Staff Report #4 – Draft 2020 Conventional Transit Service Plan

Staff Report #4

November 7, 2019

To All Members of the Accessible Public Transit Service Advisory Committee

Re: Draft 2020 Conventional Transit Service Plan

Recommendations

The report be NOTED and FILED.

Background

At the October 30, 2019 meeting, the Commission approved in principle the draft 2020 conventional service plan and directed administration to undertake public consultation with respect to the proposed changes.

The 2020-2024 Conventional Service Plan Framework focuses on six strategic directions to continue the momentum of improvement including;

  1. 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.
  1. 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.
  1. Improve Direct Connections– Continue to expand on the grid network, identifying opportunities to provide more direct routes, connected to key destinations.
  1. 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.
  1. 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.
  1. 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. 

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  

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. 

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

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 is also available on the corporate website 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.

Recommended by:

Katie Burns, Director of Planning

Concurred in by:

Kelly S. Paleczny, General Manager