OC Transpo is closing the O-Train between Carleton and Bayview stations so the university can continue construction on a 615-space parking garage.
The closure will take place on weekends from Oct. 12 to Dec. 29, according to the motion carried by Ottawa’s city council Sept. 25.
The shutdown will add about 10 minutes of travel time for people travelling to or from Bayview or Carling station, according to a report to the city’s transit commission.
Carleton allocated $138,000 to offering shuttle buses on weekends to replace the O-Train’s route, which will be labeled as route 107.
Parking garage construction began May 10, and continued over the summer while the O-Train was not operating.
For the month of September, crews were working on the building from 12:30 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. every night, but the project was still not progressing as quickly as foreseen.
According to Mike Graham, assistant director of Facilities Engineering and Construction, timing for the project has been difficult due to the positioning of the parking garage on both Carleton and city property.
Some Carleton students are disappointed by the inconvenience.
Kristy Pankhurst, who lives in residence, said she skates competitively and is expected to be at her off-campus rink for training on Sundays.
She said she usually takes the O-Train, cutting her travel time down to only 20 minutes. She said the shuttle will be an inconvenience as it will take her longer to commute than it usually would.
The O-Train will also be shut down Oct. 14, Thanksgiving Monday.
