo's transfer window

Good morning! 

There was a time when I used to take public transit in Ottawa almost every day, including when I lived in Barrhaven. Route 95, for example, could take me from Longfields Station near where I lived all the way to Place D’Orleans. It was a long trip that took about an hour and 15 minutes, but didn’t require any transfers. Then, when Line 1 of the LRT opened, that commute got longer with two buses and a train needed to travel the same distance. 

Unfortunately, it only got worse from there. That commute would be closer to two hours today. Besides changes in the system, construction has been slowing down traffic everywhere. And with more buses on the roads instead of transitways due to light rail construction, that isn’t helping either. 

I've started using Uber a lot more, and I know I’m not the only one. But for those who are still riding the bus, some have to pay twice. One councillor is looking to change that. 

Let’s get to today’s headlines.

— Charlie Senack, Ottawa Lookout managing editor, [email protected], X: @Charlie_Senack

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WEATHER

Monday: 33 🌡️ 21 | 🌤️

Tuesday: 29 🌡️ 21 | 🌤️

Wednesday: 27 🌡️ 17 | 🌤️

TRANSIT

Should OC Transpo change its transfer window to two hours? One councillor thinks so

If you’ve ever commuted to or from Barrhaven on public transit, chances are you’d be aware of how long it takes to get to your destination.

When ‘New Ways to Bus’ was introduced in late April, the community benefited from new neighbourhood routes that would get people across the suburb. However, it came at the expense of commuting downtown, and now some transit riders need to pay double. 

Barrhaven West Coun. David Hill said the issue impacts those who must commute to Gatineau for work, especially during rush hour. 

“The first issue is one of reliability. We need to make sure that the buses arrive when they're scheduled to arrive, and they take people to where they need to go on time,” Hill told the Lookout. “That transfer window timing would not be an issue if we had that reliability out of Tunney’s Pasture. 

Before ‘New Ways to Bus,’ commuters would hop on an express route to return to Barrhaven. But those more direct routes have been cancelled, requiring passengers to hop on another bus to get home. 

“They transition at either Fallowfield Station or Marketplace Station, and that is causing an additional tap,” said Hill. 

To help find a solution, the Barrhaven councillor is recommending that OC Transpo increase its fare window above the current hour and a half. For context, Gatineau, Montreal, and Toronto have a two-hour transfer window, while Calgary and Vancouver have a 90-minute window. 

In a statement, OC Transpo said it’s reviewing Hill’s motion but that most Barrhaven commuters can finish their trip in 90 minutes or less. However, for those who do find themselves paying twice, they can contact the transit organization for a refund. 

“Customers who pay twice for the same trip due to their transfer window expiring can contact OC Transpo by calling 613-560-5000. Refund requests are reviewed case-by-case and require sufficient information to investigate and determine eligibility. It’s important to note that some refund requests may take longer to process depending on the complexity of the investigation,” said OC Transpo spokesperson Katrina Camposarcone-Stubbs. 

So why is the Barrhaven bus service getting worse? 

Getting around Barrhaven has always been a problem, but the commute downtown was relatively stable — minus some issues with bus overcrowding. 

Before, the bus would travel down the transitway in Barrhaven from Marketplace Station to Longfields Station and Fallowfield Station, before going down Woodroffe Avenue until reaching Baseline Station. From there, it would be back on the transitway to Lincoln Fields, on the Kichi Zībī Mīkan Parkway for a brief stint to Dominion Station, and then back on the bus-only lanes to Tunney’s

But light rail construction has derailed the second part of that easier journey. 

“Until Stage 2 is completed, those buses leaving Algonquin College are principally going to be driving in regular traffic. So that does cause pretty substantial delays,” said Hill. “And there's nothing that's going to mitigate that until that construction is completed. But once it is completed, that will make for a much better ride. It's just going to take a while to get there.”

Hill said other factors that will improve the system include putting more buses on the roads. OC Transpo was expecting 26 electric buses by the end of 2024 and another 77 by the end of 2025, but as of February, only eight were running. It has blamed a “delay in electrical infrastructure work at OC Transpo maintenance facilities” for the slowed rollout. A total of 350 new zero-emission buses are expected to be on city streets by the spring of 2027. 

Because of an aging fleet, OC Transpo purchased 11 used buses from Waterloo, Ont., which were 15 years old, but were “in good condition.” The transit organization also said it purchased 50 new diesel buses that would arrive in 2026 and 2027.

But that won't fix François Lavigne's afternoon commute from Barrhaven to the University of Ottawa. He told CBC the trip used to take a little over an hour when the 200-series express buses were running, but now it takes 90 minutes on paper. And if the buses are late, it can take two hours. 

“It's demoralizing. It's frustrating. It's draining. It makes me reconsider transit,” said Lavigne, who asked OC Transpo for a refund but was still waiting for a reply. 

