Powell River Regional Transit System Service Review – Final Report March 2015 Powell River Regional Transit System: Service Review – Final Report ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS BC Transit would like to thank the Council and staff of the City of Powell River, the Board and staff of the Powell River Regional District, the staff of Powell River Municipal Transportation and Powell River Taxi Ltd., and all Powell River community members who provided input into this review, in particular: Tla’amin First Nation BC Ferries Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure School District 47 Inclusion Powell River Powell River Youth & Family Services Powell River Rotary Club Life Cycle Housing Society BOND Program Model Community Project Transition Town Powell River Powell River Cycling Association Family Friendly Powell River Wildwood Residents’ Association Northern Sunshine Coast Ferry Advisory Committee Texada Arts, Culture & Tourism Society Town Centre Mall Crossroads Village Shopping Centre Marine Area Business Association Powell River Chamber of Commerce Texada Island Chamber of Commerce Powell River Regional Economic Development Society BC Transit would also like to thank all residents who provided feedback and information through passenger and online surveys and at Open House events. 2 Powell River Regional Transit System: Service Review – Final Report Table of Contents 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................. 5 1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 5 1.2 Public Engagement ............................................................................................................................... 5 1.3 Service Options..................................................................................................................................... 6 1.4 Next Steps: Suggested Path to Staged Implementation ................................................................. 15 1.5 Recommendations .............................................................................................................................. 15 2. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................... 17 2.1 Service Review Process ..................................................................................................................... 17 2.2 Guiding Principles .............................................................................................................................. 18 3. COMMUNITY OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................................. 19 3.1 Demographics ..................................................................................................................................... 19 3.2 Commuting Profile .............................................................................................................................. 20 3.3 Geographical Characteristics, Official Community Plans and Development ................................ 22 3.4 Transportation Options ...................................................................................................................... 23 3.5 Powell River Regional District Regional Transportation Plan ........................................................ 24 4. CURRENT TRANSIT SYSTEM ....................................................................................................................... 25 4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 25 4.2 History .................................................................................................................................................... 26 4.3 Conventional Transit System ............................................................................................................... 27 4.3.1 Conventional Transit System Ridership ................................................................................................ 27 4.3.2 Conventional Transit Market ................................................................................................................. 29 4.3.3 Conventional Onboard Passenger Count Results................................................................................. 30 4.3.4 Conventional Transit System Fares ...................................................................................................... 31 4.4 Custom Transit....................................................................................................................................... 31 4.4.1 Custom Transit Ridership ..................................................................................................................... 32 4.4.2 Custom Transit Market .......................................................................................................................... 33 4.4.3 Custom Transit Fares ........................................................................................................................... 34 4.5 Paratransit System................................................................................................................................... 34 4.5.1 Paratransit System Ridership ............................................................................................................... 35 4.5.2 Paratransit Market ................................................................................................................................. 36 4.5.3 Paratransit Onboard Passenger Count Results .................................................................................... 38 4.5.4 Paratransit Fares ................................................................................................................................. 38 4.6 Benchmarking for the Powell River Regional Transit System ........................................................... 38 4.7 Transit Infrastructure ............................................................................................................................. 41 4.7.1 Fleet ...................................................................................................................................................... 41 4.7.2 Transit Facility ....................................................................................................................................... 41 4.7.3 Bus Stops ............................................................................................................................................. 42 5. CONSULTATION AND COMMUNICATION ....................................................................................................... 45 5.1 Consultation and Communication Process ...................................................................................... 45 5.2 Summary of Key Themes from Phase One Public Engagement..................................................... 46 5.3 Fixed-Route Transit Current Service and Market Conclusions ...................................................... 46 5.4 Custom Transit Current Service and Market Conclusions .............................................................. 47 5.5 Paratransit Current Service and Market Conclusions ..................................................................... 48 5.6 Summary of Key Themes from Phase Two Public Engagement .................................................... 48 5.7 Powell River Regional District Regional Transportation Plan Results .......................................... 49 6. PROPOSED SERVICE CHANGE OPTIONS ..................................................................................................... 50 6.1 City Fixed-Route Service Change Options ....................................................................................... 57 6.1.1 City Fixed-Route Service Change Options: Short Term ........................................................................ 57 6.1.2 City Fixed-Route Service Change Options: Medium Term ................................................................... 59 6.1.3 City Fixed-Route Service Change Options: Longer Term ..................................................................... 65 6.1.4 City Fixed-Route Service Change Options: Other Considerations ........................................................ 68 6.2 Custom Transit Service Change Options .............................................................................................. 72 6.2.1 Custom Transit Service Change Options: Short Term .......................................................................... 72 6.2.2 Custom Transit Service Change Options: Longer Term ....................................................................... 74 6.3 Rural Paratransit Service Change Options ....................................................................................... 75 6.3.1 Rural Paratransit Service Change Options: Short Term ....................................................................... 75 6.3.2 Rural Paratransit Service Change Options: Medium Term ................................................................... 78 6.3.3 Rural Paratransit Service Change Options: Long Term .......................................................................