mission abbotsford transit committee abbotsford city hall … · abbotsford city hall – room 530...

MISSION ABBOTSFORD TRANSIT COMMITTEE

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2013 AT 10:00 A.M. ABBOTSFORD CITY HALL – ROOM 530

AGENDA

1. CALL TO ORDER 2. ADOPTION OF MINUTES

.1 Minutes of the Mission Abbotsford Transit Committee meeting held Thursday, September 26, 2013 (attached)

p.3

3. DELEGATIONS .1 MaryHelen Hatch, #29 – 34755 Old Yale Road, various transit issues (verbal)

4. BUSINESS OUT OF MINUTES

.1 Mission Abbotsford Transit Committee Follow-up Sheet – November 2013 (attached) p.6 .2 Expand HandyDART Services Update (R. Little) (verbal) .3 Installation of Cameras on Buses Update (R. Little) (verbal) .4 Mission Abbotsford Transit System Efficiency Review Update (T. Wegwitz) (attached) p.8 .5 Transit Marketing Strategy Update (R. Little) (attached) p.26

.6 Google Trip Planner Update (R. Little) (verbal)

5. REPORTS .1 Ridership & Revenue Report (R. Little) (attached) p.31 .2 United Way Fraser Valley Emergency Transit Assistance Program Request for

Renewal (J. Sun) (attached) p.37

6. NEW BUSINESS .1 Proposed 2014 MATC Meeting Schedule (attached) p.47 .2 Christmas and Holiday Service (R. Little) (verbal) .3 United Way Fraser Valley Emergency Transit Assistance Program Request for

Increase (W. Green) (attached) P 48

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Thursday November 28, 2013 Mission Abbotsford Transit Committee Agenda of 2

7. ADJOURNMENT

.1 Motion to adjourn the November 28, 2013, Mission Abbotsford Transit Committee meeting

.2 The next Mission Abbotsford Transit Committee meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m.,

Thursday, January 23, 2014, in Room 530 at Abbotsford City Hall

2

Minutes of the Mission Abbotsford Transit Committee meeting held September 26, 2013, at 10:05 a.m. in Room 530 of Abbotsford City Hall Page 1 Members Present: Mayor Adlem (Chair) (Mission); Councillor Barkman (Abbotsford); Councillor Braun (Abbotsford); Councillor Loewen (Abbotsford); and Councillor Luck (Mission) Staff Present: General Manager, Engineering & Regional Utilities – J. Gordon (Abbotsford); Director of Transportation & Projects – R. Mammel (Abbotsford); Traffic Engineer – J. Sun (Abbotsford); Deputy Director of Planning – B. Pitkethly (Mission) and Recording Secretary – S. Jones (Abbotsford) Non-voting Members Present: First Canada ULC – C. Brown; BC Transit – J. van Schaik, T. Wegwitz and M. Orfield; United Way of the Fraser Valley – W. Green Public Present: 1 Media Present: 1 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 10:05 a.m. ADDITION TO THE AGENDA Elect the Mission Abbotsford Transit Committee Vice-Chair

Moved by Councillor Braun, seconded by Councillor Barkman, that the election of a Vice-Chair be added to the agenda. MATC 52-2013 CARRIED.

Councillor Braun was nominated and elected by acclamation as the Vice-Chair of the Mission Abbotsford Transit Committee. 2. ADOPTION OF MINUTES .1 Minutes of the July 25, 2013 Meeting

Moved by Councillor Braun, seconded by Councillor Luck, that the minutes of the Mission Abbotsford Transit Committee meeting, held July 25, 2013, be adopted. MATC 53-2013 CARRIED.

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Minutes of the Mission Abbotsford Transit Committee meeting held September 26, 2013, at 10:05 a.m. in Room 530 of Abbotsford City Hall Page 2 3. DELEGATION .1 James Wells, 4-32465 South Fraser Way, to Address Transition from West

Coast Train Pass to Compass Card

Moved by Councillor Loewen, seconded by Councillor Luck, that the delegation of James Wells, 4-32465 South Fraser Way, regarding the transition from West Coast Train Pass to Compass Card, be received. MATC 54-2013 CARRIED.

4. BUSINESS OUT OF MINUTES .1 Monthly Follow-up Sheet – September 2013

Moved by Councillor Loewen, seconded by Councillor Luck, that the Monthly Follow-up Sheet - September 2013, be received. MATC 55-2013 CARRIED.

.2 Mission Abbotsford Transit System Efficiency Review

Moved by Councillor Braun, seconded by Councillor Luck, that the Mission Abbotsford Transit System Efficiency Review, be received. MATC 56-2013 CARRIED.

.3 Mission and Maple Ridge Passenger (West Coast Express) Survey Results

Update Moved by Councillor Braun, seconded by Councillor Luck,

that the verbal update from M. Orfield, BC Transit, regarding the Mission and Maple Ridge Passenger (West Coast Express) Survey Results, be received.

MATC 57-2013 CARRIED.

.4 Google Trip Planner and Real Time Bus Tracker Update Moved by Councillor Barkman, seconded by Councillor

Luck, that the verbal update from J. van Schaik, BC Transit, regarding the Google Trip Planner and real time bus tracker, be received.