THE OTTAWA NUMBER

180 km

🚲 That’s how many kilometres the 3,000 expected participants of the first ever Ottawa Ironman will have to bike in order to complete the race. That’s on top of a 3.8 km swim and a 42.2 km run and occurs next weekend. Read more. [City News]

RAIN READY OTTAWA

Free stormwater assessments now available for multi-unit properties

Rain Ready Ottawa (RRO) is now accepting applications for free stormwater management assessments for eligible multi-unit residential properties—up to three storeys (excluding basements).

These assessments help identify practical improvements to manage rainwater on-site and will inform the development of future rebate programs tailored for multi-unit properties. Priority will be given to properties located in the City’s Priority Stormwater Retrofit Area.

Apply now to reserve your free assessment. An authorized representative must complete the intake form.

THE AGENDA

🚎 The City of Ottawa is calling council’s approval of the Transportation Master Plan last week a “transit-first approach” that prioritizes transportation capital projects over road capital projects. The plan is expected to be fully implemented by 2046. Read more. [City News]

🌶️ If you thought it was hot this weekend, you were right. Environment Canada issued a multi-day heat warning for eastern Ontario, with daytime temperatures of 30-34 C and humidex values of 38 to 42. The City of Ottawa’s Public Health department has an interactive map of cooling stations throughout the city, in case you need them when it gets hot again. Read more. [CTV]

👮 Splitting Ottawa policing into four geographical districts will cost taxpayers more than $11 million over the next three years, according to a report by the Ottawa Police Services Board. The new districts - north, south, east, and west - will each have a superintendent responsible for frontline policing and managing regional priorities, as well as integrated neighbourhood specialists tasked with improving relationships between police and their communities. 63 new police will need to be hired to fully implement the program. Read more. [Ottawa Citizen]

🇮🇶 Lowertown residents are worried about new plans by the Iraqi Embassy to make use of a laneway owned by the Republic of Iraq, which local residents have been using for parking and dogwalking. With no response from the Embassy of Iraq, Global Affairs Canada’s refusal to be involved in a private property dispute, and Rideau-Vanier Coun. Stéphanie Plante saying the embassy has not filed any paperwork for building permits, some local residents have hired their own lawyer to address the situation. Read more. [CBC]

🚲 Ottawa’s Queer Bike Club hosted a mass bike ride in Carleton over the weekend, aimed at promoting road safety, specifically for kids. The “Kidical Mass Ottawa Bike Ride” welcomed people of all ages, skills, and abilities to promote safe road use. Read more. [CTV]

✈️ Air France is announcing plans to scale back Ottawa’s only wintertime direct flight to Europe. The airline has announced that its Ottawa-Paris route will only run a few times a week, instead of every day, as was previously planned. Read more. [Simple Flying]

DEVELOPMENT

Controversial high-rise development planned in Gatineau near History Museum

Building up: Gatineau residents are raising concerns over plans for two new towers proposed by Developer Brigil across from the Canadian Museum of History. They would be 45 and 30 storeys tall, and house between 800 and 1,000 units. 

For context the tallest building in the National Capital Region is the Claridge Icon which towers at 45 storeys over Carling Avenue and Preston Street. 

• “What we’ve been trying to do is to work with the community to put a public space, bring the presbytery more value and give it more space, breathable space, and to be able to create a touristic attraction with the project,” said Jessy Dejardins, vice-president of Development and Design with The Brigil Group, according to CTV. ”We want to turn this big parking lot into a community, into a housing community, with a mixed-use project.”

There is backlash: Neighbourhood group l'Association des résidents de l'île de Hull said the proposed development came as a shock and said “it is totally unacceptable to go beyond the urban planning [limits],” reported CBC. Concerns are being raised about the buildings not fitting in with the neighbourhood's character and how they could block sunlight. 

Approval is needed first: The current height limit is 30 storeys, but Gatineau is reviewing its urban plan for a downtown core. Brigil has asked Gatineau city council for a decision by August. 

Gatineau Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette didn’t indicate how she thinks council will vote, but said priority should not be building more expensive units. 

• “When it comes to condos that are more high-end, we don't have a crisis there. We have a crisis for people on the street, for social and affordable housing," she said during a news conference Wednesday.  

In 2018, Brigil proposed two 35- and 55-storey towers in Gatineau’s Quartier du Musé neighbourhood, but the $400-million Place des Peuples project was voted down. 

Brigil plans to convert current shopping mall space 

Brigil has also unveiled its Espace Canevas community project, which it calls “a bold real estate concept that will revitalize this important urban hub in Gatineau, representing investments of approximately $1.3 billion.”

By the numbers: The project at the Village Cartier shopping center has potential for upwards of 2,600 residential units,192,000 square feet of commercial space, and 182,000 square feet of office space. 

“What we are proposing with the Espace Canevas community is the redefinition of our urban spaces for the benefit of the Gatineau-Ottawa population. Reflecting the ambitions of the neighborhood, the project offers a second life to the Village Cartier shopping center and demonstrates the immense potential for transforming large commercial spaces to increase the number of available units in the context of a housing crisis," said Desjardins in a statement.

