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1 Transitway

The Transitway is one of the most extensive and successful implementations of Bus Rapid Transit; many of the Transitway roads are above or below the grade of normal streets in Ottawa, by the use of overpasses, bridges, and trench highways. Thus, they rarely intersect directly with the regular traffic and make it possible for the buses (and emergency vehicles) to continue at full speed even during rush hour.

It is traveled by three bus routes, all primarily east-west:

• 95 - Fallowfield to Trim
• 96 - Stittsville to Hurdman
• 97 - Bayshore to Airport

One trouble spot is in the downtown section of the central Transitway, where the busway consists of a single bus-only lane on each of Albert and Slater Streets (one-way public streets in opposite east and west directions). Traffic congestion here, where the buses mingle with private vehicles, sometimes causes service delays and is seen by some as the main weakness in the Transitway system.

The Transitway routes generally use low floor "accessible" buses, with an aim to improve access to the service by the elderly and handicapped, and to speed up boarding by other passengers; many of these are high-capacity articulated buses.

1.1 Route legs

1.1.1 South-West (95)

• Fallowfield - Located at Woodroffe Avenue and Fallowfield Road in Barrhaven . Western terminus of Route 95.

Fallowfield to Baseline is along Woodroffe Avenue in a dedicated lane.

• Baseline - Located on Woodroffe Avenue across from Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology.

Beyond Baseline, the Transitway is fully isolated to Lincoln Fields.

• Iris - Located on Iris Street in Kenson Park.
• Queensway - Located at the Queensway and Woodroffe in the Whitehaven neighbourhood. Also serves eastbound Route 96.

1.1.2 West (96, 97)

• Stittsville - Western terminus of Route 96. Park and Ride facility located in Stittsville .
• Terry Fox - Located adjacent the Kanata Centrum shopping centre at Kanata Avenue and Early Grey Drive. Entered service in September 2004, with construction not yet complete.

To this point the route is on non-dedicated street lanes, much like a standard express bus route.

• Eagleson - Park and Ride located at Eagleson Rd. and Highway 417.

The Transitway proper starts past Eagleson, with a dedicated lane on the 417.

• Bayshore - Located at the Bayshore Shopping Centre . Western terminus of Route 97.

The Transitway leaves the 417 at Bayshore and takes Richmond and Carling streets to Lincoln Fields. Eastbound 96 returns to the 417 (now the Queensway) to go via Queensway station.

1.1.3 Central (All routes)

At Lincoln Fields, the West and South-West branches merge.

• Lincoln Fields - Located at Carling Avenue and the Ottawa River Parkway .

From Lincoln Fields to Dominion, the Transitway travels the Ottawa River Parkway in a dedicated lane.

• Dominion - Located off of Dominion Avenue on the Ottawa River Parkway.

From Dominion to Lebreton, the Transitway runs in an isolated, below-grade road.

• Westboro - Located on Scott Street in Westboro .
• Tunney's Pasture - Located at Scott Street and Holland Avenue at the Tunney's Pasture government office complex.
• Bayview (O-Train) - Located at the eastern end of Scott Street when it becomes Wellington StreetWellington Street is an important street in Ottawa, Canada most notable for being the street upon which the Parliamentary Precinct is located. The street begins at the Rideau Canal, it is called Rideau Street on the other side of the canal. In downtown it. Northern terminus of the O-Train.
• Lebreton - Located on Booth Street in Lebreton Flats .

Just past Lebreton, the isolated transitway ends and eastbound buses take Slater Street, while westbound buses are on Albert Street; there are dedicated lanes on both streets, but traffic is generally slow in the dense downtown core. This arragement continues to just past Metcalfe.

• Bay - Located on Albert and Slater Streets at Bay Street.
• Kent - Located on Albert and Slater Streets at Kent StreetKent Street is a major street in downtown Ottawa, Canada. Running just to the west of Bank Street it is one way running north. It begins at Wellington Street in the north and ends at the Queensway. The street is far less commercial than Bank Street becomi.
• BankBank Transitway Station or Bank Street Station is a bus-stop on Ottawa, Canada's transitway served by OC Transpo buses. It is located on the main central part of the transitway, which is part of the 95 line, 96 line and 97 line. Bank is named for Bank Str - Located on Albert and Slater Streets at Bank StreetLaurier Avenue in downtown Ottawa Bank Street is the major north-south road in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It runs south from Wellington Street in downtown Ottawa, and runs south through the neighbourhoods of Centre Town, the Glebe, Ottawa South, Alta Vista,.
• Metcalfe - Located on Albert and Slater Streets at Metcalfe Street.

The isolated Transitway resumes at Elgin Street.

• Mackenzie King - Located on the Mackenzie King Bridge at the Rideau CentreRideau Centre is a three level shopping center on Rideau Street in downtown Ottawa, Ontario. It borders on the Byward Market, the Rideau Canal, the Mackenzie King Bridge, and Nicholas Street. At the time of its construction in 1981-82 the Rideau Centre wa and the Department of National Defense headquarters.
• Laurier - Located at Laurier AvenueLaurier Avenue is a central east west street running through Ottawa, Canada. Originally known as "Maria Street", it was renamed in honour of Canadian Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier. Laurier House, the residence of Prime Ministers Laurier and William L and Waller Street at the University of OttawaThe University of Ottawa was established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and is now a major bilingual university of Canada. Located in Ottawa, Ontario (the national capital), it has made a unique place for its.
• Campus - Located at the University of OttawaThe University of Ottawa was established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and is now a major bilingual university of Canada. Located in Ottawa, Ontario (the national capital), it has made a unique place for its.
• Lees - Located on Lees Avenue at Algonquin College's Rideau Campus.
• Hurdman - Located near Riverside DriveA numbder of cities have a Riverside Drive Riverside Drive (New York) Riverside Drive (Ottawa) Riverside Drive (Anderson, California) Riverside Drive (Asotin County, Washington) Riverside Drive (Austin, Texas) Riverside Drive (Bandon, Oregon) Riverside Dr and Industrial Avenue. Eastern terminus of Route 96.

Just past Hurdman, two isolated routes branch off: the East Transitway and South-East Transitway.