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GRT Business Plan approved by Regional Council

Grand River Transit's 2011-2014 Business Plan was approved by Regional Council February 8, 2012. The business plan outlines transit service improvements that would achieve the ridership growth targets in the Moving Forward 2031 Regional Transportation Master Plan (RTMP). The plan includes:

• Implementation of the GRT network redesign to integrate with adapted Bus Rapid Transit in Cambridge and Light Rail Transit in Kitchener-Waterloo.
• Service improvements to the Cambridge area, new service to Doon South, additional service on the 200 iXpress, and addition of the next iXpress routes.
• Fare strategy will be based on annual increases between 5% and 9% per year, to achieve a balance of transit revenue and the municipal contribution to transit operating costs.

• Improving interregional service, including advocating for additional GO Rail service to Kitchener-Waterloo, extending GO Rail service to Cambridge via Milton, extending existing GO Bus service to Ainslie Street Terminal and developing an interregional network connecting with Brantford and Guelph.
• Extension of GRT service to Township Urban Areas upon request by the Township with the service model to be developed and funded in partnership with each Township.
• Expanded transit technology to improve efficiency and service quality including real-time information and smart card fare systems.

 

Click the pdf link to view the full text of the report and a summary of the plan.

 

 

 

GRT Business Plan 2011-2014

The GRT Business Plan outlines proposed transit service improvements that would achieve the ridership growth targets in the Moving Forward 2031 Regional Transportation Master Plan (RTMP).

The RTMP provides long-term guidance on transportation infrastructure and services for the community. Building a more effective transit network is key in accommodating future population and employment growth in Waterloo Region.

In order to accomplish the objectives of the RTMP, the GRT Business Plan proposes to:

1. Provide a level and quality of service to accelerate ridership growth;

2. Improve productivity and financial performance;

3. Achieve a high level of employee satisfaction and workplace excellence;

4. Support and promote a sustainable, equitable and environmentally responsible community;

5. Ensure fiscal responsibility and long-term sustainable financing of transit;

6. Move towards seamless integration of GRT bus, Light Rail Transit, adapted Bus Rapid Transit, and interregional services.

Transportation Choice

An important goal of the RTMP is to provide better transportation choices by creating more opportunities to take transit, walk, and cycle.

The strategies included in the GRT Business Plan would increase the competitiveness of GRT's service and encourage greater transit use, supporting the Region's goal of being a thriving and sustainable community.

Building for the Future

We can build a more sustainable transportation system that is focused around public transit, walking and cycling, while recognizing that travel by car will still be an essential part of getting around our community by:

• Balancing investment in transit, road improvements and active transportation infrastructure;
• Increasing the percentage of people travelling by transit in the peak hour from 3.8 per cent to 14.8 per cent;
• Increasing the percentage of people travelling by bike or on foot from 7.8 per cent to 12 per cent;
• Decreasing the percentage of people travelling by car from 85.2 per cent to 70 per cent; and,
• Making strategic road improvements to support transit and economic development.

Let's Continue Our Success

The new transit service improvements proposed in the Business Plan would continue to build the Regional transit network (GRT) that was established in 2000. By the end of 2011, annual ridership is projected to increase to 19.5 million, a 106 per cent increase from 9.4 million annual rides at the end of 1999 when GRT was established, and an 8 per cent increase from 18 million in 2010. As illustrated below, the key to the success in ridership growth is continued service improvements.

 

 

Planning for Rapid Transit

Network Redesign

With the introduction of Light Rail Transit and adapted Bus Rapid Transit service, GRT's network must be redesigned to provide seamless connections between bus and rail service and improve overall travel options for transit riders. A series of new iXpress routes will be introduced and local route improvements will be made in order to simplify the bus network, reduce travel times, improve access and convenience, and ensure transit services are integrated. Transit service improvements in 2011 represented the first step in the implementation of the Regional Transportation Master Plan (RTMP) and the redesign of GRT's network. These improvements included the new Route 201 iXpress as the first in a series of new iXpress routes. The remaining express routes would be introduced during the course of the Business Plan. Improvements to local routes in 2011 included frequency increases and expanded hours of operation.

