The Canada Army Run, whose events begin early Sunday morning at the Canadian War Museum, exposes one shortcoming of the Confederation Line’s operating hours.

The LRT system begins every Sunday at 8 a.m.

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The Army Run opening ceremonies are at 7 a.m., the five-kilometre start for ill and injured soldiers and athletes with disabilities is at 7:45 a.m. and the mass start for the five-kilometre is at 8 a.m.

The War Museum is an ideal location for holding a major event when it comes to public transit, since Pimisi Station is just south of the museum off Booth Street. It’s a short distance to the museum grounds.

LRT runs between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. on Sundays, so major events falling outside of those times will have to rely on the bus network for public transit.

Sunday has the shortest LRT operating period. Monday through Friday it opens at 5 a.m. and closes at 1 a.m. at the end of the service day Thursday and at 2 a.m. at the end of the service day Friday. Saturday service is 6 a.m. to 2 a.m.

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Michael Timmermans, the communications manager for the Army Run, said organizers looked into the possibility of the LRT system starting earlier on Sunday.

“Canada Army Run asked for extended service on race day from OC Transpo, including an early start to LRT, during the discussions (on event permits and permissions). OC Transpo is offering us free rides on race day and well as enhanced service on some major routes, but our request for an early start for the LRT was denied,” Timmermans said in an email.

Pat Scrimgeour, the director of customer systems and planning for Transpo, said the transit agency reviews service requirements for all special events with the event organizers to make sure people’s travel needs are met.

“For the Army Run weekend, OC Transpo has made arrangements with Army Run organizers for additional bus service for the start time of the event,” Scrimgeour said in an email sent through the city’s communications department.

Transpo is adding trips on routes 61, 94 and 95 eastbound, and routes 94, 95 and 97 westbound.

Army Run participants and spectators who are with them can ride Transpo at no charge when participants show their race bibs.

(The Trillium Line, also known as O-Train Line 2, has a slightly earlier opening time; it begins northbound service from Greenboro at 7:30 a.m.).

There will be some obvious days for which Transpo will have to consider adjusting the LRT schedule.

Canada Day, for one. It’s the biggest event day in Ottawa.

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The LRT system runs between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. on holidays, too. The transit agency might have to consider extending the hours to move the post-fireworks crowd out of downtown.

Another one is Bluesfest, which usually books shows on Sunday nights, and it’s common that bands play until 11 p.m.

“For next year’s Bluesfest and other events along O-Train Line 1 (the LRT line), OC Transpo will be coordinating service requirements with the event organizers, and will advise customers,” Scrimgeour said.

New Year’s Eve doesn’t happen on a Sunday until 2023, so that should be plenty of time for Transpo to come up with a plan for one of the biggest party nights of the year.

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