City of Saskatoon SASKATOON TRANSIT STRATEGIC PLAN STUDY FINAL REPORT OCTOBER 2005 IBI GROUP FINAL REPORT TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY............................................................................................................... 1 Background and Study Objectives........................................................................................................................1 What Was Heard From the Public..........................................................................................................................2 Overview of Proposed Transit Plan.......................................................................................................................2 Short Term Improvement Plan............................................................................. 3 Long Term Plan ................................................................................................. 6 Summary and Financial Implications ................................................................... 6 1. INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................. 9 1.1 Study Purpose ..............................................................................................................................................9 1.2 Study Approach............................................................................................................................................9 1.3 Organization of Final Report ....................................................................................................................10 2. EXISTING CONDITIONS AND NEEDS ............................................................................. 11 2.1 Public Consultation....................................................................................................................................11 2.1.1 Steering Committee Visioning Workshop ................................................... 11 2.1.2 Focus Groups ......................................................................................... 12 2.1.3 Telephone Survey ................................................................................... 16 2.1.4 On-Board Survey..................................................................................... 18 2.1.5 Website Feedback ................................................................................... 20 2.1.6 Written and Verbal Comments .................................................................. 22 2.1.7 Media Outreach....................................................................................... 23 2.1.8 Key Messages......................................................................................... 23 2.2 Transit Market Analysis.............................................................................................................................23 2.2.1 Land Use Patterns................................................................................... 23 2.2.2 Key Travel Destinations........................................................................... 24 2.2.3 Demographics by Neighbourhood ............................................................. 26 2.2.4 Employment Patterns............................................................................... 26 2.2.5 Students ................................................................................................ 29 2.2.6 Traffic Analysis ...................................................................................... 30 2.2.7 Policy Framework.................................................................................... 31 2.2.8 Population and Employment Growth Forecasts .......................................... 31 October 2005 Page i. IBI GROUP FINAL REPORT TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONT’D) 2.2.9 Development Plans and Timing................................................................. 31 2.3 Existing Transit Service ............................................................................................................................32 2.3.1 Overall Ridership Patterns....................................................................... 32 2.3.2 Routes ................................................................................................... 32 2.3.3 Evening, Sunday and Saturday Morning Routings....................................... 33 2.3.4 Hours of Service ..................................................................................... 33 2.3.5 Frequency of Service............................................................................... 33 2.3.6 Overall Performance................................................................................ 35 2.3.7 Route-by-Route Service Assessment......................................................... 35 2.4 Transit Vehicles and Facilities .................................................................................................................45 2.4.1 Fleet Characteristics............................................................................... 45 2.4.2 Facilities................................................................................................ 46 2.5 Summary of Existing Conditions and Needs.........................................................................................47 3. POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR FUTURE ACTIONS ............................................................ 48 3.1 New Vision for Transit ...............................................................................................................................48 3.2 Policy Strategies.........................................................................................................................................48 3.3 Mission Statement......................................................................................................................................51 3.4 Goals and Objectives.................................................................................................................................52 3.5 Service Standards ......................................................................................................................................53 3.6 Conceptual Service Strategy....................................................................................................................57 4. 10-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN AND BUSINESS PLAN...................................................... 61 4.1 Short Term Service Strategy ....................................................................................................................61 4.2 Long Term Service Strategy.....................................................................................................................64 4.3 Proposed Short-Term Service Plan .........................................................................................................69 4.3.1 General Service Structure........................................................................ 69 4.3.2 Route Descriptions.................................................................................. 70 4.3.3 Route Interlining..................................................................................... 83 4.3.4 Service Frequencies................................................................................ 84 4.3.5 Span of Service....................................................................................... 86 4.3.6 Timings and Bus Volumes at Terminals ..................................................... 87 October 2005 Page ii. IBI GROUP FINAL REPORT TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONT’D) 4.3.7 Expected Ridership Benefits .................................................................... 90 4.4 Staffing Requirements...............................................................................................................................90 4.5 Capital Improvements................................................................................................................................91 4.5.1 Vehicle Requirements.............................................................................. 91 4.5.2 Vehicle Acquisition Plan.......................................................................... 93 4.5.3 Vehicles Required for Short and Long Term Service Plans.......................... 94 4.5.4 10-Year Fleet Acquisition Plan ................................................................. 94 4.5.5 Vehicle Refurbishing............................................................................... 95 4.5.6 Facilities................................................................................................ 96 4.5.7 Fare Collection Equipment....................................................................... 99 4.6 Supporting Demand Management Strategies......................................................................................104 4.6.1 Transportation Demand Management Overview .........................................104 4.6.2 TDM and the City of Saskatoon................................................................105 4.6.3 Screening Potential TDM Measures..........................................................105 4.6.4 Increase Intermodal Connections with Transit ..........................................107 4.6.5 Improve Land Use Coordination with Transit-Oriented Development..........................................................................................107 4.6.6 Promote TDM through Public Outreach.....................................................112