Ottawa Student Transportation Authority cancels routes, shifts students to OC Transpo due to driver shortage
The Ottawa Student Transportation Authority is cancelling dozens of bus routes in September and shifting more than 2,000 students from the yellow bus to OC Transpo to help deal with a severe bus driver shortage.
The Parent Portal opened on Saturday afternoon, allowing parents to check the school bus status for their children ahead of the first day of school the week of Sept. 6.
The Ottawa Student Transportation Authority says more than 98.2 per cent of students will be able to access transportation on the first day of school, but some routes have been cancelled due to the driver shortage and parents will have to find alternative transportation.
Some Grade 7 to 12 students in both the Ottawa Carleton District School Board and Ottawa Catholic School Board have been transitioned to OC Transpo Routes, and some yellow bus service has been changed or cancelled.
Routes to 15 Ottawa Carleton District School Board schools are currently cancelled for the start of the school year – either the morning route, the afternoon route or both. Routes have been cancelled to six Ottawa Catholic School Board schools for both the morning and afternoon trips or just the afternoon trips.
"For cancelled routes, parents will need to find alternative transportation to get their children to school for the next few weeks until services stabilize," says the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority.
Earlier this month, the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority said it was looking to hire 60 new school bus drivers.
The authority says it has been working on the following "creative solutions" to ensure the greatest number of students continue to receive transportation.
- On-going driver recruitment
- Transferring students to different routes
- Combining multiple routes
- Building in delayed arrivals and/or departures to covered routes to add service
- Creating longer routes
- Moving high school students to OC Transpo
- Transferring students to van service
- Offering shuttle service at congregated stops
- Hiring new bus companies
- Finding alternate drivers through coach services
- Encouraging parents/guardians to opt-out if service is not needed
- Student volunteers calling parents/guardians to confirm ridership or opting-out
ALL ABOARD OC TRANSPO
The Ottawa Student Transportation Authority says many Grade 7 to 12 students usually assigned to a yellow bus will take OC Transpo this year.
More than 2,000 students facing transportation uncertainty will now use public transit to get to school.
The transportation authority says students were selected to shift to public transit using the following criteria.
- Geographical areas that OC Transpo services well
- OC Transpo services the school within a reasonable distance
- Students living within one kilometre walking distance of an OC Transpo bus stop
- Routes that lacked available yellow bus drivers
Students assigned to OC Transpo will receive a free Presto School Board Pass valid from September to June 30.
"OC Transpo has also advised its bus drivers to allow students to embark buses without paying fares or showing Presto cards during the first few days of school start-up," says the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority.
"Students are not required to show identification but may be asked to confirm they are students verbally.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.