Staff Report #2
January 29, 2020
To All Commissioners
Re: 2020 Service Plan – Conventional Transit
Recommendation
That the Commission:
I. APPROVE the 2020 Conventional Transit Service Plan as set out below, SUBJECT TO Municipal Council approval of the Commission’s 2020 Operating Budget as submitted and noting the recommended changes represent approximately 18,000 additional service hours:
- Route 2
- Weekday- Increase Round Trip Time to 135 minutes between 2 pm and 6 pm
- Sunday- Increase frequency from 30 minutes to 20 minutes between 9 am and 11 am
- Sunday- Increase frequency from 30 minutes to 20 minutes between 6 pm and 10 pm
- Route 10
- Sunday- Increase frequency from 60 minutes to 30 minutes between 5 pm and 10 pm
- Sunday- Increase frequency from 60 minutes to 40 minutes between 10 pm and 11 pm
- Route 12
- Weekday- Increase frequency from 60 minutes to 45 minutes between 9 pm and 12 am
- Route 20
- Weekday- Increase frequency from 20 minutes to 15 minutes between 9 am and 2 pm
- Route 25
- Weekday- Increase frequency from 30 minutes to 20 minutes between 7 am and 2 pm
- Weekday- Increase frequency from 30 minutes to 20 minutes between 6 pm and 9 pm
- Saturday- Increase frequency from 60 minutes to 30 minutes between 6 pm and 9 pm
- Sunday- Increase frequency from 60 minutes to 30 minutes between 9 am and 3 pm
- Sunday- Extend service on a 41-minute frequency starting at 7 am
- Route 31
- Weekday- Increase frequency from 30 minutes to 20 minutes between 6 am and 6 pm
- Weekday- Increase frequency from 55 minutes to 30 minutes between 6 pm and 12 am
- Saturday- Increase frequency from 50 minutes to 30 minutes between 8:30 am and 10 am
- Saturday- Increase frequency from 50 minutes to 30 minutes between 2 pm and 6 pm
- Sunday- Increase frequency from 50 minutes to 30 minutes between 8:30 am and 8 pm
- Route 33
- Saturday- Introduce service on a 40-minute frequency between 11 am and 7 pm (Fall/Winter Only)
- Sunday- Introduce service on a 40-minute frequency between 11 am and 6 pm (Fall/Winter Only)
- Route 34
- Weekday- Increase frequency from 60 minutes to 40 minutes between 6 am and 7 am
- Weekday- Increase frequency from 60 minutes to 40 minutes between 6 pm and 9 pm
- Saturday- Increase frequency from 60 minutes to 40 minutes between 8 am and 10 am
- Sunday- Increase frequency from 60 minutes to 40 minutes between 10 am and 8:30 pm
- Route 36
- Weekday- Increase frequency from 30 minutes to 15 minutes between 6 am and 9 am and 2 pm and 6 pm
- Weekday- Extend service until 7:30 pm on a 30-minute frequency
- Route 90
- Sunday- Extend service on a 30-minute frequency between 7 pm and 9 pm
- Route 102
- Weekday- Decrease frequency from 20 to 22 minutes between 6 pm and 9 pm
- Weekday- Decrease frequency from 35 minutes to 40 minutes between 9 pm and 11 pm
- Routing Modification- Remove downtown loop and operate south on Richmond to west on Queens
- Route 104
- Weekday- Decrease frequency from 30 minutes to 33 minutes between 4 pm and 6 pm
II. DIRECT administration report back on the final 2020 Conventional Transit Service Plan particulars subsequent to confirmation of the 2020 budget.
Background
The 2020 Conventional Service Plan represents the first year of London Transit’s second Five Year Service Plan Framework (the Framework) which sets out six strategic directions in an effort to improve the transit experience system-wide:
- Enhance the Overall Levels of Service
- Explore Alternative Service Delivery Models in New Communities
- Improve Direct Connections
- Build on the Express Route Network
- Eliminate 60 Minute Headways
- Minimize Impacts on Existing Passengers
The implementation of the previous Five Year Service Plan Framework resulted in significant modifications to routing across the system in an effort to better serve the community at large while at the same time better balancing service levels with ridership. Given the majority of the route restructuring was completed over the previous service plans, the current Five Year Service Plan Framework focuses more strongly on improving the levels of service system wide.