EVENTS

Les Grands Feux du Casino Lac-Leamy | Canadian Museum of History, 100 Laurier Street, Gatineau | Jul. 30 | Fireworks over the river with live entertainment | Free

Oniro | Parc Omega, 399 route 323 North, Montebello, Québec | Now until Jul. 28, sunset | Magical illuminated forest trail experience | Tickets $32

Wood Terrace Series | National Arts Centre, 1 Elgin Street | Jul. 29–30, 8:30 pm | Free outdoor concerts on the NAC terrace | Free

Canadian Track & Field Championships Presented by Bell | Terry Fox Athletic Facility, 2960 Riverside Drive | Jul. 30 – Aug. 3, 2025 | Top athletes compete for Tokyo 2025 spot | Tickets $82

Free Thursday Nights presented by BMO at the National Gallery of Canada | National Gallery of Canada, 380 Sussex Drive | Jul. 31, 2025 | Free art nights with music, snacks, tours | Free

Glengarry Highland Games | 34 Fair Street, Maxville, Ontario | Aug. 1–2 | Pipe bands, dance, sports, whisky, and Scottish culture | Tickets various prices

Rugby Canada Women's 15s vs USA Rugby Women's 15s | TD Place, 1015 Bank Street | Aug. 1, 2025 | Canada’s only home game before World Cup | Tickets $55+

The Heart of Orléans Market | Orléans Town Centre, 290 Centrum Blvd | Aug. 3, 2025 | Local vendors, crafts, and delicious food | Free

War Machines Weekend | Canadian War Museum, 1 Vimy Place | Aug. 9–10, 7 am–2 pm | WWII tanks and demos, music, activities | Free with museum admission

Beechwood Market | Stanley Park, 203 Stanley Avenue | Aug. 9, 6 am–10 am | Local produce, breads, and handmade goods | Free

Dogs Day at the Market | 1442 Baseline Road | Aug. 10, 4 pm–8 pm | Dog parade, photo booth, vendors, music | Free

Dogs Day at the Market | 1442 Baseline Road | Aug. 10, 4 pm–8 pm | Dog parade, photo booth, vendors, music | Free

Nostalgia Music Festival | LeBreton Flats, Ottawa | Aug. 20–24 | Tribute bands from the 70s–90s, food, bars | Tickets $63+

North American Festival of Wales | Sparks Street, Ottawa | Aug. 27–31 | Welshfest street party, concerts, hymn sings | Free

GIVEAWAY

Eat Ottawa’s best Italian food courtesy of the Lookout

Been dreaming of hitting up Northy and Navy, Town or just a classic Italian pizza? Then the Lookout is here to help.

We’ve launched a giveaway for two $75 gift cards for your favourite Italian restaurant. Until July 30, every person you refer to the Lookout newsletter enters you for a chance to win. The more people you refer, the better your chances.

Referring someone is easy. Just click this link and share that unique URL with your friends or family, or forward this email to a friend. Every person whom you refer increases your odds of winning.

NEW JOBS

Discover your new dream job in Ottawa:

• Deputy director at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission

• Senior advisor, special projects at uOttawa

• ​​Director, digital media operations at House of Commons of Canada

• Head, urban programs at Tree Canada

• Program leader at Defence Construction Canada

OTTAWA QUIZ

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Toronto Zoo will be able to take Cedar, the blind baby moose, from an Ottawa-area wildlife rehabilitation facility. [CBC]

• Psychoanalytic group therapy helps you transform suffering into self-understanding in a supportive environment. Join Francesco Campanile’s group—visit our website and book your intake session today! [Sponsored]

• Our food editor has a list of the best meals he ate this spring. It’s a great list.

• It’s Rabbit Week at the Ottawa Humane Society and if you adopt a rabbit from them between now and August 16, there’s a whole slew of rewards. [Ottawa Humane Society]

• Ottawa’s new wine service: Wines for the Weekend. Sommelier-selected 4-pack of Ontario wines—perfect for summer sipping. Order by Wed, delivered by Fri at wine o’clock. Order>> [Sponsored]

• The newly formed Ottawa Asian Cyclists Club is encouraging members of Ottawa’s Asian communities aged 18-35 to follow them on Instagram for more information about their upcoming inaugural ride. [Instagram]

ON THIS DAY

July 28, 1913: Mooney’s Bay was visited by a small cyclone which “blew down summer cottages, huge pine trees, and scared visitors,” wrote the Ottawa Journal. No injuries were reported, but Mr. W. R. Low of Rideau Street had his kitchen apartment blown away. Residents were reported to have run to a nearby field for shelter during the storm. 

• In Ottawa South, work was underway to make the Bank Street bridge accessible to traffic. 

July 28, 1972: Ottawa began exploring opening new beaches behind the municipal boundaries. It was considered the unpolluted section of the Rideau south of Black Rapids in the Manotick-Kars area. The city was dealing with severely polluted beaches at the time, and was set to consider whether 31 lifeguards hired the month prior should be fired. 

Information is from the Ottawa Journal and Ottawa Citizen archives on newspapers.com

PHOTO OF THE DAY

The Nepean Sailing Club at sunrise.