The Corporation of Delta F.02 COUNCIL REPORT Regular Meeting
To: Mayor and Council
From: Delta Council/Delta Board of Education Liaison Committee Date: May 22, 2013
TransLink Bus Service for Students
• CONSIDERATION:
The following advice of the Delta Council/Delta Board of Education Liaison Committee is submitted for Council's consideration:
THAT the recommendations in the attached report from the Engineering Department dated May 13, 2013 regarding TransLink Bus Service for Students be endorsed.
• PURPOSE:
The purpose of this report is to obtain Council's endorsement of the recommendations in the attached report by the Engineering Department.
• BACKGROUND:
The Delta Council/Delta Board of Education Liaison Committee was recently notified by the Delta Board of Education of reductions in the Ministry of Education's funding for student transportation.
• DISCUSSION:
At its May 9,2013 meeting, the Delta Council/Delta Board of Education Liaison Committee discussed possible changes to TransLink bus service to address the needs of students. The Engineering Department has identified potential revisions to TransLink's services and is seeking Council'S endorsement to request TransLink's collaboration with the Delta School District. Page 2 012
TransLink Bus Service lor Students May 22,2013
• CONCLUSION:
The Liaison Committee supports the recommendations for possible TransLink bus service for students as outlined in the attached report by the Engineering Department.
Councillor Bruce McDonald Councillor Sylvia Bishop Member, Delta Council/Delta Board of Member, Delta Council/Delta Board of Education Liaison Committee Education Liaison Committee
Department submission prepared by: Sandra MacFarlane, Acting Municipal Clerk sm
Attachment:
A. Report by the Engineering Department dated May 13, 2013 .. Attachment A Page 1 of 7 The Corporation of Delta COUNCIL REPORT Regular Meeting
To: Mayor and Council File No.: 5200-25/TL
From: Engineering Department
Date: May 13, 2013
TransLink Bus Service for Students
The following report has been reviewed and endorsed by the Chief Administrative Officer.
• RECOMMENDATIONS:
A. THAT TransLink be requested to work with the Delta School District to consider revising bus routes and scheduling in Tsawwassen, Ladner and North Delta to provide more accessible public transportation options for students. B. THAT a copy of this report be sent to TransLink and the Delta School District.
• PURPOSE:
The purpose of this report is to obtain Council endorsement to request TransLink to work with the Delta School District to revise bus routes and scheduling in Tsawwassen, Ladner, and North Delta to provide more accessible public transportation options for students.
• BACKGROUND:
Currently, the Delta School District provides bussing to approximately 400 students. Of these students, 60 percent live outside of District walk limits. The remaining 40 percent are special needs students who require bussing to attend their neighbourhood school or District programs at other schools.
The Ministry of Education (Ministry) changed the School Act in 2002, making the costs of student transportation a parent responsibility and bussing an optional service. Until 2012, however, the Ministry did not alter its funding for student transportation, so the Delta School District continued to offer bus service. The Ministry has now changed its funding formula for student transportation, which has resulted in a reduction in Delta School District funding from more than $1.5 million to $830,000. The Delta School District will continue to provide bus service for all students for the remainder of the school term. Beginning in September 2013, only bus service for students with special needs will be maintained. Attachment A Page 2 of 3 Page 2 of 7 TransLink Bus Service for Students 5200-251TL May 13, 2013
• DISCUSSION:
At the May 9,2013 Delta Council/Delta Board of Education Liaison Committee meeting, correspondence from the Chairperson of the Delta Board of Education was received regarding possible TransLink bus service for students (Attachment A).
Specifically, the Delta Board of Education has recommended the following:
• In South Delta: extend the operating hours of the 601 bus or alternatively, commencing the C89 Community Shuttle Bus earlier to coincide with the 8:30 am high school start times and 9:00 am elementary school start times. School officials have indicated that public bus service after school is already adequate. There are approximately 80 students who would potentially use this service.
• In East Ladner and Panorama Ridge: Provide bus service along Ladner Trunk Road to Highway 10 to pick-up students destined to schools in North Delta from the farmlands in East Ladner and Panorama Ridge. The bus service will need to coincide with the start and end times of Seaquam Secondary School (8:30 am and 3:00 pm) and Pinewood Elementary School (9:00 am and 3:00 pm). There are approximately 80 students who would potentially use this service.