At the October 30, 2019 meeting, the Commission received the draft 2020 Conventional Service Plan and directed administration to finalize the Plan, including the undertaking of public consultation regarding the proposed changes and report back with the final recommended plan at the January 2020 meeting.
Given the time and resources required to implement the planned changes, the report recommendation calls for Commission approval, subject to Municipal Council’s budget approval in March 2020. Commission approval of this nature will provide administration with the ability to begin the work involved to ensure the service changes will be ready for implementation in September 2020 should the budget be approved as submitted. Delaying Commission approval until the budget has been approved will result in a delayed implementation of the service changes. The work undertaken prior to final budget approval will be administrative time only and will not include the procurement of new bus stop signs etc. that may not be required subject to budget. Should Council approve a City of London investment that is less than requested in the Commission budget, a follow-up report will be tabled with the Commission with respect to next steps.
Subsequent to the October 30, 2019 meeting, administration held public consultation sessions in the communities most affected by the proposed service changes. In addition, further detailed assessment was completed on each of the recommended changes with the objective of assessing and addressing, as considered appropriate, public concerns and ensuring the recommended changes provide the maximum benefit/return to the system at large. The assessment included:
- detailed route analysis to ensure that all routes would be able to operate as expected once the recommended changes are implemented;
- reviewing updated ridership data to asses any changes in travel patterns;
- assessment of options to address concerns raised during the public consultations in an effort to mitigate negative impacts to current riders and London residents; and
- overall analysis of recommended changes to ensure that changes being made in 2020 are complimentary to one another and are not dependent on future year changes to attain their desired outcome.
The 2020 service plan differs from service plans over the past five years in that the majority of the recommended changes are related to frequency and schedule adherence improvements as opposed to routing modifications. As such the potential negative impacts to passengers is minimized as the recommended changes provide for more travel options as opposed to potentially impacting travel patterns as a result of route modifications.
Public Consultation
The draft service changes were presented at five public consultation “drop-in” sessions held at locations throughout the city. The sessions were held between November 19 and December 11, 2019, with approximately 90 people attending the five drop-in sessions where the public had the opportunity to discuss the potential changes with LTC staff and share their perspectives. Members of the public attending these sessions also had the opportunity to complete a comment sheet outlining their perspectives, approximately six comment sheets were completed at the sessions. In addition to those who attended the drop-in sessions, approximately 690 online surveys were completed, and there were 19,200 impressions of the proposed service changes messaging through the corporate Facebook and Twitter accounts.
The majority of the comments received through the public engagement process were with respect to the 2019 service changes. As these changes were only implemented in September 2019, a full assessment of the impacts of the desired outcomes has not been completed and therefore no changes to routing modifications implemented in September 2019 are recommended at this time. Administration will continue to monitor the impacts of the 2019 service plan changes over the coming months and assess if any changes are required as part of the 2021 service planning process.
With respect to the proposed changes for 2020, limited public feedback was received. This was anticipated as the 2020 service plan proposals focused mostly on increasing frequency as opposed to routing modifications that potentially could have negative impacts on some existing passengers.
Assessment
The priority service changes, approved in draft at the October 30, 2019 meeting, proposed the addition of approximately 24,000 annual service hours and seven additional peak period buses to the system, noting the 2020 Commission approved budget only allows for the addition of 18,000 hours and four peak period buses. Through further assessment, review of public feedback and refinement of priorities, the final 2020 Service Plan prioritizes approximately 18,000 annual revenue service hours and four additional peak period buses. Table I below provides a high level summary of the recommended changes as part of the final 2020 Service Plan.
