Staff Report #2
September 17, 2024
To All Members of the Accessible Public Transit Service Advisory Committee
Re: Specialized Service Update
Recommendation
That the report be NOTED and FILED
Background
The following provides an update on a number of ongoing projects from the Commission’s 2024 Work Program related to the delivery of specialized transit services.
1.4 – 2024 Specialized Service Improvements
The outstanding growth hours for 2024 have been added to the service beginning September 1, 2024. Three additional vehicles have been scheduled during the highest period of demand from 8:00am to 6:30pm Monday to Friday.
4.4 – Implement Smart Card on Specialized Service
The project to implement handheld devices on specialized vehicles required to validate and collect fares from the smart card system is in the final stages. The devices are similar in nature to the on-board validators (OBV’s) currently installed on the conventional bus fleet, namely the ability to confirm or validate an appropriate fare. The only difference being they are portable and do not integrate with the AVL system.
Two rounds of user acceptance testing have been completed and two outstanding issues remain that need to be addressed prior to moving forward with the implementation. The on-board hardware has been delivered to London Transit and is currently being configured.
Administration has concurrently been working with Voyago to prepare for the receipt and installation of the devices along with the development of processes and necessary training required to implement these changes.
The smart card equipment will be placed into service on vehicles as soon as the remaining software issues have been addressed. A communication program has been developed and will be rolled out in advance of the readers being placed into service.
12.9 – Specialized Booking System replacement
As recommended and approved in Staff Report #1 dated February 28, 2024, administration has initiated the system upgrade process with the vendor.
Vendor availability issues resulted in a delay in project commencement, with the initial kick-off meeting not being held until August 15, 2024 to review the order of events for the implementation of the new software. Administration has reiterated the imperative nature of this project and the need to move this project forward as quickly as possible, and as such they have dedicated the required resources to the project through completion.
At time of report writing, administration has completed the documentation for the operational review which is required to establish the baseline parameters for the booking system.
It is anticipated that implementation can be completed within approximately four (4) months from the kick-off meeting; however, during the Operational review period, a project plan will be prepared for each of the implementation modules clarifying expected timelines. Until such time as the detailed work plan is completed, milestone dates cannot be confirmed.
Specialized Registrant Base Review
As previously communicated, a review of the specialized registrant database was undertaken in advance of the upgrade to the new booking system to ensure all customer information is up to date and accurate. The review focused on registrants who had not utilized the service since January 2023. As the result of this review, approximately 6,600 registrants have either been removed completely (deceased, moved, no longer require the service) or have been designated inactive in the system (review was unable to contact registrant to confirm requirements). Additionally, upon the competition of the review, all databases in the Specialized Department have been updated to reflect same. As set out in the Five-Year Service Plan for the Specialized service, a review of this nature will be conducted every three years going forward to ensure that records remain accurate and up to date.
Contract Extension – Voyago
At the August 28, 2024 meeting, the Commission approved exercising the two-year renewal option for the Primary Service Contract for the delivery of specialized services with Voyago for the period of August 1, 2025 – July 31, 2027 noting all terms and conditions remain in force.
Recommended by:
Shawn Wilson, Director of Operations
Concurred in by:
Kelly S. Paleczny, General Manager