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Minutes of the Mission Abbotsford Transit Committee meeting held September 26, 2013, at 10:05 a.m. in Room 530 of Abbotsford City Hall Page 3 5. REPORTS .1 2nd Quarter 2013 Ridership and Revenue Report Moved by Councillor Braun, seconded by Councillor

Loewen, that the 2nd Quarter 2013 Ridership and Revenue Report, be received.


6. NEW BUSINESS

None. 7. CORRESPONDENCE .1 Email Correspondence Dated August 14, 2013, from Lori Reisig, regarding the

fare credit for West Coast Express ticket holder once the TransLink Compass Card is introduced

Moved by Councillor Braun, seconded by Councillor Luck,

that the e-mail request from Lori Reisig, regarding the fare credit for West Coast Express ticket holder once the TransLink Compass Card is introduced, be received.


8. ADJOURNMENT

Moved by Councillor Loewen, seconded by Councillor Luck, that the September 26, 2013, Mission Abbotsford Transit Committee meeting, be adjourned (11:55 a.m.)


The next MATC meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, October 24, 2013, at the City of Abbotsford in Room 530. Certified Correct: Mayor Adlem S. Jones, Recorder

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MISSION ABBOTSFORD TRANSIT COMMITTEE Follow-up Sheet – November 2013

Note: Items marked “Complete” will be removed from list for next meeting

Action to be initiated by Lead will be indicated by an * Page 1 of of 2

Subject Decision and/or action required Action to be initiated by:

Target Date

BUSINESS OUT OF MINUTES

Funding Strategy Staff to prepare a more detailed Funding Strategy report with top four funding options. Advertising strategy should be included as an alternative funding option.

J. van Schaik* TBD

Fare Review Revisit the two zone fare structure in the Fall 2013 J. van Schaik* G. Chang

November 2013

Efficiency Review Staff to prepare a 3 Year Service Plan for MATC. Staff to provide results of the Mission and Maple Ridge (West Coast Express) passenger survey to provide details of demand. – Update Complete

J. van Schaik* M. Orfield*

Ongoing September 2013

Advertising Strategy Staff to develop an Advertising Strategy and report back to MATC J. van Schaik*

November 2013

Marketing Strategy Staff to develop a Marketing Strategy and report back to MATC J. van Schaik* November 2013

MATC Terms of Reference Review

Staff to prepare a joint report on a Policy and Procedures along with a finalized Terms of Reference for MATC

B. Pitkethly* J. Sun

January 2014

Transit exchanges planning

Staff to provide Federal funding options provided to other cities J. van Schaik* TBD

Translink Bus #503 Implementation

Staff to confirms with Translink about Bus #503 schedule and adjust Route #21 Schedule accordingly

J. van Schaik* Tania Wegwitz

TBD

Expand HandyDART Services

Staff to investigate possible changes to handyDART services J. van Schaik* C. Brown

November 2013

6

MISSION ABBOTSFORD TRANSIT COMMITTEE Follow-up Sheet – November 2013

Note: Items marked “Complete” will be removed from list for next meeting

Action to be initiated by Lead will be indicated by an * Page 2 of of 2

Subject Decision and/or action required Action to be initiated by:

Target Date

Bus Phone App Google Trip Planner Cameras on buses

Google Trip Planner and real time bus tracker update Complete Google Trip Planner Installation of cameras on buses update

J. van Schaik* J. van Schaik* J. van Schaik*

September 2013 November 2013 November 2013

CORRESPONDENCE

REPORTS Ridership & Revenue Report

Ridership and Revenue Report (provided quarterly) (Summary of customer correspondence to be included) Staff to provide information on ridership comparison with other communities, expenses/costs and the past five year ridership information. 2nd Quarterly Report – June Complete 3rd Quarterly Report – September 4th Quarterly Report – December Annual Ridership and Revenue Report for 2013

J. van Schaik* J. van Schaik* J. van Schaik* J. van Schaik*

September 2013 November 2013 March 2014 TBD

7

Abbotsford – Mission Efficiency Review Update

MATC Meeting November 2013

8

Overview • Update on staff assigned to project • Check in:

» Project principles » Objectives / trade offs

• Work completed to date • Next steps

9

Staff Update • Rebecca Newlove,

Senior Transit Planner » Introduction at Jan 2014

MATC Meeting

• Additional Staff » Robert Madison, Manager

of Service Planning and Scheduling

» Sarah-Jane Guymer, Scheduler

» Debra Campbell, Senior Scheduler

10

Project Guiding Principles

From Local Service Quick Wins: “Conduct a system-wide efficiency review. Using the performance guidelines established in this plan, collect, analyze and recommend service adjustments to improve routes or route segments that are under performing.”

• Derived from and supports the Transit Future Plan

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Project Guiding Principles • Established by MATC May 2013:

» Budget neutral planning: both Abbotsford and Mission do not have the financial capacity to increase spending on transit.

» Improve system performance in terms of improved efficiency and increased ridership.