The chart below illustrates these improvements.

2011 GRT Service Improvements

Route #	Service Improvements
Route 4	Extended to the Boardwalk on Ira Needles Blvd. during evenings and Saturdays
Route 7	Evening service increased and U Waterloo-bound 7E buses moved from Regina St. to King St.
Route 12	Rerouted to Westmount Rd., summer frequency increased
Route 29	Extended to the Boardwalk on Ira Needles Blvd. and to King and Unversity Ave.
Route 32	Extended to end of Kumpf Dr.
Route 52	Additional service added to Fountain St. Frequency increased
Routes 65, 66 & 71	Hespeler area routes changed to improve efficiency, expand service coverage, and reduce travel times
Routes 61 & 111	Extended to Conestoga College South Campus
iXpress	Frequency and hours of operation increased
201 iXpress	Introduction of service

Express Route Priority

In addition to the 201 iXpress, seven other planned express routes have been evaluated based on the need to address existing system issues and pressures, connectivity to Rapid Transit, support for Regional land use planning objectives, potential for advancement towards RTMP mode share targets, financial impacts and revenue performance, and ease of implementation. Based on this evaluation it is recommended that the remaining express routes be implemented in the following order:

• University Express in 2013;
• Victoria Highland Express in 2015; and
• Mid-Region Express, Ottawa Street Express, Coronation Express, South East Express, South West Express in 2017-2021.
  

Recommended 2012-2014 improvements to local routes are illustrated below.

2012-2014 GRT Service Plan Proposals

Year	Routes	Proposed Service Improvements
2012	Route 13	Increase frequency on Saturdays to every 30 minutes
	Route 55, 56, 59, 60, 65 & 71	Extend Sunday morning and evening service;
	Route 67	Restructure Northeast Galt and L.G. Lovell Industrial area routes
	iXpress	Increase Saturday evening and Sunday hours of operation
	Doon South BusPLUS	Introduction of Doon South BusPLUS connecting to Conestoga College
2013	Route 5	Replace Route 5 Erb West Loop with direct Erb St. service
	Route 12	Modify Route 12 in East Waterloo to connect to Uptown; removes duplication with new iXpress
	iXpress	Introduce new iXpress service via Erb St. W., University Ave. W. and Bridge St. N.
	201 iXpress	201 iXpress extended to RIM Campus in North Waterloo
	New Route via Thorndale Dr.	New route connecting The Boardwalk to UW via Westvale and Keats Way
2014	Route 6	Provide Sunday service
	Route 23	Extend weekday and evening service to Fairview Park Mall
	Route 31	Extend weekday evening service
	Route 55, 56, 59, 60, 65 & 71	Increase frequency of service on Sundays to every 30 minutes from the current 60 minutes, between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

 

2015 - 2018 GRT Service Proposals

Proposed Service Improvements	NEW Hours of Service	NEW # of Buses Allocated
2015
Implement Highland-Victoria Express	26,855	10
Modify Route 24 Highland and Route 25 Queen South to improve service in Highland West area of Kitchener and connect to commercial destinations on Ira Needles Boulevard.	5,422	2
2016
Provide Saturday service on Route 31 Lexington	1,248	-
Provide Sunday service on Route 22 Laurentian West	488	-
Provide Sunday service on Route 35 Eastbridge	1,364	-
Provide service to east Kitchener industrial areas along Shirley Avenue	1,008
Provide two-way service in L.G. Lovell Industrial Park, connecting to two Rapid Transit stations	2,896	2
2017
Implement Mid-Region express connecting Cambridge with Sportsworld via Maple Grove Road during weekday peak periods	14,742	9
Implement Ottawa Street Express with east Kitchener local service improvements	40,312	14
Extend Route 201 iXpress to Block Line Rapid Transit Station	4,530	1
2018
Local route restructuring in Central Transit Corridor	-	-
NEW SERVICE	98,865	38

Timing of projects may vary and is dependent on the implementation of Light Rail Transit projects.

