London Transit Five Year Ridership Growth Strategy LONDON TRANSIT FIVE YEAR RIDERSHIP GROWTH STRATEGY Final Report February 2019 Contents Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 1 Current State and Recent Initiatives ................................................................................................... 2 2.1 Current State of Ridership ........................................................................................................ 2 2.2 The London Plan – City of London Official Plan ...................................................................... 3 2.3 Smart Moves 2030 – City of London Transportation Master Plan ........................................ 4 2.4 London Rapid Transit Master Plan .......................................................................................... 5 2.5 Route Structure and Service Guideline Review ...................................................................... 6 2.6 Rapid Transit Integration Framework ...................................................................................... 7 2.7 Downtown Parking Strategy ..................................................................................................... 7 Demographics and Growth Projections .............................................................................................. 8 3.1 Overview of the City ................................................................................................................... 8 3.2 Demographic Profiles ................................................................................................................ 9 3.2.1 Post-Secondary Students .................................................................................................. 9 3.2.2 Millennials ....................................................................................................................... 10 3.2.3 Children and Youth ......................................................................................................... 10 3.2.4 Established Working Adults............................................................................................ 11 3.2.5 Seniors and Retirees ...................................................................................................... 11 3.2.6 Newcomers ..................................................................................................................... 12 3.2.7 Individuals Living with Disability .................................................................................... 12 Best Practices .................................................................................................................................... 13 4.1 Summary of Interviews .......................................................................................................... 13 4.1.1 York Region Transit ......................................................................................................... 13 4.1.2 Brampton Transit ............................................................................................................ 13 4.1.3 Kingston Transit .............................................................................................................. 14 4.2 Literature Review ................................................................................................................... 14 4.2.1 Canadian Transit Ridership Trends Study (CUTA, 2019) ............................................. 14 4.2.2 Impact of Free Transit Passes on Youth Travel Behaviour (University of Waterloo, 2017) ………… ........................................................................................................................................ 15 4.2.3 Transit-Supportive Guidelines (Ministry of Transportation Ontario, 2016) ................ 15 4.2.4 Improving the Customer Experience (White paper at Transit Leadership Summit, 2015),…………………….. ........................................................................................................................ ..15 4.2.5 Common-sense Approaches for Improving Transit Bus Speeds (TCRP Synthesis 110, 2013)……..……………… ........................................................................................................................... 15 London Transit Five Year Ridership Growth Strategy 4.2.6 Elements Needed to Create High Ridership Transit Systems (TCRP Report 111, 2007)………………………… ....................................................................................................................... 16 4.2.7 Implementation and Outcomes of Fare-Free Transit Systems (TCRP Synthesis 101, 2012)……………….. ................................................................................................................................. 16 4.2.8 A Guide to Preparing A Transit Ridership Growth Plan (Province of Ontario, 2005) .. 16 4.2.9 The Role of Transit Amenities and Vehicle Characteristics in Building Transit Ridership (TCRP Report 46, 1999) ...................................................................................................... 16 Opportunities for Ridership Growth .................................................................................................. 17 5.1 System Capacity and Efficiency ............................................................................................ 17 5.2 Service Quality and Customer Convenience ........................................................................ 17 5.3 Fare and Pricing ..................................................................................................................... 18 5.4 Marketing and Education ...................................................................................................... 18 5.5 Urban Design and Growth Management .............................................................................. 18 Selection of Initiatives ....................................................................................................................... 20 6.1 Analysis and Scoring Methods .............................................................................................. 20 6.2 Shortlisted Initiatives ............................................................................................................. 22 Project Design .................................................................................................................................... 24 7.1 Bus Rapid Transit System...................................................................................................... 24 7.2 Express Plus ........................................................................................................................... 24 7.3 New Express Services ............................................................................................................ 25 7.4 High School Supplemental Service ....................................................................................... 25 7.5 Senior Travel Training ............................................................................................................ 25 7.6 On-demand Alternative Service Delivery Model ................................................................... 26 7.7 Community Bus Expansion Program ..................................................................................... 26 7.8 Expand hours of service ........................................................................................................ 26 7.9 Yellow School Bus Replacement ........................................................................................... 26 7.10 Stop Consolidation Program .................................................................................................. 27 7.11 Park-n-Ride Event Program ................................................................................................... 27 7.12 Free Transit for Londoners .................................................................................................... 27 7.13 Ontario Works Transit Pass ................................................................................................... 27 7.14 Downtown Parking Price Management ................................................................................ 28 7.15 Real-time Information Expansion .......................................................................................... 28 7.16 Employer Pass Program ......................................................................................................... 28 7.17 Period Fare Caps .................................................................................................................... 28 7.18 Senior Discounted Fare Products ......................................................................................... 28 London Transit Five Year Ridership Growth Strategy 7.19 Revitalize the Get On Board Program ................................................................................... 29 7.20 Implement Transit Signal Priority .......................................................................................... 29 7.21 Implement High-Occupancy Vehicle Lanes .......................................................................... 29 Project Analysis .................................................................................................................................. 30 8.1 Methodology ..........................................................................................................................