TAMRMS#: B06
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Weekday Evening Local Handibus Service
Notice given by: Councillor Joly
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BUDGET POSTPONED MOTION:
recommendation
That $57,500 for Public Works & Transit Weekday Evening Local Handibus Service be funded through taxes.
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POSTPONED MOTION ADMINISTRATIVE BACKGROUNDER:
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Administration’s Understanding of Intent Motion:
That Council wishes to continue to expand periods of service and areas of operation of Handibus to a level that reflects the service offered by conventional transit. This is part of an on-going, phased approach to providing the physically and cognitively challenged community of St. Albert the same opportunities and options available to regular transit users, and to be regionally consistent with our neighbouring transit partners.
The addition of weekday evening local service represents another service component in this on-going process, and requires additional hours of operation, but no fleet additions.
Operational or Organizational Impacts if Motion is Approved:
The proposal will require the addition of budgeted operating hours but will not require additional organizational resources. The extra period of operation can be accommodated within the present organizational structure.
Financial Implications of Motions:
Currently, local weekday Handibus service is available until 5:00pm. This proposal will extend these hours of operation to 7:00 pm. Once operative, and if demand warrants, later evening service will form part of a future budgetary request. It is estimated that the cost impact to introduce local weekday evening Handibus service will account for a $62,700 increase in operating budget in the first year and will be offset by approximately $5,200 in fare revenue for a total of $57,500.
In 2020, the new service would begin in April.
Stakeholder Consultations:
Stakeholder consultation has been conducted by way of the 2018 Handibus Client survey. Local weekday evening service was identified as the most requested new service addition. Further consultation will not be required. Communication will be conducted using existing methods - particularly, a letter mail-out. This has proven to be effective on previous occasions.
Background:
Current State - The Handibus Specialized Transit Service is continuously striving to meet the increasing demands of a rapidly growing client base.
Issue - Handibus is a form of public transit. And at present, St. Albert’s Handibus operation does not offer a level of service that reflects conventional transit. This limits opportunities and options available to the physically and cognitively challenged members of our community. In recent years, service levels have been added in a phased approach to bridge this gap. Weekday evening service is the next phase of this growth.
The current weekday evening local service offered by Handibus does not compare with neighboring municipalities who offer later evening service. Edmonton DATS offers service until 11pm, Monday to Thursday and midnight on Friday. Leduc’s LATS operates until 9:30pm. Strathcona’s Mobility Bus operates until midnight (within Sherwood Park and to Edmonton). Handibus Service should provide a level of service comparable to our partner agencies. However, Administration recommends introducing evening service in phases based on demonstrated demand and weighing against other service addition priorities.
Opportunities - The Handibus Specialized Transit Service Review, approved by Council in 2013, recommended the expansion of Handibus service in stages, and to continue to grow the levels of service to more closely reflect the service provided by conventional transit.
Since then, several services have been added, including:
• Weekday commuter service Downtown and University;
• Saturday Local service;
• Additional bus deployments to both of the above to address demand;
• Weekday commuter service West Edmonton.
This business case represents a continuation of this phased approach towards parity with conventional transit
Risks- Postponing phased service expansion would continue to limit the opportunities of St. Albert’s physically and cognitively challenged community for transportation access to medical, educational, recreational and personal needs. These limitations would be in contrast with Council’s priority of a safe, healthy and inclusive community.
Report Date: November 21, 2019
Author: Anthony Lake
Committee/Department: Public Works & Transit
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer: Kerry Hilts
Chief Administrative Officer: Kevin Scoble