Staff Report #4
April 24, 2019
To All Commissioners
Re: Investing in Canada – Public Transit Infrastructure Stream (PTIS) Update
Recommendation
That the report be NOTED and FILED.
Background
On March 14, 2018, the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario signed an Integrated Bilateral Agreement (the Agreement) to deliver up to $7.47 billion to Ontario for public transit infrastructure by March 31, 2028. The funds are distributed across Ontario based on transit ridership. London’s municipal transit ridership is the fifth largest in the province resulting in an allocation of $204.88 million. The Agreement identifies a provincial target of increasing the modal share of public transit and active transportation by at least 25%. To be eligible, individual projects must meet at least one of the following outcomes as stated in the Agreement:
- improved capacity of public transit infrastructure
- improved quality and/or safety of transit systems
- improved access to a public transit system
The Agreement also states that public transit projects and active transportation projects that connect citizens to a public transit system need to be consistent with a land-use or transportation plan or strategy.
At its meeting of March 25, 2019, the Strategic Priorities and Policy of Committee of Council determined the projects that would be submitted to the Provincial and Federal governments for consideration under the Investing in Canada – Public Transit Infrastructure Stream (PTIS). The outcomes were confirmed by Municipal Council at the March 26, 2019 meeting. The list of projects recommended by civic administration for consideration are set out below, including the status where known, of those projects where action was taken.
Transit Category
- Downtown Loop – $28.5 million – approved for submission
- Wellington Road Gateway – $131.8 3 million – approved for submission
- East London Link – $120.2 million – approved for submission
- North Connection – $147.3 million
- West Connection $72.2 million
- Intelligent Traffic Signals (TIMMS) $28.0 million – approved for submission
- Expansion Buses $25.2 million –– approved for submission
- On-Board Information Screens $5.0 million – referred for consideration at future meeting
- Bus Stop Amenities $1.1 million – approved for submission
Transit Supportive Category
- Pedestrian Street Connectivity Improvements to the Transit Network $21.8 million – referred for consideration at future meeting
- New Sidewalks $11.1 million – referred for consideration at future meeting
- Adelaide Street Underpass Active Transportation Connections $18.9 million – approved for submission
- Active Transportation Improvements across Transit Route Bridges $31.4 million – referred for consideration at future meeting
- Dundas Place Thames Valley Parkway Active Transportation Connection $4.0 million – approved for submission
- Dundas Street Old East Village Streetscape Improvements $8.2 million – approved for submission
- Oxford Street / Wharncliffe Road Intersection Improvements $17.8 million – approved for submission
- Cycling Routes Connecting to Downtown Transit $7.7 million – referred for consideration at future meeting
- Cycling Routes Connecting to Transit throughout the City $38.7 million – referred for consideration at future meeting
- Enhanced Bike Parking $4.0 million – referred for consideration at future meeting
Specific to the three LTC-specific projects, detailed descriptions of each are set out below.
Expansion Buses
This $25.2 million project represents the expansion bus requirements for the period 2020 through 2028, totaling 31 buses, comprised of an as of yet undetermined mix of 40’ and 60’ buses. The total bus allocation includes the 22 expansion buses included in the Five Year Service Plan Framework (2020 – 2024), which was approved by the Commission at the February 2019 meeting. An additional nine buses are included in the project to cover the period 2025 through 2028.
As indicated earlier in this report, this project was approved by municipal council for submission to senior levels of government for funding consideration. Depending on approval timelines, the Commission may have to undertake the purchase of expansion buses for 2020 outside of this program in order to ensure the buses are on-site and available for the September 2020 service changes.
On-Board Information Screens
This $5.0 million project was previously approved by the Commission for funding under the Public Transit Infrastructure Funding (PTIF) program, which is scheduled to wrap up at the end of March, 2020. The project calls for the installation of LED information screens with the ability to display still messaging and video. The screens would be utilized to display upcoming stops in real time, as well as public service announcements and messaging regarding detours and other changes to services and routing. The system would also include the potential to be utilized for third-party advertising, which could provide a revenue stream to offset the operating costs.
As set out in Staff Report #3 – Provincial Gas Tax for Transit Program, dated April 24, 2019, this project is being recommended to be removed from the initial PTIF funding program given the revised program budget exceeds the allocated amount of $3.9 million. As indicated earlier in this report, this project was recommended by municipal council to be referred for consideration at a future meeting.
Bus Stop Amenities
This $1.1 million project calls for the supply and installation of an additional 60 bus shelters throughout the transit network and 150 solar-powered lights at bus stop locations where lighting and/or safety concerns have been identified
As indicated earlier in this report, this project was approved by municipal council for submission to senior levels of government for funding consideration.
The first intake for project submissions was opened by the Province of Ontario on April 2, 2019 for municipalities located outside of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), which includes London. The deadline for this first intake period is May 28, 2019. The Province has confirmed that there will be subsequent intakes for additional projects going forward, noting each municipality is limited to their funding allocation.
LTC administration is working in cooperation with civic administration to complete the necessary documentation required for project submission within the first intake period. Projects must be approved by the Provincial Government prior to being nominated to the Federal Government for approval. The Provincial assessment will be conducted on an outcomes-based approach, and will consider technical merit, alignment with provincial transit priorities, provincial growth and land-use policies, and a financial review. Projects must receive approval from both the Provincial and Federal governments to be considered approved.
Subsequent to notification of project approval, detailed reports with respect to funding sources and implementation steps and timelines will be provided to the Commission.
Recommended by:
Kelly S. Paleczny, General Manager