Staff Report #6
May 9, 2025
To All Commissioners
Re: 2025 Work Program – First Quarter Update
Recommendation
The report be NOTED and FILED.
Background
The Commission’s Business Planning Process includes the development of annual work programs which include initiatives intended to advance the business of the organization with a focus on the strategic objectives of the Business Plan. The Annual Work Program initiatives are grouped by Strategic Objective, and include priority, timelines and designated lead personnel for each initiative.
At the end of each quarter, department Directors provide update reports for the Commission on the initiatives that were intended to be completed within the previous quarter. These reports include reference to the Work Program initiative number for ease of tracking. Enclosure I provides a summary of the Work Program initiatives intended to be completed within the first three months of the year as well as reference to where updates on each initiative can be found. In the cases where specific reports have previously been provided on an initiative, the Enclosure references the previous report and no further commentary is provided in the quarterly update. In the case where updates are provided on this agenda, reference is included to the specific Staff Report.
The remainder of this report provides commentary with respect to the initiatives that are listed as ongoing or new in nature and do not have associated timelines or specific projects associated with them.
1.5 – Inter-Community Transit Service Integration
Over the past several years, primarily as the result of an Ontario Ministry of Transportation program, a number of public transit services were launched in communities across the province. London Transit administration has worked with community providers in surrounding areas that provide service into the City of London. This work has included assistance with service scheduling and planning as well as the identification of stop locations that would provide the greatest opportunity to connect with London Transit services. This collaboration will continue going forward as new services are implemented or as schedules and routing changes are made to those services already in place.
2.4 – Participation in Mobility Master Plan Update
London Transit administration participates on both the working group and the steering committee associated with the Mobility Master Plan Update, providing input with respect to impacts on transit operations.
3.2 – Participation in City of London Safe Cities/Anti-Hate Taskforce
London Transit administration has been a member of this committee and taskforce since its inception, again, providing input and perspectives from a public transit service point of view, as well as sharing feedback from LTC customers where applicable.
4.8 – Regular Consultation with Accessible Public Transit Service Advisory Committee
The Accessible Public Transit Service Advisory Committee establishes a regular meeting schedule at the beginning of each year and administration works with Committee members to gather feedback with respect to the accessibility of public transit services and facilities. Recommendations from the Committee are tabled with the Commission as they arise. Meeting agendas and minutes are posted on the corporate website.
5.3 – Participation on City of London EOCG
London Transit administration participates at the regular scheduled EOCG meetings as well as in the planning of the annual emergency exercise. Additionally, administration participates in special meetings related to events that occur in the city throughout the year that may impact transit services.
8.1 – Ontario Public Transit Association (OPTA) Membership
London Transit administration is represented on the Board of Directors of OPTA, and are also active participants in the various OPTA Committees (Human Resources & Operations, Planning & Scheduling, Marketing, Maintenance and Customer Service, Labour Relations, etc.). Participation in this Association allows for the sharing of lessons learned and best practices across the Province.
OPTA also undertakes advocacy with the Ontario provincial government with respect to funding and legislative issues impacting public transit services. In 2025, focus will be directed at increasing Provincial funding under the Provincial Gas Tax for Transit program, which was the primary request provided by OPTA in the pre-budget submission. OPTA has a close working relationship with MTO staff and partners with them to arrange for meetings/webinars with members when changes to funding programs are announced. OPTA works closely with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) to ensure alignment on issues where applicable.
8.2 – Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) Membership
London Transit administration is represented on the Board of Directors of CUTA, and are also active participants in the various CUTA Committees (Workforce Development, Technical Services, Advocacy and Government Relations, Zero-Emission Bus, Labour Relations, etc.). Participation in this Association allows for the sharing of lessons learned and best practices across the country. CUTA works closely with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) to ensure alignment on issues where applicable.
CUTA undertakes advocacy with the Federal government with respect to funding and legislative issues impacting public transit services. In 2025, focus will be directed at ensuring the Canadian Public Transit Fund remains intact post-election, and is rolled out as prescribed by the previous government (baseline funding begins in 2026), and continued efforts to maintain exemptions for the bus manufacturing sector from retaliatory tariffs. The CUTA Bus Manufacturing Taskforce will also be working to develop a series of recommendations intended to address concerns relating to pricing and delivery timeframes for buses in the Canadian marketplace.
From a legislative perspective, CUTA will continue to advocate for a change to section 269.01 of the Criminal Code, which currently states that when a court sentences an offender for an offence involving a public transit operator, it must consider the fact that the victim was engaged in the performance of their duty as a public transit operator as an aggravating circumstance. Given there are numerous other roles in public transit agencies where an employee could be a victim, CUTA is advocating for “public transit operator” to be amended to “public transit worker”.
8.3 – Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC) Membership
London Transit is a member of CUTRIC and participates in a number of their committees and working groups, primarily relating to new bus technologies (Electric and Hydrogen Fuel Cell). In addition to providing a forum to share lessons learned and best practices with respect to new and evolving technologies, CUTRIC also undertakes advocacy at both Provincial and Federal levels with respect to funding to support bus fleet transitions.
8.6 – New London Transit 150th anniversary
May 24, 2025 will mark the 150th anniversary of London Transit delivering public transit services to the City of London. Work is underway on a number of initiatives to celebrate this milestone including pop-up events, on-board posters, shelter posters, an updated history page on the corporate website and a social media campaign. A media release detailing the various events will be shared closer to the date.
10.14 – Zero Emission Bus Implementation Strategy
London Transit is participating in a joint procurement for a turn-key solution for the supply and installation of up to ten electric buses, four depot chargers and one opportunity charger. The request for proposal is anticipated to be released later this spring, with a planned contract award date during the summer.
Until such time as the contract is awarded, it is not possible to determine a delivery date for the buses and related infrastructure, however based on current delivery timelines being experienced, it is anticipated that delivery will be 18-24 months from date of purchase order. Retrofits at the Wonderland facility will be undertaken in 2025/26 to provide the ability to service and maintain the new buses.
10.16 – Highbury Facility Reconstruction Project
Work is currently underway on the development of a request for proposal for the detailed design of the replacement Highbury facility as well as the preparation of the subsequent tender documents which will be released once the design has been finalized. It is anticipated that the earliest construction will begin on this project is the Spring of 2027.
Enclosure
I – 2025 Work Program – First Quarter Update
Recommended by:
Kelly S. Paleczny, General Manager