OC Transpo says it has responded to public anger by releasing a new plan tweaking more than two-thirds of the bus routes that were slated to be cut or changed.

Hundreds of people turned out at public meetings last month to protest longer walks to bus stops, cancellations of bus routes, and cutting off evening service at 8 p.m.

The changes in the new plan as detailed in the report to the transit commission include:

  • Adding a new Route 83 to serve Fisher, Viewmount, and Colonnade and connect with downtown, operating seven days a week (replaces part of the current Route 3);
  • Adding a new route 132 to serve Sunview, Belcourt, Grey Nuns, and Fortune and connect with Jeanne d'Arc and Place d'Orléans stations, operating during peak periods with limited midday, evening, and weekend service (replaces parts of the current routes 32 and 131);
  • Revising the current route 165 to serve Penfield, Leacock, Varley, and Knudson and connect with Eagleson Station, operating during peak periods with limited midday service (replaces parts of the current routes 65 and 68);
  • Revising the current route 140 to serve Southmore, Fielding, Walkley, and Springland and connect with Confederation, Heron, and Billings Bridge Stations, operating during peak periods, and revising route 87 to serve Riverside between Walkley and Ridgewood, seven days a week;
  • Retaining evening and weekend service on route 5 and route 16;
  • Other revisions to routes 4, 5, 6, 18, 34, 61, 62, 93, 104, 105, 106, 111, 127, 134, 144, 150, 151, 152, 156, 157, 164, 166, 168, 182, and 221;
  • Retaining periods of service that had been proposed for removal on routes 106, 131, 127, 129, 134, 149, 151, 152, 161, 166, and 171

Mayor Jim Watson used his Twitter account to say the changes are "evidence we did listen" to the public.

Coun. Diane Deans, chair of the transit commission, says the changes will still not please everyone.

The city wants to revamp the OC Transpo network to save $22 million per year.

The new revised bus route plan will be on the transit commission agenda on April 20. OC Transpo says the bus route changes will take effect in September.