» Service equity: match level of service to demand and service area characteristics

• Similar neighbourhood densities = similar service levels

12

Efficiency vs. Effectiveness • Efficiency: Using resources prudently

» Levers: Service hours, vehicles, associated costs • Opportunities to reduce hours or vehicles? • Opportunities to change how service delivered?

• Effectiveness: Delivering maximum benefit » Levers: Ridership, revenue, community benefits

• Opportunities to gain further rides and revenue? • Opportunities to derive additional benefits?

13

Efficiency vs. Effectiveness Under the BC Transit model: • Largest local gains by focussing on effectiveness

» Cutting $1 of service only saves $0.27 in local costs due to cost-sharing formula

• BC Transit = $0.47, Passenger Fares = $0.26.

» But, redeploying those same resources to attract additional passengers and fares means that local partners keep every additional $1 in revenue to offset costs

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Objectives / Trade offs • Redeploying services means balancing needs of

long term whole versus existing individual riders » To date, proposed Mission changes have less risk » However, Abbotsford proposals to date are more

extensive and therefore have higher risk of negatively impacting existing riders

• School trips: youth and parents • Riders from more suburban areas

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Objectives / Trade offs • Focus of recent work:

» Double check rationale, impacts, trade offs • Ensure alignment with Transit Future Plan, OCPs • Verify data used for decision making • “Ground truthing”: fieldwork, front line staff, passengers

» Iterative process: detailwholedetailwhole

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Objectives / Trade offs • Increasing ridership: best practices

• “Band wagon” theory: Incremental positive change • Communications aligned with community goals • Balance of gaining new customers, retaining existing

“Don’t mess up the morning commutes”

17

Work Since Last MATC • Workshop held: local partners, BC Transit staff

» Detailed review of all proposed changes » Identification of further areas for follow up

• Fieldwork, analysis to review areas of concern • Further ridership counts conducted:

» Route 2: Huntingdon area » Route 12: UFV-Bourquin Connector

• Preliminary schedule development begun » “Cycle time” schedules, base schedules/frequencies

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Mission: Route 31 (Changed since last MATC)

• Two trip patterns: » Local via Junction Mall, Downtown

Mission to Downtown Abbotsford » Express:

• Every second trip at peak times • Would not route via Junction Mall • Would extend from Downtown

Abbotsford to McCallum Interchange and UFV

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• Eliminate loop on Logan

• Hospital outbound, Superstore inbound

20


• Proposed to discontinue service to Junction Mall on this route: » One-way service anyway:

less useful » Connecting service still

available at exchange » Improves overall system

schedule reliability

21

Abbotsford: Areas of further focus still under review

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Downes

= ,/ i5 for &t I e- I I Learning

Hospfta/ & Cancer Centre

Entetta &spo

--

To Mission To

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• N

Hwy.1

-To Barron's Way

Immediate Next Steps Timing Activity

Late Nov 2013 Fieldwork, final “ground truthing” of proposals

Early Dec 2013 • Running time collection • Verification of cycle times, base schedules

Mid Dec 2013 Teleconference with staff to review/confirm draft proposals

Dec 2013 – Jan 2014

• Development of detailed schedules and Service Discussion Document summarizing all proposed changes by route

• Development of detailed public consultation materials and plan

Jan 2014 MATC Presentation for discussion and approval: • Final routing and schedule proposals • Detailed consultation plan

Late Feb – Early Mar 2014

Public consultation: • Project website and online survey • Open houses at exchanges, UFV • Ads on buses, local media, news release

Mar 2014 MATC Presentation of preliminary results, implementation recommendations 23

Overall Timeline

• Public consultation: Feb-Mar 2014 • Council approval: Apr 2014 • Implementation: Sep 2014

24

Thank you Tania Wegwitz, Manager of Operational Planning [email protected], 250-508-0842 25

1

Transit Marketing Strategy Update Report to MATC

November 28, 2013 26

Transit and Vendor Promotions

• BCT Marketing and Sales & Revenue will:

»Engage with target audience

»Promote partnerships

»Increase community support for transit

»Increase ridership and revenue

2 27

Transit Marketing - Engagement

• Ride Together Instagram Campaign:

» Social Media integration – Instagram, Facebook and Twitter

» Targeting audiences from 18-54

» Promotes target audience engagement

» New contest = Snappy Signs

3 28

Transit Marketing- Partnership

Promote transit in your community by sharing the Instagram site on your website through Twitter, emails and Facebook.

Post the Ride Together icon on your sites and hyperlink it to: ridetogetherbc.bctransit.com

New Ride Together social media

promotion coming soon for young adults!

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http://ridetogetherbc.bctransit.com/

Vendor Promotion - Awareness

• In December 2013 » BCT will begin a campaign to feature partnering Transit Vendors

• Ensure ‘Transit Vendors’ are top of mind

• Promoting Vendor’s help their overall business and confirms partnership

• Vendor’s are our main distribution channel for selling pre-paid fare products

• First quarter of 2014 » BCT’s Sales & Revenue, Marketing along with LG support, will be

investigating ways to increase ‘Transit Fare Product Awareness’ within vendor locations • In-store display needs to be improved to bring transit from ‘behind the counter’

5 30

1

Central Fraser Valley Transit System

Revenue and Ridership Report: Third Quarter, 2013

Passenger Revenue Highlights:

Conventional revenue increased by 6.8% in the third quarter of 2013 in comparison to the same time period in 2012.

