TAMRMS#: B09
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Temporary Reductions of Transit Service Levels - Update
Presented by: Anthony Lake, Director, Public Works & Transit
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RECOMMENDED MOTIONS
recommendation
That Community Growth & Infrastructure Standing Committee recommend to Council:
That Administration be directed to propose a 2021 Transit Services budget based on an estimated 295 service hours per day on weekdays from January 1 to August 31st, 2021 and 372 service hours per day on weekdays from September 1st to December 31st, 2021.
[NOTE: Due to the tight budget timelines this year, the 2021 budget is being prepared based on the assumption that this administrative recommendation will be approved by Council. Should Council choose a different service level, budget motions will be required.]
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PURPOSE OF REPORT
To inform Council of StAT’s planning principle of incremental growth in ridership through the first 8 months of 2021 and return to full service in September of 2021 based on the assumed return of post secondary students to on-campus learning for the 2021-2022 academic year.
To inform Council of the recommended remedies required to accommodate: ongoing incremental ridership growth, route revisions necessitated by the relocation of Village Transit Centre to Nakî Transit Centre; increasing the consistency of meeting approved transit service levels while maintaining sound fiscal practices during the current pandemic.
To provide Council with financial information to be considered for the 2021 budget cycle.
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL STRATEGIC PRIORITY
N/A - maintaining services
ALIGNMENT TO SERVICE DELIVERY
N/A - maintaining services
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL DIRECTION
On April 14th, 2020 Council passed the following motions (AR-20-145):
"That as of April 27th, 2020, Transit operations convert to a modified transit schedule for weekday operations, similar to the weekend and holiday schedule.
That Transit administration monitor ridership and report those statistics to the Emergency Operations Centre on a weekly basis to gauge opportunities to resume conventional scheduling.
That when it is appropriate to commence regular transit ridership, based on provincial direction, this be brought forward to Council for input and approval."
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
Since implementation of the revised schedule ridership has fluctuated but incrementally increased from initial COVID-19 scenarios. In September of 2020 the primary transit centre was relocated from Village Landing to the Nakî Centre requiring route revisions as reviewed with Council on January 13, 2020. (attached to this report).
The revised routing avoided the required $1.15 million increase in Transit expenditures due to the extended location of the new transit centre.
The new route restructure came into effect August 30th, 2020, and despite adhering to the approved transit policy, several resident concerns were submitted to Council. These types of concerns were as predicted in the January presentation.
Responses provided to the residents from various sources inferred a return to full service at some point.
To ensure Council is aware of Transit administration’s recommendations to address the resident concerns and provide some financial context for any service level changes, operating scenarios have been developed.
Transit confirms that all measures to address the various concerns presented by residents will increase expenditures and transit is unable to predict equally offsetting revenues.
It is anticipated that StAT can resolve the majority of customer concerns with only a slight system adjustment to manage toward the end of the current year.
STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS OR ENGAGEMENT
Council Committee review - January 2020
Registered ridership communication January to September 2020
City Lights / Facility posters
IMPLICATIONS OF RECOMMENDATION(S)
Financial:
Zero Increase in weekday service hours between January 1 and August 29, 2021 and 372 weekday service hours between August 29 and December 31, 2021.
The recommended scenario includes, current service level at 295 hours up until August 29 2021, with an increase to 372 in September 2021 for a total of $9,950,000 annually. In comparison to offering full service pre-covid levels, this represents an approximate saving of $2,200,000.
Legal / Risk:
None at this time
Program or Service:
Recommendation is provided to enhance customer service opportunities, reduce submissions of concern to Council while minimizing financial loss.
Organizational:
None at this time
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED
If Council does not wish to support the recommendation, the following alternatives could be considered:
Alternative 1: Defer the decision on this matter until the overall proposed 2021 budget is presented and reviewed by Council. Any decision to increase service levels prior to the budget process runs the risk of pre-committing dollars without understanding the potential impact on the priorities of the City as a whole.
Alternative 2. Make no changes to the current schedule - do nothing. Remain at 295 hours for the entire 2021 year
Alternative 3. Provide administration direction to increase service hours beyond the recommended
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Report Date: October 13, 2020
Author: Tony Lake
Department: Public Works & Transit
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer: Kerry Hilts
Chief Administrative Officer: Kevin Scoble