Network Optimization Final Recommendations

Media Briefing April 13, 2011

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Setting the Stage• On March 23rd we released a draft network optimization proposal

designed to achieve $19.5M in annual savings for public input

• The public consultation process gave us the valuable customer feedback that has helped us come back with a refined system proposal that better serves the needs of our customers

• As a result, over 2/3 of the draft proposal was improved based on this feedback

• These recommendations address key issues that were raised during the consultation period while still allowing us to achieve the designated savings of $19.5M annually through network optimization

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Budget Context

• Council approved 2011 Budget, which directed Transit Services to achieve $22M in annualized savings

• The 2011 Budget includes free service to seniors Mondays and Fridays from noon onward, continuation of free Wednesdays for seniors and of the U-Pass program, and freezes Community Pass rates at current prices

• If network changes are not implemented, our public transit system will demand a property tax increase of at least 5% by 2016 – this represents an additional $145M tax pressure for residents

• The 2011 Budget builds on $21M in previous efficiency savings achieved by OC Transpo since 2008

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Budget Context

• Total savings to be realized in 2011 - $7.3M. Total savings on an annualized basis going forward are $22M

• Saving of $19.5M annually and $6.5M in 2011 will be achieved as a result of “network optimization”

• Savings of $750K will be achieved through internal efficiencies in 2011

• Savings of $2.5M will be realized in 2012 as a result of the purchase of double-decker buses. Savings grow to $10M annually by 2015

• Council policy of providing service to 95% of residents within convenient walking distance (5 min. in peaks, 10 min. at off-peak)

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Double-Decker Buses• Business case recommends the purchase of 75 double-decker buses• Financial analysis confirms $10M in operational savings annually• Provides a significant step towards a sustainable transit service• Reduces the number of bus models in the fleet• Decreases greenhouse gas emissions• Increases bus availability and reliability• Provides more seating capacity than articulated buses, 82 seats

compared to 55 seats (Customers have indicated that the additional seating on express routes is a great benefit)

• A much smaller footprint on the road and in stations• Can be maintained in our garages with modest modifications; costs

have been taken into consideration and are identified in the financial analysis

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Network Optimization – Model for Change

Categories • Unchanged or improved routes • Route consolidations • Shorter routes • Reduced hours of service for low-ridership routes or sections

Results • Carry same number of customers at a lower cost • Reduce duplication and low-ridership sections • Improved or no change of service to 95% of customers

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Developing Recommendations

Criteria • Feedback from customers and Councillors • Ridership data • Operating experience • Budget direction • Service standards – no overcrowding and leaving capacity for growth

Goals • Build a more efficient and sustainable transit system for the future • Mitigate the impact on customers – i.e., minimal additional transfers • Address significant concerns and comments received via the public

consultation process

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Listening to our customers …while still achieving the savings

• Maintained the same number of service hours in the recommended plan as in the proposed plan

• Changes offset each other (i.e., bus going down one street instead of another)

• Shortening of some routes to service other areas of the routes based on customer feedback

• Funding route changes to support growth from budget allocation for growth

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Public Consultation• On March 23, an extensive public consultation process was launched

that included: Online information and Customer Feedback Form PSAs, advertising, take-one distribution Five city-wide open houses Support at Councillor community meetings Presentations at Advisory Committee meetings Consultation with potentially affected stakeholders

• The network service proposals were a starting point and the extensive consultation process and feedback was used to develop the final recommended plan

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Public Consultation – Engagement• Transit users, residents and OC Transpo employees were engaged in

the consultation process and provided significant feedback.

Online Customer Feedback Forms completed – 5,067 Attendance at five Open Houses – 1,100 Comment forms completed at Open Houses and community meetings –

620 Telephone comments received via the OC Transpo Customer Service

line - 468 E-mails forwarded to OC Transpo from Councillor’s offices– 450 Letters from the public - 26 Petitions received – 16 petitions with 4,102 signatures Staff comments – 36

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Public Consultation - Results

• Over 6,500 comments were analyzed to identify trends and major issues with the proposals

• Over 2/3 of the proposal were modified based on suggestions and feedback received from customers

• This improved plan addresses major areas of concern expressed by our customers while keeping within the budget envelope

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Top Issues Raised

• Service to downtown from Viewmount and Fisher Avenues (Route 3)

• Service on Sunview, Belcourt, Grey Nuns and Fortune Drive

• Service in Beaverbrook area of Kanata

• Service on Riverside Drive/Springland

• Off peak service and evening and weekend service on many routes

• Service to area hospitals

• Service to areas with high population of seniors

• Access to key employment areas

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Central Nepean – Current Route 3

Changes made to proposal based on public consultation• New Route 83 added to replace the southern part of the current Route 3 and to

provide supplementary service to Route 86 to and from downtown via Fisher and Holland.

• Route 111 revised to provide a connection at Billings Bridge Station and direct service to Carleton University.

• Route 157 extended to replace the section of Route 176 on Amberwood.

