News Release
Transit Master Plan Priorities Outlined
February 4, 2009
Transit Master Plan Priorities Outlined
The City is already implementing some of the recommendations of its newly received Transit Master Plan but must overcome some challenges before progress can be made on others.
"There are three major issues impeding expansion and improvement of the system at the present time," City Transit manager Sandy MacNeill reported during today's Council-in-Committee meeting. "We need to address a shortage of inside bus storage space, we need to create a Regent Mall area sub-terminal that will allow us to service the businesses in this growing area and we need to address some staffing issues."
Council was told the lack of space to park buses inside the City's northside depot is the most pressing issue for the operation. About one third of the $11-million, 28-bus fleet has to be parked outside, exposed to the elements and potential vandalism. The report calls for construction of a new facility that would meet current and future needs of the transit system.
The report also calls for construction of a new sub-terminal to service the area south of Prospect Street. The current transfer point at the Regent Mall does not allow for any expansion of service. The Transit Master Plan estimates a cost of approximately $1-million for design and construction of new terminal.
Council also was told adding additional bus services will require the addition of more staff to provide dispatch, administrative and operational oversight.
"We asked City Staff to give us some guidance as to how to best implement the Master Plan's recommendations, said Councillor Bruce Grandy, Chair of the City's Transportation Committee. "They have now done that and this report will allow us to set some priorities as we go about improving the system."
Fredericton's transit system is designed to transport people from area to area, not door to door. The goal is to have buses travel along interconnected routes, moving passengers between residential and commercial areas of the city. In an effort to maintain a balance between municipal subsidy and transit fees, the goal is a 35-45 per cent cost recovery from users of the service.
In November, 2007, the City hired Dillon Consulting Limited to conduct a strategic review of Fredericton Transit and to make recommendations about how to ensure the service best meets the needs of the City's residents in the coming decade. The plan was developed following extensive public consultation, including stakeholder interviews and a focus group, an on-board transit user survey, a public open house and use of the city's web site.
City Council has already enacted several of the consultant's recommendations, including the initiation of a new bus service along Two Nations Crossing as a pilot project ending in March 2009. The City's 2009 budget also included funds for bus shelter and bus-stop maintenance
The City has also made some fare adjustments, set aside funds for a study of the Dial-A-Bus paratransit service and announced the continuation of its Transit Fare Assistance Program which donates 5,600 bus tickets to 17 community agencies and organizations for use by their clients.
The Transit Master Plan and the administrative report related to implementation will now proceed to a regular Council meeting for formal adoption.