Staff Report #4 – 2020 Service Plan – Conventional Transit

Staff Report #4

April 29, 2020

To All Commissioners

Re: 2020 Service Plan – Conventional Transit

Recommendation

That the Commission APPROVE the deferral of the 2020 Conventional Transit Service Plan for consideration in 2021.

Background

At the January 29, 2020 meeting, the Commission approved the 2020 Conventional Service Plan, subject to budget approval by Municipal Council.

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:

1. Enhance the Overall Levels of Service
2. Explore Alternative Service Delivery Models in New Communities
3. Improve Direct Connections
4. Build on the Express Route Network
5. Eliminate 60 Minute Headways
6. Minimize Impacts on Existing Passengers

The high level summary of service changes included in the 2020 Conventional Service Plan are set out in the table below.

2020 Conventional Service Plan Summary

Also included as part of the 2020 Conventional Transit Service Plan is the implementation of the first Alternate Service Delivery Model (ASD) in the Innovation Park Industrial area. As this is the first ASD to be implemented in London, Administration planned on 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 was not planned to commence until April, after final budget decisions had been confirmed.

All of the aforementioned pieces of the 2020 Conventional Transit Service Plan were proposed to be funded with assessment growth, noting a business case for same was submitted as part of the multi-year budget submission. Recommendations with respect to the use of assessment growth in 2020 have not been brought before Municipal Council at this time, noting that civic administration has recommended that only urgent essential growth requests be considered in 2020, and that these funds may then be utilized to mitigate financial impacts relating to COVID-19. Given the uncertainties with respect to how and when ridership will rebound subsequent to the emergency orders being lifted, the service improvements included in the 2020 Service Plan are not considered urgent nor essential at this time.

Subsequent to the January approval of the 2020 Conventional Service Plan (subject to budget approval), planning staff have been working on the preparation of new schedules, public timetables and Operator sign ups. Much of the work completed to date will be able to be utilized in the future when the service changes set out in the 2020 Service Plan are implemented. The four expansion buses which were required in order to implement the 2020 Conventional Service Plan have not been ordered given the uncertainty of the operating funding component of the funding. The bus stop plates required for the new stops associated with this plan have also not been ordered.

The report recommendation to defer the 2020 Conventional Transit Service Plan for consideration in 2021 is supported by a number of factors, including the following:

• Current uncertainty with respect to when the Provincial emergency declarations may be loosened, noting the provisions in place impact ridership levels as well as access to third party partners that would be required in order to implement the service changes (i.e. bus manufacturer, sign manufacturer, consultants, etc.);
• Financial status of the City of London as well as the Commission, noting there are currently no funding options available to address the budget shortfalls associated with the move to rear door boarding and resultant deferral of fare collection; and
• Uncertainty with respect to the level and extent that ridership will rebound subsequent to the pandemic period noting ridership patterns are likely to have changed from those that were assessed when the Service Plan was prepared.

Should the report recommendation be approved, the timelines associated with the annual service planning process will be maintained. At this time, the proposed timeline associated with the report recommendation would be as follows:

• May-September 2020 – undertake detailed ridership pattern assessments and review of 5 year Service Plan to determine the most appropriate changes to be included in the 2021 Service Plan;
• October 2020 – table the draft 2021 Service Plan with the Commission;
• November/December 2020 – undertake public consultation; and
• January 2021 – table the final recommended 2021 Service Plan with the Commission.

Recommended by:

Katie Burns, Director of Planning

Concurred in by:

Kelly S. Paleczny, General Manager