• New Route 83 would operate between Colonnade and downtown, along Merivale, Viewmount, Fisher, Holland, and the Transitway. This route would operate seven days a week.

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Orléans Boulevard - Current Route 32

Changes made to proposal based on public consultation• Route 132 added to provide service on Sunview, Belcourt, and Grey Nuns.• Service would be provided earlier in the morning on Sundays on the new Route

134.• Routes 34 and 134 would be changed to provide service on Pagé and Longleaf.

• New Route 132 would operate from Des Épinettes along Sunview, Belcourt, St. Joseph, Grey Nuns, Jeanne d’Arc Station, Fortune, Orléans Boulevard, and St. Joseph to Place d’Orleans Station. This route would operate every 30 minutes during Monday-Friday peak periods, with two midday round trips Monday-Friday, two evening trips Monday-Friday, four round trips on Saturdays, and three round trips on Sundays.

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Beaverbrook and Kanata Lakes

Changes made to proposal based on public consultation• Section of Route 68 on Campeau would be removed, and the route changed to

operate on Kanata Avenue, to Terry Fox Station, and on Highway 417.• Route 165 would be revised, to operate during peak periods and the midday on

Penfield, Leacock, Varley, Knudson, and Campeau to Eagleson Station.• Route 168 would not operate on Varley.

• Routes 65 and 165 and part of Route 68 replaced by Route 165, to operate on Penfield, Leacock, Varley, Knudson, and Campeau to Eagleson Station.

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Springland/Flannery

Changes made to proposal based on public consultation• Route 87 would operate on Riverside between Walkley and Ridgewood.• Route 140 would continue to operate in peak periods to serve the southern

section of Springland and to maintain current connections to Confederation Station and Brookfield High School.

• No change would be made to Route 146.

• Route 87 changed to operate on Flannery and Springland between Brookfield and Ridgewood at all times of the week.

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Reduced Hours of ServiceChanges made to proposal based on public consultation• Route 5 – No reduction in hours of service recommended.• Route 16 – No reduction in hours of service recommended.• Route 106 – No reduction in hours of service recommended.• Route 120 – The number of midday trips would be set at two instead of three, to

fund one midday trip on the new Route 132.• Route 127 – No reduction in hours of service on the section west of Blair Station

recommended. Section east of Blair Station replaced by the new Route 193.• Route 137 – The number of midday trips would be set at two instead of three, to

provide one midday trip on the new Route 132.• Route 149 – Saturday and Sunday service would be retained.• Route 152 – No reduction in hours of service recommended; service would

operate only every hour in the evening and on weekends.• Route 161 – Route 164 would be revised on weekends to cover part of Route

161.• Route 166 – No reduction in hours of service recommended; service would

operate only every hour in the evening and on weekends.• Route 171 – Midday and limited evening service would be retained.

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Other Modifications to Proposals• Route 4 – Would continue to operate to Hurdman Station• Route 5 – Would continue to operate along Laurier• Route 5 – Section Downtown-Billings Bridge Station would be part of Route 18• Route 6 – Would be extended to Carling/Holland; would be combined with Route 5• Route 18 – Would continue to operate along Rideau; would not operate west of Elgin• Route 34 – Would operate on Pagé and Longleaf• Route 61 – Continue some morning trips along Palomino; operate along Carbrooke• Route 62 – Would operate along Sheldrake• Route 93 – Would operate along Helmsdale, Shirley’s Brook, Marconi, Klondike, Halton Terr.

• Route 93 – Peak-period trips would start/end at Lincoln Fields Station• Route 104 – Would not operate; Route 4 would continue to operate to Hurdman Station• Route 105 – Would continue to operate to Sacré-Coeur• Route 106 – Would not operate on hospital ring road outside peak periods• Route 111 – Would continue to operate between Baseline Station and Billings Bridge Station• Route 111 – Extend to Carleton U. at the same times/frequency as current Route 117

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Other Modifications to Proposals

• Route 127 – Would only operate between St. Laurent Station and Blair Station• Route 127 – Section Blair Station-Place d’Orleans Station replaced by new Route 193• Route 134 – Would operate on Pagé and Longleaf• Route 144 – Would operate on Bank, Athans, Sixth• Route 150 – Would operate on Scott to Tunney’s Pasture Station• Route 151 – Would operate to Westgate Shopping Centre (proposed as Route 155)• Route 156 – Would operate to Merivale/Basil Macdonald• Route 157 – Would operate from Prince of Wales/Amberwood• Route 164 – Weekends - operate on Abbeyhill, Castlefrank, Sheldrake, Glamorgan,

Rothesay• Route 166 – Combined with Route 152, to improve connections to Bells Corners• Route 168 – Would not operate on Varley• Route 182 – Some trips would be extended to Herzberg• Route 221 – Continue to operate on Road 174 and Old Montreal east of Dunning

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Next Steps

• Transit Commission will discuss the recommendations on April 20th

• Once approved, staff will prepare to implement the route optimization changes to begin on September 4, 2011

• A comprehensive communication plan will be developed to transition customers to the new route design

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Questions

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