County of Essex Transit Assessment Report, Phase 2 Project No. 29-46B FINAL A u g u s t 2 0 1 1 Final Report Transit Solutions GENIVAR Consultants LP. 2800 Fourteenth Avenue, Suite 210, Markham, Ontario L3R 0E4 Telephone: 905.946.8900 Fax: 905.946.8966 www.genivar.com Contact: Dennis J. Fletcher, M.E.S. E-mail: [email protected] 29-46B August 8, 2011 Mr. T. Bateman County Engineer County of Essex 360 Fairview Avenue West Essex, ON N8M 1Y6 Re: Transit Assessment Report Phase 2 Final Report Dear Mr. Bateman: GENIVAR Inc. is pleased to present this final report on the implementation of transit services for the County of Essex. This report builds on the Phase 1 Feasibility Study submitted in April 2010, and identifies a detailed implementation plan for the short-term to operate inter-municipal transit services in the County. A brief summary of the major conclusions relevant to Phase 2 of the study are outlined in Section 1. This document refines the details in the Phase 2 Interim Report submitted in August 2010, and addresses the comments made by stakeholders, provides additional governance considerations, identifies an initial marketing strategy, and provides Transportation Demand Management mechanisms to encourage transit use. We hope this report provides a helpful source when you proceed with the next stage of work, and we hope to have the opportunity to work together soon. Yours truly, GENIVAR Inc. Dennis J. Fletcher, M.E.S. Director, Transit Solutions DJF/ml 2800 Fourteenth Avenue, Suite 210, Markham, Ontario L3R 0E4 Telephone: 905.946.8900 Fax: 905.946.8966 www.genivar.com Transit Assessment Report Phase 2 Final Report Table of Contents GENIVAR ii Table of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1 1.1 Phase 1 Summary Findings..........................................................................................1 1.1.1 Needs and Opportunities ................................................................................1 1.1.2 Performance Standards ..................................................................................2 1.1.3 Service Concepts............................................................................................2 1.1.4 Governance Options .......................................................................................4 1.2 Phase 2 Outline.............................................................................................................4 2. SERVICE STANDARDS ...............................................................................................................7 2.1 Service Design Standards.............................................................................................7 2.1.1 Service Coverage ...........................................................................................8 2.1.2 Hours of Service and Service Frequency .......................................................8 2.1.3 Route Performance Standards .......................................................................9 2.1.4 Vehicle Loading Standards .......................................................................... 10 2.1.5 On-Time Performance ................................................................................. 10 2.2 Performance Measures.............................................................................................. 11 2.2.1 Service Utilization ........................................................................................ 11 2.2.2 Amount of Service........................................................................................ 11 2.2.3 Financial Monitoring..................................................................................... 11 2.3 Other Guidelines ........................................................................................................ 12 2.3.1 New Services Guidelines ............................................................................. 12 2.3.2 System Accessibility Guidelines .................................................................. 12 2.4 Other System Improvement Considerations .............................................................. 13 3. PROPOSED SERVICES.............................................................................................................15 3.1 Short-Term Service Concept...................................................................................... 15 3.2 Option Development .................................................................................................. 15 3.2.1 Public and Stakeholder Consultation ........................................................... 15 3.3 Detailed Service Plan................................................................................................. 17 3.3.1 Urban Connectors........................................................................................ 18 3.3.2 Urban Fringe Local ...................................................................................... 20 3.4 Fare Policies .............................................................................................................. 26 3.4.1 Fare Zone Map ............................................................................................ 26 3.4.2 Fare Table.................................................................................................... 26 3.4.3 Corridor Service Fare Structures ................................................................. 27 3.4.4 Transfer Policies .......................................................................................... 28 3.5 Financial Plan............................................................................................................. 28 4. GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE ...................................................................................................31 4.1 Best Practice Review ................................................................................................. 31 4.1.1 Contract Administration................................................................................ 31 4.1.2 Service Planning .......................................................................................... 31 4.1.3 Customer Service and Marketing................................................................. 32 2800 Fourteenth Avenue, Suite 210, Markham, Ontario L3R 0E4 Telephone: 905.946.8900 Fax: 905.946.8966 www.genivar.com Transit Assessment Report Phase 2 Final Report Table of Contents 4.1.4 Farebox Revenue ........................................................................................ 32 4.2 Short-Term Governance Model.................................................................................. 35 4.2.1 Short-Term Governance Model Implementation.......................................... 35 4.2.2 Limitations of the Short-Term Governance Model ....................................... 38 4.3 Long-Term Governance Model .................................................................................. 38 4.3.1 Organizational Structure of the Authority ..................................................... 39 4.3.2 Responsibilities and Functions of the Authority ........................................... 40 5. COST ALLOCATION ..................................................................................................................43 5.1 County Levy vs. Municipal Tax .................................................................................. 43 5.2 Cost Allocation and Implications ................................................................................ 43 5.2.1 Urban Connectors........................................................................................ 43 5.2.2 Urban Fringe Locals..................................................................................... 43 Appendices Appendix A Transit Assessment Report Phase 1 Appendix B Service Design Options Appendix C Marketing Strategies Appendix D Transportation Demand Management GENIVAR ii Transit Assessment Report Phase 2 Final Report Table of Contents List of Exhibits Exhibit 1 – Performance Standard Measures................................................................................2 Exhibit 2 – Types of Services Identified.........................................................................................3 Exhibit 3 – Short-Term Concept Plan ............................................................................................3 Exhibit 5 – Hours of Service and Service Frequency Standards...................................................9 Exhibit 6 – Ridership Performance Standards............................................................................ 10 Exhibit 8 – Public Open Houses Held......................................................................................... 16 Exhibit 9 – Overall Transit Network ............................................................................................ 18 Exhibit 10 – Route 1 – Amherstburg–LaSalle–Windsor ............................................................. 19 Exhibit 11 – Route 2 – Lakeshore–Tecumseh–Windsor ............................................................ 22 Exhibit 12 – Route 3 – Leamington–Essex–Windsor ................................................................. 23 Exhibit 13 – Route 4 – Urban Fringe – South Local ................................................................... 24 Exhibit 14 – Route 5 – Urban