South Keys station explained

South Keys
Style:OC Transpo
Type:Ottawa Transitway station
Address:Ottawa, Ontario
Country:Canada
Platform:Centre platform
Tracks:2
Opening:September 2, 1995 (Transitway)
2024 (LRT)
Owned:OC Transpo
Other Services Header:Future services

South Keys station is the southernmost station of the Southeast Transitway in Ottawa.[1] The station is located in the South Keys neighbourhood, behind the south end of the South Keys Shopping Centre, and between Bank Street and the Airport Parkway. The Transitway station was opened for bus service on September 2, 1995.

Previously, City Council approved the addition of an O-Train station at South Keys (instead of Lester) in conjunction of the expansion of the north–south light rail line. The project was cancelled on December 14, 2006. In 2024, an O-Train station will open next to the existing Transitway station, serving as the transfer point between the Trillium Line and the Airport Link.[2] [3]

O-Train station

In 2024, an additional island platform O-Train station will be opened on the west side of the Transitway station, accessible by elevator or stairs via the existing pedestrian walkway beneath the station. The South Keys O-Train station will serve as a transfer station between Line 2 and Line 4, (the "Airport Link"), and has been designed with a third pocket track to enable operations for cross platform transfers between the two lines. A Line 4 train will drop off its passengers on the northbound platform, then move to the pocket track to allow Line 2 trains to serve both north and southbound platforms. The Line 4 train then moves to the southbound platform to pick up Airport-bound passengers.[4]

Service

See also: OC Transpo routes. The following routes serve South Keys as of April 4, 2024:

Station service
O-Train replacement
Rapid routes
Frequent routes
Local routes
Connexion routes
Shopper routes
School routes

Safety issues

This station has a history of safety concerns during the night time hours. There were several incidents involving assaults,[5] swarming[6] and vandalism[7] in the vicinity which prompted some increased safety measures. This station has a Transecure night stop which all buses use after 9 PM.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: South Keys . Station Layout . OC Transpo.
  2. Web site: Trillium Line South Extension . ottawa.ca . May 4, 2020 . November 19, 2019 . May 7, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200507085938/https://ottawa.ca/en/planning-development-and-construction/major-projects/stage-2-light-rail-transit-project/trillium-line-south-extension#south-keys-station . dead .
  3. Web site: South Keys OC Transpo . 2024-04-05 . www.octranspo.com.
  4. Web site: South Keys station layout . octranspo.com.
  5. News: Police looking into another south-end personal robbery . . 26 November 2013 . CBCnews . 11 December 2014 .
  6. News: Girls arrested after South Keys robberies . Bell, Danielle . 20 November 2012 . Ottawa Sun . 11 December 2014 .
  7. News: Two boys charged after dog spray released at transit stop . . 3 November 2013 . Ottawa Sun . 11 December 2014 .
  8. Web site: . Night Stop and Safe Stop . 4 April 2024 . OCTranspo.