In 2012, Delta Council requested TransLink to include the Sunshine Hills Neighbourhood as a high priority for future transit service level improvements upon availability of funding. In the interim, routing revisions for the C76 Community Shuttle Bus between Ladner Exchange and Scottsdale Exchange may be a potential option for students in East Ladner and North Delta. A summary of the Bus Routes 601, C89 and C76 is provided in Attachment B.
• CONCLUSION:
Currently, the Delta School District provides bussing to approximately 400 students. The Ministry of Education has changed its funding formula for student transportation, which has resulted in a reduction in Delta's funding from more than $1.5 million to $830,000. The Delta Board of Education has recommended that TransLink consider revising bus routes and scheduling in Tsawwassen, Ladner and North Delta to provide m7£"bUO '''",porta';oo opl;oo' 'm ,,",,,,,
~Steven Lan, P.Eng. Director of Engineering
Department submission prepared by : Hon Vee, MASc., P.Eng., Transportation Engineer HY/sdr/l1 Attachment A Page 3 of 3 Page 3 of 7 TransLink Bus Service for Students 5200-25/TL May 13, 2013
• ATTACHMENTS:
A Correspondence from the Delta Board of Education dated May 6, 2013. B. Bus Routes 601, C89 and C76
, "I',i!:" Attachment A Page 4 of 7 ATTACHMENT A Page 1 of 1
Delta School District Administration Building B, 03 Inspired Learning 4585 Harvest Drive, Delta, B.C. V4K 5B4 I (604) 946-4101
May 6, 2013 Dear Mayor Lois Jackson)
We appreciate your support in passing along our concerns and suggestions to TransLink for public transportation options for our. students to and from school.
Re: TransLink bus service for students in Delta
The Delta School District has been communicating witb parents since January 2013 about transportation for students to and from school. Throughout this process, it has been consistently brought to our attention that adequate public transit for students does not exist in many of our communities. This challenge is of particular concern to families in Tsawwassen, East Ladner and the Panorama Ridge area of North Delta.
In Tsawwass~nl the bus service from the Boundary Bay area out to the town centre only runs before and after times when students need to get to school. There is a bus (601 Bridgeport Station) that runs before 7:18 a.m. and then the small community shuttle bus (C89 Boundary Bay) starts at 9:20 a.m.Secondary students need to be at South Delta Secondary School for 8:30 a.m. and elementary school starts at roughly 9:00 a.m. If the morning bus could run later or the shuttle bus could start earlier, then students would be able to use public transit to get to school. There are roughly 80 students who would potentially use this hus. Public bus service after school is already adequate.
In the East Ladner and Panorama Ridge communities, there are no public buses. If a bus could travel east along Ladner Trunk Road/Highway 10 it could pick-up children in the farmlands headed to school in North Delta. This bus could also go through tbe Panorama Ridge area to pick-up students. After school, the route could be reversed. School hours for Seaquam Secondary School are roughly 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and for Pinewood elementary roughly 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. There are approximately 80 students who would potentially use this bus from Delta, and potentially more from Surrey if it were to go up Scott Road.
Delta is geographically the largest municipality in the lower mainland. The geographical realities of Delta, with farmland and Burns Bog separating the three communities of Ladner, Tsawwassen and North Delta, means some families live a fair distance from their nearest schools. We are hearing fmm these families that they would greatly appreciate and utilize TransLink public bus service if it were made available to transport their children to and from school. We urge you to consider their request.
Sincerely,
Laura Dixon Chairperson. Delta Board of Education
CC: Delta Council/Board of Education Liaison Committee Delta District Parent Advisory Council 601 Bridgeport Station/South Delta/Boundary Bay 6.~ 1----,-- Attachment A N Page 5 of7 Attachment B
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1,000 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 LEGEND A Metars
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1a Ave@ 67th Ave 601 Bridgeport Station 3":,, A,e C76 Scottsdale Exchange/ ~.~J lV S2J'~ Ave i2 it Ladner Exchange 5.d® ,r: :s 6~til "VI" z " , September 2012 ,':i" ~
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WAvo III South Delta I----~- Attachment A Recreation Centre Page 7 of 7 M,y 2010 °or route and schedule information, visit www.translink.ca
CMBC Service Planning
1,000
1Ij Ave
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Tsawwassen Town Centre Golf Course III
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