Staff Report #1
October 30, 2019
To All Commissioners
Re: Draft 2020 Conventional Transit Service Plan
Recommendations
That the Commission:
i) APPROVE, in principle, the draft 2020 conventional service plan;
ii) DIRECT administration to finalize the 2020 service plan, and forward a copy of the draft service plan report to Members of Council for their information; and
iii) PRESENT the final 2020 service plan report and recommendations at the Commission’s January 31, 2020 meeting.
Background
At the February 27, 2019 meeting, the Commission approved the second Five-Year Service Plan Framework document for service changes over the period of 2020-2024. 2020 represents the first year of the second five-year service plan and builds upon the improvements implemented between 2015 and 2019. The 2020-2024 Framework focuses on six strategic directions to continue the momentum of improvement including;
- Enhance the Overall Levels of Service– There are three key factors that drive ridership growth; frequency, reliability and travel time. This strategic direction will promote the continued improvements to service levels as a method of making the service more attractive to London residents.
- Explore Alternative Service Delivery Models in New Communities- This direction in the plan is to begin to explore the use of Alternative Service Delivery Models (ASDs) in areas of the City that are currently unserved due to low ridership potential.
- Improve Direct Connections– Continue to expand on the grid network, identifying opportunities to provide more direct routes, connected to key destinations.
- Build on the Express Route Network– Continue to identify opportunities to expand the express route network and build ridership through improved service levels and enhanced connectivity to other routes.
- Eliminate 60 Minute Headways– Continue to improve the frequency of routes that operate every 60 minutes (during certain periods), targeting 30 minute headways or better, or the implementation of an ASD where the demand does not warrant a service increase.
- Minimize Impacts on Existing Passengers– Minimize the impacts on existing customers when modifications occur.
Consistent with past practice, the 2020 draft service planning process takes direction from the recommendations in the 2020-2024 Five Year Service Plan Framework, but also includes assessments pertaining to:
- existing service performance issues and demands
- 12-month assessment of the 2018 service plan changes
- early assessment of the 2019 service plan changes
- new growth areas
- customer contacts
- Operator, Inspector and Dispatcher feedback
This report sets out the proposed 2020 service plan recommendations. Additionally, discussion is provided on the 12-month assessment of the 2018 service plan.
Draft 2020 Service Plan Changes
The 2019 service plan saw system-wide routing modifications in an effort to provide more direct connections, frequencies that match demand, and to expand on the semi-express route network. The focus of the 2020 service plan is less on modifying the route alignments and more on enhancing the overall service levels and beginning to eliminate the 60 minute frequencies.
The draft 2020 Service Plan sets out the changes that are considered the highest priority, totalling approximately 24,800 hours on an annual basis and requiring six additional peak period buses. Given the 2020 budget, as approved by the Commission, includes the addition of 18,000 annualized hours and four expansion buses, further assessment will be completed to prioritize changes consistent with budget allocations. It should be noted that, while the 2020 operating and capital budgets have been approved by the Commission, the City of London investment shares in these budgets are not scheduled to be approved by Municipal Council until the end of February. Administration will proceed with the 2020 Service Plan development process, bringing a final recommended Plan to the Commission in January, it being noted that the said Plan may be subject to amendments based on the final decision by Municipal Council with respect to the City of London’s investment share in transit services.
Table I below sets out the summary of the draft 2020 service plan proposals, including a brief rationale for same.
