Peel Halton Transportation Study: Challenges and Opportunities
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Peel Halton Transportation Study Challenges and Opportunities PEEL HALTON TRANSPORTATION STUDY: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES 1 Contents Acknowledgements DISSEMINATION PARTNERS: We would like to express our sincere ACCES Employment gratitude to the following individuals 1. Executive Summary 3 Brampton Economic Development and organizations who contributed to Burlington Chamber of Commerce 2. Literature Review 5 the design and/or dissemination of this Caledon Economic Development survey. Their guidance and support was Centre for Education & Training 3. Primary Data Analysis 13 invaluable. Centre for Skills Development 4. Secondary Data Analysis 16 College Boreal ADVISORY GROUP PARTICIPANTS: 5. Case Study 1 23 COSTI Immigrant Services Yousef Kimiagar – Town of Innisfil Powered by Uber Dixie Bloor Neighbourhood Centre Hatch Family Services of Peel 6. Case Study 2 26 Tony D’Alessandro HMC Connections – Pantonium: On-Demand Transit Town of Milton HRPA – Halton in Belleville, Ontario HRPA – Peel Tori Bellwood Humber Community Employment 7. Case Study 3 28 Gordon Food Service Services – Region of Peel: Grace Scire Indus Community Services Employer Individualized Marketing (EIM) Caledon Community Services Job Skills 8. Transportation Forum 30 Soo Min Toh Job Start John Howard Society 9. Conclusion 32 University of Toronto Mississauga Landscape Ontario Martin Bohl 10. Recommendations 33 Newcomer Centre of Peel City of Brampton Oakville Chamber of Commerce Ben Roberts Peel Multicultural Council Town of Caledon Peel Newcomer Strategy Group Patti Williams Polycultural Immigrant & Community Services Zip Signs Region of Peel Sheridan College Supply Chain Management Association Ontario (SCMAO) Peel Halton Transportation Study: Challenges and Opportunities The Centre for Skills Development Published by the Peel Halton Workforce Development Group, March 2020. & Training For more information contact: Toronto Region Immigrant Employment The Peel Halton Workforce Development Group Council (TRIEC) 6755 Mississauga Road, Suite 415, Mississauga, ON L5N 7Y2 VPI Working Solutions Georgetown Email: [email protected] Telephone: 905.306.9588 VPI Working Solutions Mississauga Workforce Planning Board of This report was prepared by: York Region Juan Alvarez, Research Analyst, Peel Halton Workforce Development Group, YMCA Halton Peel Halton Local Employment Planning Council (LEPC); Subhi Tarim, Lead Research Analyst, Peel Halton Workforce Development Group, Peel Halton Local Employment Planning Council (LEPC) An electronic version of this document as well as the survey questionnaire are available at: https:// www.peelhaltonlepc.com/reports Disclaimer: The content presented in this publication is distributed by the Peel Halton Workforce Development Group as an information source only. The Peel Halton Workforce Development Group makes no statements, representation or warranties about the accuracy completeness or reliability of any information contained in this publication. The Peel Halton Workforce Development Group disclaims all responsibility and all liability (including without limitations for liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages, and costs you might incur as a result of the information being inaccurate or incomplete in any way or for any reason reliance was placed on such information. This project is funded by the Government of Ontario. “The Government of Ontario and its agencies are in no way bound by the recommendations contained in this document.” 2 PEEL HALTON TRANSPORTATION STUDY: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES Executive Summary Results of community consultations conducted as part of the Local Employment Planning Council (LEPC) in February 2018 indicate that transportation access for employers, workers, government, and service providers in the smaller municipalities of Milton, Caledon, and Halton Hills is a key barrier to employment. As a result, Stakeholders stated that access to affordable and reliable transportation for the local workforce is a factor affecting workforce planning and development the Peel Halton for industry in these communities. This assessment has been reflected in local Workforce governments’ transportation plans, including the Milton Transportation Master Plan, the Caledon Transportation Feasibility Study, and the Halton Hills Transit Development Service Strategy. Group The lack of affordable and reliable transit has created a barrier for many low-wage workers who might otherwise be able to find stable and secure undertook a employment opportunities in these municipalities. Thus, the need for an inter- research study regional public transit system is increasing. However, given the required financial investment and time required, to build