DISTRICT OF SQUAMISH A G E N D A For the Meeting of the Squamish Transit Standing Committee to be held on Tuesday, July 10, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. in the Council Chambers, Municipal Hall 37955 Second Avenue, Squamish, BC 1. ADOPTION OF AGENDA Staff Recommendation: THAT the July 10, 2012 Squamish Transit Standing Committee meeting Agenda be adopted. 2. COMMITTEE MINUTES A. MINUTES (i) June 19, 2012 Meeting Minutes Staff Recommendation: THAT the June 19, 2012 minutes of the Transit Standing Committee be approved. B. BUSINESS ARISING 3. BUSINESS (i) BC Transit Report B. Barnett (i) School Transit Issues S. Chapelle (ii) Car Stops S. Chapelle 4. COUNCIL A. STATUS OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL From the July 3, 2012 Regular Business Meeting: It was moved by Councillor Chapelle, seconded by Councillor Heintzman, THAT Council direct staff to include safety analysis of the Discovery Trail and key east/west pedestrian and cyclist corridors as part of a comprehensive commuter trail analysis that includes direction already given on the Corridor trail and bring back quick wins in the fall of 2012 and possible capital improvements for 2013. CARRIED It was moved by Councillor Chapelle, seconded by Councillor Heintzman, THAT Council request staff to bring back information regarding Park and Ride alternatives, including the possibility of bike lockers at specific Park and Ride locations, so that Council can consider action and capital work programs in 2013. CARRIED Page 2 Squamish Transit Standing Committee July 10, 2012 B. REFERRALS FROM COUNCIL 5. CORRESPONDENCE 6. ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION 7. TERMINATION Staff Recommendation: THAT the meeting be terminated. DISTRICT OF SQUAMISH Minutes of the Meeting of the Transit Standing Committee held Tuesday June 19, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. in the Council Chambers, 37955 Second Avenue, Squamish, B.C. PRESENT Councillor Susan Chapelle, Chair Councillor Patricia Heintzman Councillor Bryan Raiser ADVISORY IN ATTENDANCE Robin Arthurs, Acting Chief Administrative Officer Brian Barnett, GM Engineering and Parks Services Chris Bishop, Director of Building and Planning ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: Ted Prior, Councillor Kate O’Connell, Executive Assistant The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m. 1. ADOPTION OF AGENDA It was moved by Councillor Heintzman, seconded by Councillor Chapelle, THAT the June 19, 2012 Transit Standing Committee meeting Agenda be adopted. CARRIED 2. INTRODUCTION (i) Committee Mandate and Parameters Councillor Chapelle advised on the mandate of the Committee as follows: The mandate of the Transit Committee is to provide advice and guidance to Squamish Council and its staff on a variety of travel modes that contribute to our citizens overall quality of life. This committee will provide a forum for citizens and community associations to raise issues and concerns related to pedestrian, cycling and transit issues in Squamish, and will receive suggestions and concerns from citizens. 3. COMMITTEE MINUTES A. MINUTES - Nil B. BUSINESS ARISING -Nil 4. BUSINESS (i) Current Status of Transit in Squamish Brian Barnett advised on the current status of transit in Squamish, detailing current and future projects. Physical infrastructure related to pedestrian, cycle, and transit routes. Transportation Planning Overview: DT Transportation Study completed, Multimodal Transportation Study Completed- focused on vehicle transportation Absence of an overall transportation management strategy Different initiatives/projects underway: Corridor Trail, two major commuter bike routes, Valleycliff Trail, Safe Routes to School Hiring a Transportation Coordinator (9 month position), interviews are in progress, preferred candidate identified by the end of the week Committee Questions and Comments: Ride Share and Co-op car programs, Jack Bell Ride Share is operating but no Co-op Car programs Transit Standing Committee June 19, 2012 Page 2 Fill transportation gaps, carry on bike lane and sidewalk improvements, $100,000 unallocated to be used New Electric Infrastructure Fund from Provincial government , DOS staff will be applying for charging station funding Recommend electric vehicle infrastructure to developers building in the community Safe Routes to School Update Focuses on safe routes to all schools Brackendale Elementary School crossing, completion timeline unknown Corridor Commuting Two BC Transit Initiatives: public meetings and online surveys Intercity Transit Discussion Funding sources are not available to fund inter-city transit Valleycliff gravel lot is currently an informal park and ride location Park and Rides that include bike lockers and bus service, Formalize park and rides throughout Squamish in various locations It was moved by Councillor Heintzman, seconded by Councillor