Table I – 2020 Draft Service Plan
| Route | Description of Service Change | Annual Service Hours | Peak Buses | Rationale |
| 2 | Weekday – Increase Round Trip Time to 135 minutes from 4-6pm | 504 | 0 | Schedule Adherence |
| Sunday – Increase frequency to 20 minutes from 9-11am | 248 | 0 | ||
| Sunday – Increase frequency to 20 minutes from 6-10pm | 496 | 1 | ||
| 4 | Increase Weekday frequency from 20 minutes to 17 minutes between 12 and 2 pm | 504 | 0 | Ridership Growth – Demand Based |
| 10 | Sunday – Increase frequency to 30 minutes from 5-10pm | 930 | 0 | Schedule Efficiency |
| Sunday – Increase frequency to 40 minutes from 10-11pm | 186 | 0 | ||
| 12 | Weekday – Increase frequency to 45 minutes from 9pm – 12am | 756 | 0 | Schedule Efficiency
———- Frequency Improvement |
| Saturday – Increase frequency to 30 minutes from 8am – 12pm | 208 | 0 | ||
| Saturday – Increase frequency to 30 minutes from 6pm – 9pm | 156 | 0 | ||
| Saturday – Increase frequency to 45 minutes from 9pm – 12am | 156 | 0 | ||
| 13 | Weekday – Increase frequency to 24 minutes from 9pm – 12pm | 756 | 0 | Schedule Efficiency |
| 17 | Saturday – Increase frequency to 30 minutes between 6 and 10 am
Sunday – Increase frequency to 30 minutes between 6 and 9 am Sunday – Increase frequency to 30 minutes between 6 and 9 pm |
208
186 186 |
0
0 0 |
Five Year Service Plan |
| 20 | Weekday- Increase frequency from 20 minutes to 15 minutes between 9am – 4pm | 4,032 | 0 | Ridership Growth – Demand Based
———- Overcrowding |
| Weekday- Increase frequency from 20 minutes to 15 minutes between 6pm – 9pm | 1,512 | 0 | ||
| 25 | Weekday – Increase frequency from 30 minutes to 20 minutes between 7 am and 9 am | 504 | 0 | Ridership Growth – Demand Based
————— Service Span |
| Weekday – Increase frequency from 30 minutes to 20 minutes between 9 am and 12 pm | 756 | 0 | ||
| Weekday – Increase frequency to 20 minutes from 12-4 pm | 1,008 | 1 | ||
| Weekday – Increase frequency to 20 minutes from 6-9pm | 756 | 1 | ||
| Saturday – Increase frequency to 20 minutes from 8am – 6pm | 520 | 0 | ||
| Saturday – Increase frequency to 24 minutes from 6-9pm | 156 | 0 | ||
| Saturday – Increase frequency to 30 minutes from 9pm – 12am | 310 | 0 | ||
| Sunday – Increase frequency to 21 minutes from 9am – 12pm | 186 | 0 | ||
| Sunday – Increase frequency to 27 minutes from 12-3pm | 186 | 0 | ||
| Sunday – Increase frequency to 23 minutes from 5-10pm
Sunday – Increase frequency to 21 minutes from 10-11 pm Sunday- Introduce service on a 41 minute frequency at 7 am |
310
62 124 |
0
0 0 |
||
| 27 | Weekday – Increase frequency to 11 minutes between 9am and 12pm | 756 | 0 | Ridership Growth – Demand Based
———- Overcrowding |
| Weekday – Increase frequency from 11 minutes to 10 minutes between 3:30 and 6 pm | 630 | 1 | ||
| 31 | Weekday – Increase frequency to 20 minutes between 6 am and 6 pm | 3,024 | 0 | Five Year Service Plan |
| Weekday – Increase frequency to 30 minutes between 6 pm and 12 am | 1,512 | 0 | ||
| Saturday – Increase frequency to 30 minutes between 8:30 and10 am | 130 | 0 | ||
| Saturday – Increase frequency to 30 minutes between 6 pm and 12 am | 312 | 0 | ||
| Sunday – Increase frequency to 30 minutes between 8:30 am and 8 pm | 713 | 0 | ||
| 33 | Saturday – Introduce service on a 34 minute frequency between 11 am and 7 pm (Fall / Winter Only) | 277 | 0 | Ridership Growth – Demand Based |
| Sunday – Introduce service on a 34 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 | Five Year Service Plan |
| Weekday – Increase frequency from 60 minutes to 40 minutes between 6 and 9pm | 756 | 0 | ||
| Saturday – Increase frequency from 60 minutes to 40 minutes between 8 and 10 am | 104 | 0 | ||
| Saturday – Increase frequency from 60 minutes to 40 minutes between 9 and 11 pm | 104 | 0 | ||
| Sunday – Increase frequency from 60 minutes to 40 minutes between 6 am and 11 pm | 992 | 0 | ||
| 36 | Weekday – Increase frequency to 15 minutes from 6:30-9am & 2-6pm | 1,764 | 0 | Service Span
———- Ridership Growth – Demand Based |
| Weekday – Extend service to 7:30pm on a 30 minute frequency | 252 | 1 | ||
| 90 | Sunday – Extend service on a 30 minutes frequency between 7 pm and 9 pm | 124 | 0 | Ridership Growth – Demand Based |
| 102 | Weekday – Increase frequency to 11 minutes from 4-6pm | 326 | 1 | Overcrowding
———- Schedule Adherence ———- Routing Modification |
| Weekday – Decrease frequency to 40 minutes from 9-11pm | (326) | 0 | ||
| Weekday – Decrease frequency to 22 minutes from 6-9pm | (489) | 0 | ||
| Weekday – Decrease Round Trip Time by 5 minutes All Day | (2,604) | 0 | ||
| Saturday – Decrease Round Trip Time by 5 minutes All Day
Sunday – Decrease Round Trip Time by 5 minutes All Day |
(433)
(455) |
0
0 |
||
| 104 | Weekday – Decrease frequency to 33 minutes from 4-6pm | (326) | 0 | Schedule Adherence |
| 106 | Weekday- Increase frequency to 15 minutes between 6 and 9 pm | 756 | 0 | Ridership Growth – Demand Based |
| TOTAL | 24,343 | 6 |
A more detailed discussion of the proposed 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.
