After an outcry from the public, OC Transpo has announced it is adding more routes to the Lees station, starting today.

Earlier this month, OC Transpo had said it was limiting service to the downtown station due to construction of the Confederation Line, beginning over this past weekend.

Construction will see the Transitway closed between Hurdman and Lees stations.

The plan prompted complaints from transit users, and an online petition opposing it garnered more than 270 signatures in less than a week.

In response to community feedback, OC Transpo said, it announced it would increased service to Lees.

“To get from Lees to Kanata is going to be almost impossible,” wrote Juliana Remus on the online petition. “This has not been a fair solution to those who have to travel across the city to the West-End.”

“The Lees bus station is a necessity for the thousands of people living in the apartment buildings nearby,” wrote Jessica Ostroff. “It is not possible for us living here to get to work or school with only 2 buses headed downtown and many of them skipping Hurdman. Many of us moved to this location only because of the bus accessibility.”

Starting Monday, three early downtown, northbound trips on the 85 were being added at 4:34 a.m., 5:59 a.m. and 6:32 a.m.

Seven extra eastbound and southbound routes have also been added, including the 8, 86, 87, 92, 94, 96 and 106 and will serve passengers between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. on weekdays and all day on the weekends.

The 97 will also operate 24/7 southbound.