OTTAWA – Staring Monday (June 15) customers will be required to wear cloth masks or equivalent face coverings in transit stations and on buses, trains, Para Transpo minibuses and contracted taxis.

“So put your mask on and let’s go,” OC Transpo staff released in a statement today (June 11). “We are in this together and asking everyone to do their part to help keep themselves and those around them healthy and safe.”

In advance of the return to full summer service, which takes effect on Sunday, June 28, OC Transpo is implementing several measures to help make transit as safe as possible before ridership increases. These measures were developed in consultation with Ottawa Public Health.

Changes coming to OC Transpo on Monday, June 15

Everyone who can, will be required to wear a cloth mask or equivalent face covering. Young children and people who have a disability or medical condition that prevents them from wearing a mask will not be required to wear one. Visit ottawapublichealth.ca for information on where masks.

Protective shields will be installed around operator cabs on all conventional buses, so you will be able to board at the front again.

You will need to pay the fare when boarding at the front of the bus. If you have Presto or U-Pass, you can board by the back doors of articulated and double-decker buses and tap your card there. Board 40-foot standard buses at the front doors only, unless you are in a fare-paid zone.

There are hand sanitizer dispensers in all O-Train stations and most Transitway stations.

Para Transpo operators will continue to wear surgical masks and face shields.

Para Transpo trips will continue to be limited to one customer per trip, as long as ridership levels are low enough to accommodate all customers.

Enhanced daily cleaning of all transit vehicles, stations and employee areas will continue.

Do not to use public transit if you are not feeling well, have had contact with a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 case, or have recently travelled outside of Canada.

OC Transpo staff will be at select transit stations next week to remind customers of the new cloth mask requirement. They will hand out a limited supply of disposable masks to anyone who has forgotten theirs or is unaware of the new requirement. The United Way will be selling masks at some transit stations beginning in early July.

For more information on transit services, visit octranspo.com or call 613-741-4390.