Bus-only lanes could soon come to one of the busiest corridors of Bank Street.
City of Ottawa staff spent months studying potential design changes between Highway 417 and the Bank Street Canal Bridge which could soon see four 24-hour bus-only zones. Officials also studied transit priority from Monday to Friday and no parking on major event days.
OC Transpo buses would be prioritized going northbound between 7 to 9 a.m. and southbound between 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Off peak hours would remain the same.
The city said these changes could save commuters time along the corridor.
The Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) is part of a Bank Street coalition advocating for transit riders along bus routes 6 and 7. The last stop on the 7 Carleton route is on campus.
“It’s a win in our books,” said Aidan Kallioinen*, CUSA’s vice-president of student issues. “We are about making the transit experience more efficient for students.”
Kallioinen said any mechanism to make the transit system more accessible for students will help ease students’ time crunch in getting to campus.
Since Carleton limited parking permits for the 2025-26 school year, many students have turned to public transportation to get to campus, according to advocates.
“Students are even more dependent on OC Transpo now,” said Michael Lewis, a union representative for bus operators.
He added it would be a “huge benefit” for the city to expand the rush hour times to better accommodate students’ needs.
“It would help get the students to classes more reliably.”
The main point of conflict at the open house was between parking and bus priority.
While many community members wanted the city to implement more 24-hour bus zones, a smaller group advocated for keeping the 173 parking spaces along the corridor.
The city’s potential changes already slash 16 parking spots near Fifth Avenue. Many community members said the plan was not bold enough.
“Bus lanes on Bank Street are the best bang for the city’s buck,” said Tristano Iafelice, a board member with community group Strong Towns Ottawa.
Iafelice added he hopes the city revisits what it means to “balance Bank Street.”
Darrell Cox, the executive director of the Glebe’s BIA said getting rid of parking spaces could cause problems for businesses.
Cox said he’s opposed to the city’s plan to axe parking during major event days where many drive to catch a Redblacks game or attend a concert.
“When word gets out that parking is an issue people don’t want to come.”
City staff is expected to bring recommendations to the public works and infrastructure committee this fall. It could then go to full city council for an approval vote.
*Aidan Kallioinen has previously contributed to the Charlatan.
Featured image by Sarah Hirsi/The Charlatan