Custom revenue increased by 19% for the third quarter of 2013. Annually, revenue is up by 8.1% year to date.

Passenger Revenue Summary

Year Conventional Custom Total

Third Quarter (July to Sept)

2013 $670,075 $48,607 $718,682

2012 $624,814 $39,363 $664,177

Variance 6.8% 19.0% 7.6%

12 Month Period

2012/13 $2,845,336 $186,588 3,031,924

2011/12 $2,629,702 $157,243 2,786,944

Variance 7.6% 15.7% 8.1%

Note: Revenue reflects actual revenue collected and reported by the City of Abbotsford to BC Transit on

behalf of the transit system, as well as revenue accruing from advertising and the BC Bus Pass Program.

Custom revenue includes all fares from handyDART, taxi supplement and taxi saver rides.

$140,000

$160,000

$180,000

$200,000

$220,000

$240,000

$260,000

$280,000

Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep

Conventional Revenue

2012/132011/12

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Passenger Ridership Highlights: Conventional ridership shows 1.3% decrease for the third quarter of 2013 in comparison to

2012. Custom ridership decreased 4.1% for the third quarter of 2013.

Annually, ridership is up by 2.5% year to date.

Ridership Summary

Year Conventional Custom Total

Third Quarter (July to Sept)

2013 568,013 24,975 592,988

2012 575,446 25,997 601,443

Variance -1.3% -4.1% -1.4%

12 Month Period

2012/13 2,485,204 103,695 2,588,899

2011/12 2,418,474 104,865 2,523,339

Variance 2.7% -1.1% 2.5%

$10,000

$12,000

$14,000

$16,000

$18,000

$20,000


Custom Revenue

2012/13

2011/12

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130,000

150,000

170,000

190,000

210,000

230,000

250,000


Conventional Ridership

2012/13

2011/12

6,000

7,000

8,000

9,000

10,000

11,000

12,000


Custom Ridership

2012/13

2011/12

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Farebox reporting: Ridership and Revenue:

Ridership Summary

Calculated Farebox Variance

Third Quarter (Jul - Sep) 568,013 467,096 21.6%

12 Month Period 2,485,204 1,860,119 33.6%

Calculated ridership is higher than farebox reported boardings: o 21.6% for the third quarter of 2013

o 33.6% over the last 12 months.

Revenue Summary

Reported Farebox Variance

Third Quarter (Jul - Sep) 228,885 211,080 8.4%

12 Month Period 868,924 809,344 7.4%

Reported cash revenue is also higher than farebox revenue: o 8.4% for the third quarter of 2013. o 7.4% over the last 12 months.

Experience in similar transit systems in the province show that it is normal to report variances between calculated/reported data versus data generated by the farebox. This is due to the

following contributing factors: Ridership

For universal comparative purposes, calculated rides are defined as origin to destination trips that explicitly excludes transfers. Farebox boardings reflect actual

boardings and represent trip portions. Traditionally, calculated rides have been based on the results of two week manual

counts that were undertaken in the past. This data provided a snapshot of fare

product utilization and was used as a basis to calculate ridership based on cash, ticket and pass utilization.

The accuracy of farebox ridership is dependent on driver compliance with respect to recording and “classifying” cash fare rides that represent a fare other than the adult cash fare. For example, instances of underpayment, overpayment and concession

fares (students and seniors). Driver compliance relating to recording rides in the case of non-swipeable (flash)

passes, e.g. UPass, as well as free rides.

Revenue Farebox accuracy: fareboxes do require regular maintenance to ensure bill and coin

classification and counting is accurate.

When fareboxes malfunction and are put into “bypass” mode, it only collects revenue and does not actually count bills and coins, or classifies rides.

Reconciling items that are deposited in the farebox: instances where items such as foreign currency, passes, parking tickets, transfers and tokens are inserted and counted as revenue (and rides) by fareboxes.

Different reporting periods of the farebox and local partner, e.g. cash collected in one month but reported to the City in the following month.

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Customer Comments

July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar April May June July Aug SeptSafety 2 2 2 3 3 2 4 2 1 2 3 2 3 3 1

Behaviour 0 0 1 0 3 0 5 2 6 4 4 2 2 5 5Fare 2 1 0 0 0 2 6 0 2 0 3 0 0 0 0

Safety 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 1 1 0 1Cleanliness 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 3 0 1 0 0 1

Early 2 1 2 0 2 2 2 2 2 3 1 3 0 1 2Late 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 3 4 5 4 5 6 4 5

Missed 1 3 3 2 2 4 8 6 7 8 5 9 8 5 7Pass-up 2 10 7 5 20 6 4 8 9 8 8 6 10 4 14

Total 9 17 16 11 30 17 34 24 33 33 28 29 30 22 36Suggestion/

Enquiry 15 12 10 10 28 30 24 18 22 16 9 9 20 18 21Compliment-

Drivers 2 1 1 4 2 2 3 1 0 1 1 2 2 3 2Compliment-

General 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 2 2 2Total 18 13 11 15 31 33 28 19 22 18 11 12 24 23 25