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 (ASD’s) 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. Updates on the recommended ASD model will be presented at a future Commission meeting. It is anticipated that the ASD service in these areas will be implemented in September 2020 as part of the 2020 Service Plan.
12 Month Assessment of the 2018 Service Plan Changes
Historically, an eight-month assessment of the previous years’ service changes would be completed as part of the draft service plan report in the following year. Due to the change in timing of the service planning process to accommodate the increase in the number of service changes as well as the additional time required to implement the changes, only a four-month review of the 2018 service changes was completed as part of the 2019 final service plan report presented to the Commission at the January 30, 2019 meeting.
The 2018 service plan continued to build on the principle of ‘right-sizing’ the system by better matching transit service with demand and saw the addition of 18,000 annual service hours. A full 12-month assessment of the 2018 service plan modifications has been completed, a summary of which is set out in Enclosure II. The summary includes a high level assessment of each change compared to its intended impact on ridership and service quality. Overall, the service changes have had a positive impact on ridership and service quality, noting some changes continue to be under review as the current results are not meeting projected targets. Should the results continue to fall below the targets additional changes may be proposed as part of future service plans.
Public Engagement
Following the presentation of the draft service plan to the Commission, a public engagement period is held for approximately two months to allow passengers and residents potentially impacted by the changes to provide feedback and comment on the proposals.
The engagement period consists of in person public information sessions, generally held at public libraries in the areas most greatly impacted by the proposed changes. Meeting locations are determined based on accessibility, general coverage across the city, areas/neighbourhoods which may be impacted the greatest based on the proposed service changes, historic attendance at these sessions (approx. 0-20 per session) and staff resource availability. Two meetings are also held at the Central Library downtown to be in a central location for all residents to be able to attend. Based on the proposed changes as part of the 2020 Draft Service Plan and the above noted considerations, the public meeting locations for November and December 2019 are as follows:
| Date | Location | Times |
| November 19 | Central Library | 2-4 pm & 6-8 pm |
| November 26 | Sherwood Library | 2-4 pm & 6-8 pm |
| November 28 | Masonville Library | 2-4 pm & 6-8 pm |
| December 3 | Byron Library | 2-4 pm & 6-8 pm |
| December 11 | Central Library | 2-4 pm & 6-8 pm |
In past years, requests for additional sessions have been received from Members of Council given there was no specific session in their ward. As indicated above, sessions are planned in an effort to provide the opportunity for wide community participation, but are not intended to be ward specific. The additional sessions added in previous years had limited participation, and strained available staff resources. As such, there will be no additional sessions added as part of the 2020 pubic consultation period. Posters referencing the planned sessions including dates and times are currently on all buses, as well as the corporate website.
In addition to the public information sessions, an online survey will also be available starting November 4, 2019 for those that are unable to attend one of the above information sessions. Comments and feedback can also be made by emailing or phoning the customer service line.
Next Steps
London Transit will be promoting the draft service plan through on-board notifications, the LTC website, public information sessions and community associations. Social media messaging will be utilized to inform the public about the draft plan, related public information centres and the online survey.
Over the next three months, staff will further assess the identified priorities and refine the recommended service changes to be included in the final 2020 Service Plan.
As referenced, the final recommendations respecting the 2020 Conventional Service Plan are scheduled to be presented to the Commission for approval at its January 2020 meeting.
Consistent with the recommendations, this report will be shared with all Members of Council.
Enclosures
I – Draft 2020 Conventional Service Plan Changes
II – 2018 Service Plan Twelve Month Assessment
Recommended by:
Katie Burns, Director of Planning
Concurred in by:
Kelly S. Paleczny, General Manager