public transit infrastructure, alternative designed to transportation solutions need to be developed to address the short-term access find innovative concerns that have been identified. transportation As a result, the Peel Halton Workforce Development Group (PHWDG) undertook a research study designed to find innovative transportation solutions to the solutions... aforementioned challenges. The objectives of this report aimed to achieve the following: • Increase awareness of transportation access barriers for workers in the target communities, • Promote awareness of innovative transportation access opportunities, • Find potential solutions to address transportation access issues in Peel Halton municipalities, • Improve collaboration between government, employers, and service providers to address transportation access barriers for workers in the community. Regarding the research study’s methodology, PHWDG employed a mixed-methods approach where qualitative data were obtained from employers and residents in order to better understand the unique transportation issues experienced in Peel and Halton. These data were obtained through surveys, interviews and focus groups for both employers and residents/workers. PEEL HALTON TRANSPORTATION STUDY: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES 3 A secondary data analysis was conducted focusing on commuting patterns of Peel Halton municipalities in order to illustrate top commuting destinations and origins. Next to that, three case studies were presented to showcase innovative solutions from within and outside of Peel and Halton, and a literature review In addition to was prepared which explored best practices in responding to transportation the innovative challenges in other jurisdictions. strategies Lastly, PHWDG organized a transportation forum on January 31st, 2020, which brought together key stakeholders from Peel Halton municipalities such provided by as municipal transportation management, large local employers, academia, economic development representatives, and members from business the panelists associations. At the forum, PHWDG reported on the key findings from the 2019 pointed transportation study. out the The research findings were followed by a panel presentation, which consisted of guest speakers from the Employer Individualized Marketing program at transportation the Region of Peel, the Uber initiative at the Town of Innisfil, and Belleville’s challenges On-demand Transit project through Pantonium Inc. The key research findings delivered by PHWDG in addition to the innovative strategies provided by the presently panelists pointed out the transportation challenges presently faced as well as faced as well innovative approaches to address these challenges. as innovative Most importantly, this forum was a route to refuel the conversation around ways to overcome transportation challenges in Peel and Halton. approaches to address these challenges. 4 PEEL HALTON TRANSPORTATION STUDY: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES Literature Review This literature review explores best practices consumers to stores, supporting downtown responding to the challenge of transportation cores, and meeting the needs of other barriers affecting employers and employees in community and private events. Additionally, locations poorly served by public transit. they reduce air pollution and contribute to local climate change strategies. Building ridership can be difficult when costs to driving Best practices for are low, with small distances, inexpensive transportation barriers parking, and little traffic. However, the report suggests that planners should weigh the costs in different provinces to municipalities against the benefits and throughout Canada costs to the individuals, families, businesses, and communities that rely on them. Small community strategies have included inter- The following examples will highlight municipal partnerships, provincial partnership, approaches that have been effective in market-oriented planning, and flexible delivery.2 small-size municipalities in different provinces throughout Canada: 3) Several small communities including the 1) In the province of British Columbia, innovative region of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec transit partnerships have emerged in order to have adopted the TaxiBus model as a practical facilitate commuting in small municipalities. and economical form of transit. Passengers For instance, in Terrace, both Trail and Fort St. reserve a ride by telephone and are carried by John transit systems work together with school taxi between numerous fixed stop locations in bus operators. Ski resorts in Kimberly, Golden, the community. En route, taxis can pick up other Fernie and Red Mountain offer contractual passengers as well. services to local municipalities to facilitate 4) County of Kings Transit Authority