 

Funding Strategy

Service improvements will be funded through a combination of municipal subsidy, farebox revenue and efficiency improvements. Subject to annual budget review, the approved RTMP funding envelope would allow 138,000 annual hours of service and 41 additional buses between 2011 and 2018. Service improvements proposed between 2011 and 2018 will require 242,500 annual hours of service and 73 buses. Approximately 40 per cent of this will be sourced from the reallocation of iXpress and Route 7 service when Rapid Transit is introduced. The remaining 60 per cent will be sourced from the approved funding plan.

RTMP Implementation 2011 - 2018 Funding Summary 

Service Improvements	Hours of Service	# Of Buses Allocated
2011-2018
Reserve Funds	138,000	41
2012-2018
Efficiency Improvements	19,000	6
2015/2017
iXpress service reallocated	71,732	17
2017
Route 7D/E reallocated	13,728	9
Total Service Plan	242,460	73
Total Service Expansion (net of realloctaion of existing service)	138,000	41
Percentage increase to GRT service, 2011-2018	25 per cent

RTMP 2011-2018 Implementation Funding

 

Fare Strategy

Three fare strategies are being considered. Each strategy has a
different effect on the amount of GRT service funded by transit riders
and municipal taxes. In each strategy, net operating costs are equally
funded between farebox revenues and property tax. Depending on which fare
strategy is selected a 50 per cent cost recovery is projected to be attained in 2017, 2018 or 2021.

 

The effects of these strategies are summarized below for comparison to:
2010 Ridership: 18.055 million
Net Cost of Service*: $38.23 million
Cost Recovery Ratio: 37.34 per cent

Option 1: increase fares annually by 5 per cent, to achieve 50 per cent Cost Recovery by 2021
Ridership Forecast: 23.54 million in 2014
Net Cost of Service*: $46.97 million in 2014
Cost Recovery Ratio: 40.37 per cent in 2014

Option 2: increase fares annually by 7 per cent, to achieve 50 per cent Cost Recovery by 2018
Ridership Forecast: 23.3 million in 2014
Net Cost of Service*: $45.4 million in 2014
Cost Recovery Ratio: 42.35 per cent in 2014

Option 3: increase fares annually by 9 per cent, to achieve 50 per cent Cost Recovery by 2017
Ridership Forecast: 23.1 million in 2014
Net Cost of Service*: $43.8 million in 2014
Cost Recovery Ratio: 44.38 per cent in 2014

*Net cost of service is comprised of municipal contribution towards operating costs and debt service, from property taxes, plus provincial contribution.

 

Service to Township Urban Areas

A variety of strategies to enhance the mobility of township residents are being considered. Expanding service to the townships will require the support of, and funding from township residents. A premium fare for township transit services will be considered due to the longer distance of travel involved. Strategies being considered include:

• Establishing 'Park and Ride' facilities in strategic locations;
• For larger settlements, introduce weekday peak period transit service and phase in evening and weekend service as ridership increases;
• For smaller settlements "try zone" bus for 1 or 2 days per week; and
• BusPLUS service model using smaller accessible vehicles
  Potential premium fares to help offset the costs to township tax payers.
  

Technology Strategy

In 2011, a forecast 4.5 million customers will use the easyGO trip planning services. The continued implementation of advanced transit technology will make public transit more attractive to current and future riders. Accurate travel information in real-time, and more reliable and secure service will all contribute to greater use of GRT. Advanced technology strategies to be implemented during the course of the Business Plan include:

• Advanced traveller information for express lines
• More widely available real-time information
• Adopt transit priority measures for aBRT service
• Implement a SmartCard automatic fare payment system
  

Other Initiatives

Further strategies, such as those described below, will be developed to enhance the mobility of Regional residents, continue ridership growth success, and enhance momentum towards the RTMP mode share
targets.

• Develop strategy focused on service excellence
• Explore U-Pass program with Conestoga College
• Improve accessibility at stops
• Develop a four year GRT marketing plan and branding strategy

 

Thank you