TAMRMS#: B09
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North South Bus Route -- Joint Recommendation from YAC and SAC
Presented by: Will Steblyk, Manager of Transit Service Delivery, Transit
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MOTION REQUESTED BY ADVISORY COMMITTEES
recommendation
That the Community Living Standing Committee recommend to Council the addition of a direct North to South bus route in St. Albert to ease travel from one end of St. Albert to the other.
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RECOMMENDATION OF ADMINISTRATION
recommendation
That Council not proceed with implementing the request of the Advisory Committee based on the premise that such a route would be a costly duplication of existing transit service.
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PURPOSE OF REPORT
The purpose of this report is to bring to Committee a request for a Motion by the Community Living Standing Committee, arising from an item on the Agenda of the October 21, 2020 joint meeting of the Youth Advisory Committee and the Seniors Advisory Committee.
ALIGNMENT TO PRIORITIES IN COUNCIL’S STRATEGIC PLAN
Strategic Priority #3: Building a Transportation Network: Integrated transportation systems.
Activity 3.5 - Complete the Campbell Park and Ride facility and finish the Transit Local Route Restructuring Project.
ALIGNMENT TO LEVELS OF SERVICE DELIVERY
Administration’s recommendation must align with City Council Policy C-TS-01 Transit Service (Revised January 21, 2019).
Core Service Standards
1. Coverage
2. Hours
3. Frequency
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL DIRECTION OR MANDATORY STATUTORY PROVISION
N/A
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
Currently, Route A14 serves as a north-south route between St. Albert Centre Exchange and the northern extremes of St. Albert. To have A14 extended to include the extra distance between St. Albert Centre and Nakî, the entire round trip would not be possible within the required one-hour timeframe during higher traffic periods.
Under the realigned transit network approved by Council Motion CB-20-011 on January 20, 2020, there already exists at least one route at all times (usually a commuter route, and often several routes operating simultaneously) operating between Nakî and St. Albert Centre Exchange (SACE). This provides a seamless connection to and from the A14 servicing the far north of St. Albert. There are also several interlined arrangements whereby one route turns into the A14 at SACE, providing a same-bus trip between the far north and Nakî.
During weekday evening, Saturday, and Sunday service periods, the A14 is interlined (meaning the same bus performs both routes) with the commuter Route 201. This equates to providing same-bus service all the way from Nakî to the north extremes of St. Albert as requested in this inquiry.
STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS OR ENGAGEMENT
N/A
IMPLICATIONS OF RECOMMENDATION(S)
The introduction of a north/south transit route traveling between Nakî Transit Centre and the northern extremes of St. Albert would represent a duplication of service that already exists. Adding the extra distance would require the deployment of an additional bus to the schedule for an annual cost of approximately $450,000 per year.
Financial:
Approving the recommendation of the Committees would cost approximately $450,000 annually and would duplicate existing service.
Legal / Risk:
N/A
Program or Service:
N/A
Organizational:
N/A
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED
If Council does not wish to support Administration's recommendation to not proceed with implementing a north-south bus route, the following alternative could be considered:
Create the requested route and reduce service levels elsewhere in the system to achieve cost neutrality. Service reductions elsewhere in the network will inevitably meet with considerable resistance from impacted residents.
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Report Date: April 12, 2021
Author: Will Steblyk
Department: Public Works & Transit
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer: Kerry Hilts
Chief Administrative Officer: Kevin Scoble