Table I – 2020 Conventional Service Plan Summary
| Route | Description of Service Change | Annual Service Hours | Peak Buses | Rationale |
| 2 | Weekday- Increase Round Trip Time to 135 minutes between 2 pm and 6 pm | 987 | 1 | Schedule Adherence |
| Sunday- Increase frequency from 30 minutes to 20 minutes between 9 am and 11 am | 294 | 0 | ||
| Sunday- Increase frequency from 30 minutes to 20 minutes between 6 pm and 10 pm | 462 | 0 | ||
| 10 | Sunday- Increase frequency to from 60 to 30 minutes between 5 pm and 10 pm | 598 | 0 | Schedule Efficiency |
| Sunday- Increase frequency from 60 minutes to 40 minutes between 10 pm and 11 pm | 120 | 0 | ||
| 12 | Weekday- Increase frequency from 60 minutes to 45 minutes between 9 pm and 12 am | 567 | 0 | Schedule Efficiency |
| 20 | Weekday- Increase frequency from 20 minutes to 15 minutes between 9 am and 2 pm | 2,520 | 0 | Ridership Growth – Demand Based |
| 25 | Weekday Increase frequency from 30 minutes to 20 minutes between 7 am and 9 am | 550 | 0 | Ridership Growth – Demand Based |
| Weekday- Increase Frequency from 30 minutes to 20 minutes between 9 am and 12 pm | 825 | 0 | ||
| Weekday Increase frequency from 30 minutes to 20 minutes between 12 pm and 2 pm | 550 | 1 | ||
| Weekday Increase frequency from 30 minutes to 20 minutes between 6 pm and 9 pm | 825 | 0 | ||
| Saturday- Increase frequency from 60 minutes to 30 minutes between 6 pm and 9 pm | 140 | 0 | ||
| Sunday Increase frequency from 60 minutes to 30 minutes between 9 am and 12 pm | 173 | |||
| Sunday- Increase frequency from 60 minutes to 30 minutes between 12 pm and 3 pm | 174 | 0 | ||
| Sunday- Extend service on 41 minute frequency starting at 7 am | 112 | 0 | Service Span | |
| 31 | Weekday Increase frequency from 30 minutes to 20 minutes between 6 am and 6 pm | 2,394 | 1 | Frequency Improvements |
| Weekday Increase frequency from 55 minutes to 30 minutes between 6 pm and 12 am | 1,626 | 0 | ||
| Saturday Increase frequency from 50 minutes to 30 minutes between 8:30 am and 10 am | 85 | 0 | ||
| Saturday Increase frequency from 50 minutes to 30 minutes between 2 pm and 6 pm | 334 | 0 | ||
| Sunday Increase frequency from 50 minutes to 30 minutes between 8:30am and 8pm | 713 | 0 | ||
| 33 | Saturday- Introduce service on a 40 minute frequency between 11 am and 7 pm (Fall/Winter Only) | 277 | 0 | Ridership Growth – Demand Based |
| Sunday- Introduce service on a 40 minute frequency between 11 am and 6 pm (Fall/Winter Only) | 290 | 0 | ||
| 34 | Weekday- Increase frequency from 60 minutes to 40 minutes between 6 and 7 am | 252 | 0 | Frequency Improvements |
| Weekday- Increase frequency from 60 minutes to 40 minutes between 6 and 9 pm | 504 | 0 | ||
| Saturday Increase frequency from 60 minutes to 40 minutes between 8 and 10 am | 104 | 0 | ||
| Sunday- Increase frequency from 60 minutes to 40 minutes between 10 am to 8:30 pm | 472 | 0 | ||
| 36 | Weekday Increase frequency from 30 minutes to 15 minutes between 6 am and 9 am and 2 pm and 6 pm | 1,743 | 1 | Ridership Growth – Demand Based |
| Weekday- Extend service until 7:30 pm on a 30 minute frequency | 147 | 0 | Service Span | |
| 90 | Sunday Extend service on a 30 minute frequency between 7 pm and 9 pm | 127 | 0 | Ridership Growth – Demand Based |
| 102 | Weekday- Decrease frequency from 20 to 22 minutes between 6 pm and 9 pm | 0 | 0 | Schedule Adherence |
| Weekday- Decrease frequency from 35 minutes to 40 minutes between 9 pm and 11 pm | 0 | 0 | ||
| Routing Modification – Remove downtown loop and operate south on Richmond to Right on Queens | 0 | 0 | Routing Modification | |
| 104 | Weekday- Decrease frequency from 30 minutes to 33 minutes between 4 pm and 6 pm | 0 | 0 | Schedule Adherence |
| TOTAL | 17,965 | 4 |
A more detailed discussion of the recommended changes is provided in Enclosure I. The discussion includes high-level consideration of budget implications, and provides what is considered to be the most effective and efficient means to resolve each issue.
As indicated, the draft plan prioritized approximately 24,000 annual service hours and the Commission-approved budget only allows for the addition of 18,000 in 2020. As such, further refinement of the draft plan was required which resulted in a number of draft recommendations being deferred for review in subsequent years. Table II below sets out the draft proposals that are recommended for deferral, noting that these changes will be subject to the future service plan review process.