Total 27 30 27 26 61 50 62 43 55 51 39 41 54 45 618,634 8,634 8,102 8,745 8,631 8,199 9,177 8,136 8,843 9,238 9,343 8,903 9,232 9,177 8,760

Compliments/Suggestions 2.1 1.5 1.4 1.7 3.6 4.0 3.1 2.3 2.5 1.9 1.2 1.3 2.6 2.5 2.9Complaints 1.0 2.0 2.0 1.3 3.5 2.1 3.7 2.9 3.7 3.6 3.0 3.3 3.2 2.4 4.1

Customer CommentsQ3 Q4 Q1

Compliments/

Suggestions

Other

Complaints

Driver related

Vehicle related

2012 2013

Service Hours (AOA) - Rates/1,000 hours

Q3

Service related

Q2

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Occu

rren

ce

Customer Comments 2012/13

Q3 2012 (Jul - Sep)

Q4 2012 (Oct - Dec)

Q1 2013 (Jan - Mar)

Q2 2013 (Apr - Jun)

Q3 2013 (Jul - Sep)

Service ComplimentsVehicleDriver

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• • • • •

520 Gorge Road East PO Box 610 VICtoria BC Canada V8W 2P3 • T: 250 385 2551 • F: 250 9955639 • www.bctransit.com

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

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Sep

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Oct

No

v

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Ap

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May

Ju

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Comments per Month - 2012/13

Total

Complaints

Compliments/

Suggestions

0

1

2

3

4

5

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Sep

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Oct

No

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Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

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May

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Comment Rates per 1,000 Revenue Hours

Complaints

Compliments

/Suggestions

36

---

520 Gorge Road East PO Box 610 VICtoria BC Canada V8W 2P3 • T: 250 385 2551 • F: 250 9955639 • www.bctransit.com

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Sa '~

ABBOTSFORD

MISSION ABBOTSFORD TRANSIT COMMITTEE REPORT

Report No. MATC 1,2013 November 21 , 2013 File No: 0540-20

To: From:

Mission Abbotsford Transit Committee James Sun, Traffic Engineer

Regular

Subject: Emergency Transit Assistance Program (ETAP) Request for 2013/2014 Renewal

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. THAT Report No. MATC 1-2013, dated November 21 , 2013, from the Traffic Engineer, regarding the Emergency Transit Assistance Program (ETAP) request for 2013/2014 renewal , be received ; and

2. THAT the Mission Abbotsford Transit Committee (MATC) continue to support the ETAP program at the current ticket allocation level of 1,720 adult tickets and 40 ch ild tickets per month .

BACKGROUND

Since March 2005, the United Way of the Fraser Valley (UWFV) received a monthly allocation of transit fare tickets, from the City of Abbotsford and the District of Mission , to support the Emergency Transit Ass istance Program (ETAP). The tickets are distributed to the clients of non,profit/charitable agencies operating within Abbotsford and Mission.

These agencies provide tickets to clients who do not have the financial capacity to afford transportation, giving them the ability to access essential services through the Central Fraser Valley (CFV) transit system.

In October 2010, the Mission Abbotsford Transit Committee (MATC) supported a request from UWFV to increase the monthly ticket allocation from 500 to 1,720 adult tickets and 40 child tickets (total of 1,760 tickets) .

ANALYSIS

The ETAP program has no budget impact, as clients receiving the tickets would not have purchased the tickets due to their financial situation. Based on analysis by City of Abbotsford , District of Mission, BC Transit and First Canada ULC staff, displacement of fare-paying users by ETAP users is highly unlikely, given most routes in the CFV system are able to accommodate ridership increases. Furthermore, for CFV routes running near capacity, such as those servicing the Abbotsford UFV campus, ETAP users are unlikely to displace fare-paying users, as ETAP users will access essential services in multiple locations through numerous transit route options.

Request for 2013/2014 ETAP Ticket Allocation Renewal

In October 2013, UWFV submitted a request for the 2013/2014 Renewal (Appendix A) . This letter and attachment include a client survey on the ETAP program and details of ticket distribution , usage and surplus amongst participating ETAP clients and agencies.

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Report No. MATC 1-2013 Page 2 of 2

Staff recommend that MA TC continue to support the monthly allocation of 1,760 transit tickets to the ETAP program. Staff also requests that the UWFV continue monitoring ticket usage in 2013/2014 to ensure the ticket allocation is being fully utilized and report back to MATC with a ticket usage assessment.

FINANCIAL PLAN IMPLICATIONS

No change is required to the Financial Plans to accommodate the request for a continuation of the ETAP program.

