The OC Transpo Director has stated that service resumes on February 9, many buses in the fleet will not be immediately ready to return to service. Mechanical repairs and inspections are required before buses can be put back on the road. Approximately half the fleet of 1,000 buses will be ready on the first day of service. Transit routes will have to operate at a reduced level while the bus fleet is being prepared to return to full operation.
During weekday rush hours, only selected routes will be in service. The routes in operation have been selected to provide the best possible coverage across the entire city. Outside of rush hour - on weekends, in the evenings, in the early morning and during the mid-day -- all regular routes and schedules will be provided.
Express and many other rush hour routes will not run during the initial start-up period, but will gradually be added as more buses become available. Depending on how quickly buses can be inspected, full service levels may not return until several weeks after service begins.
Effective Monday February 2, 2009:
Schedules Schedules will be publicized on octranspo.com as soon as they are finalized, and you will be able to use the on-line Travel Planner to plan detailed trips on the modified route network. Schedules will also be available on the 560-1000 system by calling 613-560-1000 plus your 4-digit bus stop number for departure times.
December bus pass holders -- including monthly, fall semester, and 2008 annual passes -- will be valid at least until the end of Februray. Ecopass payroll deductions have been stopped. Ecopasses are valid on all OC Transpo service. Stay tuned for further discounts in March.
Seniors (aged 65 and older) now ride free every Wednesday.
If you have any additional questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me at 613-580-2486 or Maria.McRae@ottawa.ca.
Specifically, 1,061 tickets were issued for speeding and the impaired driving initiative resulted in the laying of 94 alcohol-related criminal charges (the result of 44 drivers caught driving under the influence).
During the four IRSP/CAA-sponsored R.I.D.E. initiatives conducted in December, approximately 2,400 vehicles were stopped, one driver was charged and ten 12-hour license suspensions were handed out.
February Initiative This month the City's Integrated Road Safety Program will focus on drivers that make unsafe lane changes and speeding.
In 2007, 1,046 collisions occurred on Ottawa roads due to drivers changing lanes unsafely. These collisions resulted in two deaths and 134 injuries - four of them life-threatening.
Speeding is also a serious issue on Ottawa roads. In 2007, 3,107 collisions occurred as a result of drivers exceeding the speed limit or driving too fast for conditions. These collisions resulted in 17 deaths and 967 injuries - including 57 serious injuries.
Tobacco is the largest cause of preventable death and disease in Ontario. Every year, smoking and second-hand smoke account for more than 13,000 deaths in the province. Between 2000 and 2004 cigarette smoking was attributed to an average of 800 deaths each year among Ottawa adults over the age of 35 years.
The Driven to Quit Challenge is presented in collaboration between the Canadian Cancer Society and Ottawa Public Health. All prizes for the Challenge are made possible through the generous support of McNeil Consumer Healthcare. For more details or to register, Ontario residents over 19 can visit www.driventoquit.ca before February 28, 2009.
The Canadian Cancer Society's Smokers' Helpline can provide motivation and support for those trying to quit smoking. Call 1-877-513-5333 for more information.
Most young people born between 1970 and 1995 have received only one dose of the MMR (Mumps/Measles/Rubella) vaccine, for maximum protection two doses are required. Following new recommendations in 1996, most children now receive two doses of the vaccine before entering elementary school.
Young adults are more at risk of contracting the mumps due to their close living conditions, socializing habits, and other lifestyle risk factors. Young people who contract the mumps must be isolated at home for at least nine days to prevent spreading the virus to others.
Mumps is a highly contagious disease that can be spread person-to-person from direct respiratory droplets from the mouth or nose; this can happen when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Symptoms usually last ten days, and can include, painful swelling of one or salivary glands, usually accompanied by fever, headache and loss of appetite.
Mumps can have serious complications including encephalitis and meningitis, hearing loss, permanent deafness and swelling of the reproductive organs (testicles and ovaries), which can cause infertility.
For a full list of community and campus clinics, please visit www.ottawa.ca/health. If you cannot attend one of the clinics, the vaccine is also available from your physician.
Each spring during National Volunteer Week, the City of Ottawa hosts the awards.
Any adult, youth or senior who volunteers their time and efforts to benefit others is eligible for an award provided they live in, operate a business in, or volunteer within the city of Ottawa. Categories include Citizen of the Year Award (three awards), Brian Kilrea Award (one award) and Distinguished Civic Award (12 awards).
Nominations will be received until Friday, March 27, 2009. Nomination forms can be completed and submitted online or downloaded for mailing. More information about the 2009 Civic Appreciation Awards can be found online at ottawa.ca.
City Hall's goal is to reach 60% within the next year (consistent with the goals of 2015). I'm pleased to announce City Hall is on its way to meeting that target, with the current waste diversion rate for City Hall recently measured at 52%.
I will provide further updates on the program once the proposal is presented to City Council.
In the past, the City has provided CEPGP grants to neighbourhood groups and non-profit organizations for projects that have improved our community environment. Examples of these successful projects include cleaning river banks, building cattle fences, planting trees, water displays, recycled product playgrounds, purchasing and distributing rain barrels, composting and creating informative web sites that support the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle), naturalizing green spaces and more.
The deadline date for applications is Friday, March 27, 2009. Information on the program and grant application forms can be found at the City's website www.ottawa.ca. If you have any additional questions, please call my office at 613-580-2486.
Over the past 15 years, more than 500,000 volunteers have worked to make this bi-annual cleanup event the biggest litter pick-up and graffiti removal campaign in Canada.
The upcoming Spring Cleaning the Capital Campaign runs from April 15 to May 15 and volunteers can register online starting March 15.