Table II- Changes Recommended to be Deferred to Future Service Plan Reviews
| Route | Description of Service Change | Annual Service Hours | Peak Buses |
| 4 | Weekday- Increase frequency to 17 minutes between 12 pm and 2 pm | 504 | 0 |
| 12 | Saturday- Increase frequency to 45 minutes between 9 pm and 12 am | 156 | 0 |
| Saturday- Increase frequency from 50 minutes to 30 min between 6 pm and 9 pm | 156 | 0 | |
| Saturday- Increase frequency from 50 minutes to 30 min between 8 am and 12 pm | 208 | 0 | |
| 13 | Weekday- Increase frequency to 24 minutes between 9 pm and 12 am | 756 | 0 |
| 20 | Weekday- Increase frequency to 15 minutes between 6 pm and 9 pm | 1,512 | 0 |
| 25 | Sunday- Increase frequency to 23 minutes between 5 pm and 10 pm | 310 | 0 |
| Sunday- Increase frequency to 21 minutes between 10 pm and 11 pm | 62 | 0 | |
| 27 | Weekday- Increase frequency to 11 minutes between 9 am and 12 pm | 756 | 0 |
| Weekday- Increase frequency to 10 minutes between 3:30 pm and 6 pm | 630 | 1 | |
| 102 | Weekday- Increase frequency to 11 minutes between 4 pm and 6 pm | 326 | 1 |
| 106 | Weekday- Increase frequency to 15 minutes between 6 pm and 9 pm | 756 | 0 |
| TOTAL | 6,132 | 2 |
In addition to the above noted changes recommended for deferral, through the more detailed assessment process some proposals from the draft plan are recommended to be removed and not considered as part of future service plans. Table III sets out the proposed changes that are recommended to be removed from the service plan framework going forward.
Table III- Changes Recommended to be Removed from the Service Plan Framework
| Route | Description of Service Change | Annual Service Hours | Peak Buses |
| 102 | Weekday- Decrease Round Trip Time by 5 Minutes All Day | -2,604 | 0 |
| 102 | Saturday- Decrease Round Trip Time by 5 Minutes All Day | -433 | 0 |
| 102 | Sunday- Decrease Round Trip Time by 5 Minutes All Day | -455 | 0 |
| TOTAL | -3,492 | 0 |
After further review the reduction of five minutes to the total round trip time would result in inconsistent frequencies throughout each of the time periods. To ensure that schedule adherence can be maintained throughout all time-periods, it is recommended that the current round trip times be maintained.
Alternative Service Delivery Models
One of the six strategic directions set out in the 2020-2024 Five-Year Service Plan, is to explore alternative service delivery models (ASDs) in areas of the city that are currently unserved due to low ridership potential. The phasing plan set out in the framework calls for the implementation of the first ASD in the Innovation Park Industrial area as well as expanding service hour coverage in the Sovereign Road area as part of the 2020 service plan improvements.
As this is the first ASD to be implemented in London, Administration will be working with consultants to undertake an assessment of the ASD options available and determine the most appropriate model for this area.
Work to assess the most appropriate form of alternative service for the Innovation park area will not commence until March/April, after final budget decisions have been confirmed and an update report will be presented to the Commission at that time.
Stop Upgrades
Bus Stop Plates
With the approval of the 2020 Conventional Service Plan, approximately 63 new/replacement bus stop plates will be required to modify routes and/or service notes. Additional plates will be ordered to replace signage requiring updated information, damages and where plates are missing; however, not until such time as the budget has been finalized and the 2020 plan is confirmed
Next Steps
Subject to Commission approval of the 2020 Conventional Transit Service Plan, the next steps associated with the implementation of the service changes include:
- preparation/production of new schedules, layovers/time points, public timetables and Operator sign-up;
- updating the AVL system including GPS locates of new stops and routes, voice announcements, electronic destination signs and on-street signs;
- updating routing and schedule information for Google Maps; and
- undertaking a marketing program including printed Ride Guide maps and route timetables, Transit Talk, on-board and stop level notices, website updates and social media, pop-up information sessions throughout the summer and first two weeks of September, as well as internal info screen postings, Operator information sessions and an internal newsletter.
Enclosure
I – 2020 Conventional Transit Service Plan Changes
Recommended by:
Katie Burns, Director of Planning
Concurred in by:
Kelly S. Paleczny, General Manager