CONCLUSION

The ETAP program, which has been supported by MATC since 2005, gives clients of non-profit/charitable agencies the ability to access essential services through the CFV transit system. The United Way of the Fraser Valley (UWFV) requested that the monthly ETAP ticket allocation of 1,720 adult passes and 40 child passes be continued. Staff recommend that MA TC continue to support the ETAP program at the current ticket allocation level, as it is unlikely that it will result in revenue loss or additional costs.

r Jim Go;O;;: . ng: General Manager, Engineering and Regional Utilities, City of Abbotsford

Barclay Pitkethly Deputy Director of Development Services, District of Mission

Russ Mammel, P.Eng. Director of Transportation and Projects, City of Abbotsford

James Sun, P.Eng Traffic Engineer, City of Abbotsford

Attachment: Appendix A - Emergency Transit Assistance Program (ETAP) Request for 2013/2014 Renewal (October 18, 2013)

JS:si

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ETA P Working

Together for an Accessible

Community

ETAP;sa Community Building Partnership Initiative

of:

0) United Way of

the Fraser Valley

~ Ab6otsford

')l5r.l(- r elF M IS!iIU"I

p - - q

BC Transit

October 18, 2013

James Sun Traffic Engineer City of Abbotsford 32315 South Fraser Way Abbotsford, BC V8G 2X6

Barclay Pitkethly Deputy Director of Development Services District of Mission 8645 Stave Lake Street PO Box 20 Mission, BC V2V 4L9

Mission Abbotsford Transit Committee Emergency Transit Assistance Program (ETAP)

REQUEST FOR RENEWAL

Dear Mark & Barclay,

Thank you for the incredible support provided to the ETAP program from the City of Abbotsford and District of Mission through the Mission Abbotsford Transit Committee. In 2012/2013 we distributed transit passes through seventeen community based organizations.

Thousands of Abbotsford and Mission residents have been able to be active members of the community through this program. Residents feel much more connected to their community when they have access to safe transportation .

We request that the Mission Abbotsford Transit Committee continue supporting the Emergency Transit Assistance Program through the year 2013/2014 with an allotment of 1,720 adult transit passes per month plus 40 child transit passes per month.

Prior to the November MATC Meeting, I will provide the Annual Usage Report and comments from individuals accessing the ETAP Program.

We have been working with the same number of passes since November 2010. We are currently surveying our partner organizations and others to determine whether we are meeting the needs of Mission and Abbotsford residents . Due to increasing numbers of individuals living in poverty (Vital Signs, Food Bank usage), we may need to request an increase in the number of passes received each month. As this is a revenue neutral program, I hope that MATC will consider an increase, if the need is proven . I will include the survey results with my Usage Report.

Yours sincerely,

lJ~.L-Wayne Green Executive Director

Cc: Mayor Ted Adlem Mayor Bruce Banman

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Tickets Distribution Summary

Agency Name Program Name Total Total Agency

Distributed Used Surplus

Abbotsford Community Probation 178 157 21 Corrections Abbotsford Community Miscellaneous Programs 2305 2158 147 Services Abbotsford Community Abbotsford Food Bank 1790 1640 150 Services Abbotsford Community Abbotsford Connect 60 25 35 Services Abbotsford Peer Support for 30 30 0 Seniors Abbotsford Youth Drop in 170 142 28 Commission Creative Centre Society 215 185 30 Community Futures 0 20 -20 Fraser Valley Brain Injury Case Management 625 583 42

Program Ishtar Transition Housing 0 0 0 Society LI.N.C. 100 70 30 Matsqui Abbotsford Impact Impact 15 14 1 Society Mission Community Miscellaneous Programs 2800 2557 243 Services Society Mission Community Haven in the Hollow 3220 2900 320 Services Society Mission Community Outreach 1220 1102 118 Services Society Mission Community Rivendell 3310 3060 250 Services Society Mission Connect Mission Connect 0 0 0 Mission Friendship Centre Community Health 730 633 97 Society New Heights Church Street Hope 240 197 43 Positive Living Fraser Valley The Lighthouse Centre 250 227 23 Society The Elizabeth Fry Society Abbotsford Women's 630 570 60

Drop-in Center The Salvation Army Care and Share Centre 420 381 39 Women's Resource Society Abbotsford Transition 485 485 0

House Women's Resource Society Abbotsford Women's 440 400 40

Support Services

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Women's Resource Society Christine Lamb 200 159 41

Women's Resource Society Mission Transition House 370 340 30

Women's Resource Society Mission Women's Support 440 400 40 Services

Women's Resource Society Pregnancy Outreach 360 330 30 Program

Women's Resource Society The Warm Zone 717 637 80

Carried Forward 220

Total Received from Transit 21480

Total Tickets Available 21700

Total Distributed to Aqencies 21320

UWFV Surplus 380

Of 380 surplus, 360 used for December distribution

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2013 Transit Pass Client Survey

As a recipient of ETAP transit passes United Way wants to hear from you. You may already know that the free transit passes you have been given recently is part of a special program offered by United Way of the Fraser Valley and our distribution partners. Safe transportation is essential for everyone in this community.

We respect your privacy, so we don't want you to tell us your real name, but the information you provide will help us to understand how ETAP is making your life even a little easier during a difficult time, or when you have had no other options.

