Charles Akben-Marchand
Rapid transit in Ottawa celebrates its 50th anniversary this month.
In 1973, talks of a full rapid-transit system were still in their infancy. But on Monday, September 24, brand new bus lanes opened on Rideau Street, under the watchful eye of 14 police officers offering warnings to motorists for the first couple of weeks.
Shortly after, on October 8, 1973, exclusive bus lanes opened on Albert and Slater between Elgin and Bronson for the morning and afternoon rush hours. This sped up 71 buses on 19 routes.
Also in October, 1973, interprovincial transit got a bump with the launch of an Ottawa-Hull “bus loop” that was “backed by a $500,000 NCC subsidy.” This included “an experiment whereby the transfers of each system are accepted by the other,” recognizing the rise of federal office buildings, including the new Place du Portage complex.
The opening of these new bus lanes were coordinated with changes to traffic in LeBreton Flats, which took effect when the Portage Bridge opened in November, 1973. By 1976, a busway connection between the intersection of Preston and Wellington (now Albert) to the Ottawa-River Parkway would be built, allowing suburban OC Transpo bus routes to use the Ottawa River Parkway prior to the construction of the Western Transitway parallel to Scott Street in 1984.