Work, study, and ride into the fall
Whether you’re returning to work in-office, beginning a new school year, or adjusting to a new fall routine, leaf it to us to get you there.
With service to and from the downtown core, and throughout Ottawa and the surrounding areas, there are convenient options and travel tools to suit all customers.
What can you expect?
- Fall service starts Sunday, August 25, with seasonal changes, the return of school service (August 27 for French schools and September 3 for English schools), and more.
- Algonquin College, University of Ottawa, and Carleton University — Your U-Pass is now integrated into your school's student card, so you can tap and ride with just one card.
- All fare readers on buses, Para Transpo minibuses, and fare gates at O-Train Line 1 stations now support payment by credit card and mobile wallet with O-Payment.
- Kids aged 12 and under ride free!
- Groups of two can enjoy the added value of the 2-for-1 DayPass on weekends and holidays.
Back to school
With flexible fare options and convenient online trip planning resources new and returning students can travel to class with ease.
School service resumes August 27 for French schools and September 3 for English schools. Visit the Fall service change page for details.
Kids go free!
Children aged 12 and under ride for free on OC Transpo buses, trains and on Para Transpo! Read more about free fare for children 12 and under.
For children who look older than 12 years of age or regularly travel alone, we recommend getting a child card. This card can be used to tap through O-Train Line 1 fare gates.
High schools and middle schools
Service to high schools and middle schools is available on 600-series routes and on special trips on regular routes. Find your school in this list to see the area route map and click on your school’s address to launch the Travel Planner.
Check our Fall Service Change page for additional route updates that may affect you.
U-Pass
The U-Pass is a low-cost transit pass that lets full-time students at participating schools ride unlimited on all OC Transpo and STO routes during the academic term. The cost of your U-Pass is included in your student fees. For students from Algonquin College, Carleton University, and University of Ottawa, your U-Pass is now integrated into your school's student card, so you can tap and ride with just one card.
At the time there will be no change to the U-Pass for Saint Paul University students
OC Transpo and STO provide service to various post-secondary schools throughout the region. Plan your trip to class using our Travel Planner.
Back to the office
Transit is a flexible option for getting you to and from the office, any day of the week. Bring your bike, use a Park & Ride lot close to home, and travel across the bridge to Gatineau with ease.
Looking for the best route to take to work or want to know what time to start your commute? Use our Travel Planner or download the Transit app to help you plan your trip.
Traveling to a Government of Canada office location?
OC Transpo and STO provide service to all major Government of Canada workplaces, including downtown Ottawa and Gatineau, the Department of National Defence’s Carling Campus and many more. Visit Government of Canada Workplaces to learn more.
Transferring between OC Transpo and STO?
Traveling between Ottawa and Gatineau has never been easier. Passes and transfers from OC Transpo and STO are accepted on both networks at no extra charge. Check out the video below to see how easy it is to transfer between networks!
O-Payment is not available on STO and cannot be used to transfer to Para Transpo. Visit the O-Payment page for details.
Ottawa to Gatineau
Transcript and text description
|
Time |
Transcript |
Text Description |
|
00:00 |
Transferring between OC Transpo and STO on your trip to work? All aboard! |
Red text on white background with OC Transpo and STO logos. |
|
00:04 |
When your trip begins on OC Transpo, |
POV perspective of a customer approaching Blair Station. |
|
00:08 |
it all starts with a tap and “Presto!” – you’re off! |
Customer taps their card on the Blair fare gates card reader. |
|
00:11 |
Line 1 trains come every five minutes during rush hour, |
Line 1 train entering Blair station. |
|
00:15 |
so your coffee’s still hot. |
POV of customer on the train, holding a Happy Goat coffee cup. |
|
00:20 |
Interior train shot, looking out the window, as it crosses the river. |
|
|
00:21 |
At Lyon Station, make your way upstairs to the bus stop. |
Train enters Lyon station then POV of customer following signage to exit at street level. |
|
00:31 |
POV of customer exiting station and walking to the bus stop on Lyon Street. |
|
|
00:35 |
A presto card can be used when transferring from OC Transpo to STO. |
STO bus pulling up to stop. |
|
00:38 |
Just tap your Presto card like you would on an OC Transpo bus. |
STO bus opens its doors and customer boards, with a shot of a friendly operator. Customer’s hand can be seen tapping an OC Transpo Presto card on the bus fare reader. |
|
00:46 |
Next stop: Gatineau! |
Shot from inside of bus showing the customer’s view through the window as they cross the Portage Bridge towards Gatineau. |
|
00:48 |
No need to pay for parking, |
Shot from inside the bus showing the customer’s view through the window as they come up to the Terrasses de la Chaudière bus stop. |
|
00:50 |
OC Transpo and STO take you to the office and back, |
POV of customer opening the back doors of the bus. |
|
00:55 |
any day of the week! |
Shot of the Terrasses de la Chaudière Government of Canada building sign. |
|
00:59 |
To the office and back, any day of the week. Plan your trip today! |
End screen with white background, red ellipse, text, OC Transpo and STO logos and websites. |
Gatineau to Ottawa
Transcript and text description
|
Time |
Transcript |
Text Description |
|
00:00 |
Traveling from Gatineau to Ottawa using STO and OC Transpo? Let’s roll! |
Red text on white background with OC Transpo and STO logos. |
|
00:04 |
Our trip starts at la Gappe Rapibus station. |
Shot of the de la Gappe Rapibus station sign with vehicles in the background then a STO bus pulling up to the bus stop. |
|
00:12 |
Tap to pay and you’re good to go! |
Bus doors open to reveal a friendly operator. Customer boards and taps an STO Multi card on the reader. |
|
00:18 |
At your transfer point, use your Multi card to make your connection to OC Transpo |
Shot from inside of bus showing the customer’s view through the window as they approach Terrasses de la Chaudière station. |
|
00:25 |
no extra charge! |
Shot of the OC Transpo bus flag at Terrasses de la Chaudière station. |
|
00:27 |
Just tap your Multi card like you would on an STO bus! |
Customer boards an OC Transpo bus, showing a friendly bus operator, and tapping their STO Multi card on the reader. |
|
00:32 |
And you’re on your way! |
Shot from inside of bus showing the customer’s view through the window as the bus approaches the Chaudière Bridge. |
|
00:36 |
Next stop: Ottawa! |
Shot from inside of bus showing the customer’s view through the window as they cross the Chaudière Bridge towards Ottawa. |
|
00:40 |
Shot from inside of bus showing the customer’s view through the window as they drive through a neighbourhood of Ottawa. |
|
|
00:42 |
Together, OC Transpo and STO can take you to the office and back, |
Shot from inside of bus showing the customer’s view through the window as they drive up to a bus stop. |
|
00:46 |
any day of the week! |
Customer exits the bus at Booth Street Government Complex. |
|
00:50 |
To the office and back, any day of the week. Plan your trip today! |
End screen with white background, red ellipse, text, OC Transpo and STO logos and websites. |
Free and convenient parking
Working downtown? With OC Transpo’s Park & Ride service, you can avoid expensive parking passes by using a free Park & Ride lot close to home. We offer more than 9,000 free spaces at Park & Ride lots across Ottawa and nearby rural areas.
Travel tools
- Download the Transit app
- Use the Travel Planner
- Text 560560
- Call 613-560-1000
- View the Next departures widget on the homepage
- And more!
Fares
There are fare options for both frequent and occasional riders. Per ride, day passes, multi-day passes, or monthly passes - find the one that fits your travel needs. You can even share your Presto card with another person.
Reminder: Fare enforcement is in effect. Please be ready to show your fare upon request.