Please take a few minutes to answer a few questions or tell us in story fashion . For your convenience you may return this document to the worker that has given you free transit passes. United Way will use the information you provide to ensure continued support from the Mission Abbotsford Transit Committee. Your input is essential to continue this program.

How did the free transit passes help you?

WRSFV - Mission Transition House

These bus tickets kept my life together. I recently was hired at two new jobs and needed transportation daily on a multiple basis. The tickets also allowed me to look for housing. Yes, I was able to attend important meetings such as lawyer, court, mediation. I was able to take my son to his acting classes and to his air cadet activities. It helped tremendously. I was able to get myself around to the various appointments I had and aided greatly in finding and securing housing

Creative Centre Society

This is one of my only chances to intergrate into the community. It has helped me get over my anxiety of taking the bus. We go as a group to Abbyhouse It get me from point A to point B in a very quick time. It also helped me get from Abbotsford to Mission in no time at all. Being that you pay $2.25 a ticket which is high, getting a few bus passes once in a while helps me greatly. Living on the other side of town.

WRSV - Abbotsford Transition

Getting to the programs my kids need to go to safely, dry and warm . These free tickets are the difference of my daughter (6 yrs) and myself being able to take advantage of the very necessary councelling and courses available.

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What would you have done if you weren't given the transit passes?


If I didn 't have these tickets I wouldn 't have been able to keep my jobs which helped me get back on my feet. I could not be able to attend all these important meetings, thank you I would not have been able to get to many of the appointments I had as many were much too far to walk to .. this includes the finding and securing of safe housing


I would have been scared to use the bus still. No interaction with the community. I live in a residential home in Yarrow. I try to walk down , wh ich takes 2 hrs from bluejay or try friends that have cars.


Walked and be late for group sessions Well I definitely wouldn't be able to get my daughter into the concelling she's in or the course I'm about to take because the only other opstion would be walking and we live to far to be able to get to these services at the times they are available

Anything you would like to add?


It would be nice if we received more tickets , as there were times where we ran out of tickets. There are many women who appreciate these tickets. I would like to thank you for your program. I am really grateful for what you are doing to the women of our community, thank you I would like to thank you and say I am grateful for the transit ticket donations as they aided me in being able to do what was needed to move forward in life ... for all the women you have helped and the ones you will be helping by your generous donations I say thank you.


It has given me a different outlook on life. A more positive outlook I enjoy the scenary.

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I think that you should be able to get a bus ticket without having to explain what you need it for. Believe that people with mental health issues should ride free , depending on there disability


I have 2 kids and myself going to group, 4 tickets is not enough honestly. I'm at Womens Resource at least 12x a mounth . I'm very appreciated of the fact that there are bus tickets available and vecause of this we have been able to better our lives with the services we very much need the WRFV have helped change my life.

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2013 Agency Transit Pass Survey Consolidated

1 How has the Emergency Transit Assistance Program benefited your clients? (Please give concrete examples if possible)

WRSFV - Abbotsford Women's Support

Without transit tickets, a lot of clients and their children would find it very difficult to access the programs and series we provide that, for most, crucial for

helping them maintain a basic standard of living. Those who need help applying for Income Assistance or to find adequate housing often cannot even afford transit to and from the office and other appointments without ETAP. Mothers of children

who access the children 's counseling and group programs who don't have a vehicle and/or are new to area have a much easier time getting to and from their appointments, as well. Clients are especially grateful in the colder months when rain and snow pose a particularly challenging barrier to getting to and from important places/appointments for women and their children. Having access to transit tickets

allows them to get around a little warmer and drier.

Abbotsford Youth Commission

Many of our youth do not have parents who are able to drive them to programs. Without the passes many youth would not be able to participate. We have youth who would not be able to participate in mainstream recreational activities if it were not for the transit passes, because of the passes Abbotsford youth have safe places to hang out with staff supervision at all time.


Often women and their children come in with no money and bus passes help them keep employment if they are working, get themselves and kids to Dr. appts, legal appts and financial assistance appts. When staff are unable to transport clients the bus tickets help the women get where they need. They stay for a month and frequent users also are able to maintain independence re; getting around w/o help of the staff. Often the bus is the only way for kids to get to school if they are a fair distance or stay in touch with family support.

Mission Indian Friendship Centre

We have clients with major health issues, with diabetes, heart problems and other chronic diseases, unfortunately these clients are on a fixed incomes living

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below the poverty level, they do not have vehicles, or other means of transportation .

I would impress upon you the ETAP program has enabled our clients to arrive on time to appointments; such as court , probation offices, hospital for blood test, ultra-sounds, xrays. The ETAP program is helping our clients with other medical , dental appointments, including specialist or to get to surgical appointments in Abbotsford . This program has helped our clients to seek employment or employment training. We also have mothers coming in with their children's dental or medical appointments who are utilizing adult bus tickets to get to their scheduled appointments. There have been times we need to help people to get to shelters in Abbotsford because Mission shelter was full, and visitation for parents who have lost their children to Ministry. Another example is we have had several transient clients arrive with no visible means of support requiring transportation to hospital in order to received IV treatment for infection (one individual was on crutches).