Chapelle, RECOMMENDATION THAT Council direct staff to include safety analysis of the Discovery Trail and key east/west pedestrian and cyclist corridors as part of a comprehensive commuter trail analysis that includes direction already given on the Corridor Trail and bring back quick wins in the fall of 2012 and possible capital improvements for 2013. CARRIED It was moved by Councillor Heintzman seconded by Councillor Raiser RECOMMENDATION THAT Council request staff to bring back information regarding Park and Ride alternatives, including the possibility of bike lockers and specific Park and Ride locations, so that Council can consider action and capital work programs in 2013. CARRIED (ii) Pedestrian and Cycle Paths Ways to increase the modal share of walking and riding. Committee Questions and Comments: Corridor Trail lighting to promote night time biking to economic centers Improved signage on the Corridor trail and Discovery Trail connectivity Itemized report of safety issues on the Corridor and Discovery trail Bike Parking in DT Squamish fences around trees so people can lock their bikes to the fence Bike racks in the green space between the Parkside Restaurant and the parking lot Bike Lanes Downtown Transit Standing Committee June 19, 2012 Page 3 Lack of bike lanes downtown, multi modal study identified DT bike routes DT Sub Area Plan, work will commence in the Fall of 2012 (iii) Other Cities Bixie Bikes, need to evaluated costs and demand Used bike program similar to Blue Bike Program Bus system collaboration between local school district and DOS, to reduce redundancies (iv) Accessible Transportation Options Handy Dart, transportation from Squamish to Vancouver Taxi Program, Disabled person can buy subsidized taxi credits from the DOS Request that staff bring back taxi program information to the Transit Committee Small bus between senior locations as an evening transport option 5. COUNCIL A. STATUS OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL B. REFERRALS FROM COUNCIL 7. CORRESPONDENCE 8. ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION Regional transportation, open discussion with Whistler and Pemberton Councils Make public transit more interesting: Wi-Fi, public art, engage community with creative fun marketing program Promotional campaign, produce marketing materials that include branded marketing that engages people Artists designed bike racks, explore partnership ideas: BIA, Squamish Can etc. Add transit webpage to DOS site, with links to transportation plan link Add DOS studies to online forum 5. TERMINATION It was moved by Councillor Heintzman, seconded by Councillor Raiser, THAT the meeting be terminated. CARRIED Meeting adjourned at 10:59 a.m. Susan Chapelle, Chair Squamish Transit Service Effectiveness Review DRAFT - June 21, 2012 District of Squamish ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS BC Transit would like to thank those Squamish community members who provided input into this review. In particular, the elected officials and staff of the District of Squamish, the staff of Diversified Transportation Ltd. and Whistler Transit Ltd., and all residents and organizations who provided feedback and information at Transit Future open houses, through online surveys and through one-on-one interviews. 2 Squamish Transit Service Effectiveness Review DRAFT – June 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements 2 Executive Summary 4 1.0 Introduction 13 2.0 Function Sharing 15 2.1 Diversified Transportation Ltd. 15 2.2 Sea to Sky School District (SD #48) 17 2.3 District of Squamish Parks and Engineering 21 3.0 Conventional Transit Routing and Scheduling Improvements 22 3.1 Background 22 3.2 Service Change Proposals for Immediate Implementation 23 3.3 Longer Term Expansion Estimates 25 4.0 handyDART Service Usage Review 28 4.1 Existing Service Background and Trend 28 4.2 Forecasting Future Demand 30 4.3 Examining Existing Demand and Capacity 31 4.4 Ensuring Awareness of Existing handyDART Service and Policies 33 4.5 Potential handyDART Expansion Estimates 34 5.0 Conventional and handyDART Service Option Summary 37 5.1 Service Option Conclusions 37 6.0 Fare Structure Review Summary 38 7.0 Bus Stops and Infrastructure 39 7.1 Opportunities to Improve Coordination with District Parks and Engineering 41 8.0 Recommendations 42 Appendices 43 Appendix A: Sample Letter to Sea to Sky School District 43 Appendix B: Summary of Public Consultation Results 44 Appendix C: Schedule Information for Major Destinations 46 Appendix D: Fare Structure Review 47 Squamish Transit Service Effectiveness Review DRAFT – June 2012 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.0 Introduction BC Transit presented preliminary findings of a Service Review of Squamish Transit to District of Squamish Council on June 28, 2011. At the request of the District, that review had examined the previous 2008 Transit Business Plan recommendations