A system and method for rerouting circuits on a SONET, SDH or similar ring without disrupting service. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a route design subsystem adapted to identify, for the circuits, alternative routes that are subject to an alignment constraint and increase an objective value associated with the ring and (2) a path migration subsystem, associated with the route design subsystem, adapted to determine a hitless migration sequence that allows the alternative routes to be employed.