2 What suggestions do you have for improvements that can be made to ETAP?

WRSFV - Mission Women's Support Services

The only thing I could suggest would be to link the service to include Translink tickets or tickets which could be used for both transit systems.

Elizabeth Fry

If possible - the transfers could have more time on them so our clients would need less tickets in a day.

WRSFV - Christine Lamb

The only suggestion we have is to hopefully receive more tickets.

L:\Committees\Transit\2014\2014 Meeting Schedule.docx

MISSION ABBOTSFORD TRANSIT

COMMITTEE

2014

MEETING SCHEDULE

Please note beginning February 27, 2014 all meetings start at 10:00 am, at the District of Mission City Hall There will be no scheduled meetings in August or December. January 23, 2014 (Abbotsford City Hall, Room 530) 10 am to 12 pm

February 27, 2014 (District of Mission City Hall) 10 am to 12 pm

March 27, 2014 (District of Mission City Hall) 10 am to 12 pm

April 24, 2014 (District of Mission City Hall) 10 am to 12 pm

May 22, 2014 (District of Mission City Hall) 10 am to 12 pm

June 26, 2014 (District of Mission City Hall) 10 am to 12 pm

July 24, 2014 (District of Mission City Hall) 10 am to 12 pm

September 25, 2014 (District of Mission City Hall) 10 am to 12 pm

October 23, 2014 (District of Mission City Hall) 10 am to 12 pm

November 27, 2014 (District of Mission City Hall) 10 am to 12 pm

January 22, 2015 (District of Mission City Hall) 10 am to 12 pm

February 26, 2015 (Abbotsford City Hall, Room 530) 10 am to 12 pm

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E T A P Working

Together for

an Accessible

Community

ETAP is a Community Building Partnership Initiative

of:

United Way of

the Fraser Valley

November 13, 2013

James Sun Barclay Pitkethly Traffic Engineer Deputy Director of Development Services City of Abbotsford District of Mission 32315 South Fraser Way 8645 Stave Lake Street Abbotsford, BC V8G 2X6 PO Box 20 Mission, BC V2V 4L9

Mission Abbotsford Transit Committee

Emergency Transit Assistance Program (ETAP) REQUEST FOR INCREASE

Dear James & Barclay, As I indicated in my letter of October 18, 2013, I believed we may need to request an increase to our ETAP request. We surveyed current organizations as well as organizations who had indicated a need to join the ETAP program. Unfortunately the number of individuals living in poverty in Mission and Abbotsford has increased. As well, the severity of the effects of poverty is increasing. At the Abbotsford Connect Event, three individuals were taken to the emergency ward due to serious health concerns. This has never happened in the past. We are requesting the following:

Adult Tickets – 2, 295 an increase of 575. Child Tickets – 310. Prior to 2010, we had never received a request for Child

Tickets. Since that time, the need has increased significantly. Handydart Tickets – 120. This is a newly identified need. Both Community

Living Organizations and Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association have indicated that some of the eligible Handydart clients miss appointments when they can’t afford Handydart. Here is a quote from Kathy Reeves at MACL “Also individuals have to pay the $2.50 each way and unfortunately most indiv receive income assistance and have insufficient funds to pay this cost. I have heard that some individuals are NOT attending all their day program days due to this barrier.”

As this program is intended to be revenue neutral, no loss to MATC, we respectfully request your support for this increase. Yours sincerely,

Wayne Green Executive Director

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Monthly Transit Ticket Request to Mission Abbotsford Transit Committee

Agency Name Program Name

Monthly Adult

Request

Monthly Child

Request

Monthly Handydart

Request

Abbotsford Community Corrections Probation 40

Abbotsford Community Services Miscellaneous Programs 250 80

Abbotsford Community Services Abbotsford Food Bank 200

Abbotsford Community Services Abbotsford Connect 10

Abbotsford Works 100 50

Abbotsford Peer Support for Seniors 5

Abbotsford Youth Commission Drop in 30

Creative Centre Society 20

Fraser Valley Brain Injury Case Management Program 75 20

John Howard Society 30

L.I.N.C. 20

Matsqui Abbotsford Impact Society Impact 5

Mission Association for Community Living 100

Mission Community Services Society Miscellaneous Programs 230 10

Mission Community Services Society Haven in the Hollow 250

Mission Community Services Society Outreach 120

Mission Community Services Society Rivendell 250

Mission Connect Mission Connect 10

Mission Friendship Centre Society Community Health 100 50

New Heights Church Street Hope 60

Positive Living Fraser Valley Society The Lighthouse Centre 30

The Elizabeth Fry Society Abbotsford Women's Drop-in Center 65

The Salvation Army Care and Share Centre 70

Women's Resource Society Abbotsford Transition House 30 70

Women's Resource Society Abbotsford Women's Support Services 40

Women's Resource Society Christine Lamb 35 20

Women's Resource Society Mission Transition House 30 30

Women's Resource Society Mission Women's Support Services 60 30

Women's Resource Society Pregnancy Outreach Program 40 20

Women's Resource Society The Warm Zone 120

New Monthly Request 2295 310 120

Current Monthly Contribution 1720 40 0

Increase to Current Request 575 270 120

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