Calgary Regional Partnership Workshop

1. Calgary Regional Partnership Workshop BC Transit Governance and Funding Experience Bill Lambert, Manager, Transportation Solutions, April 16, 2013

2. BC Transit Evolution Transit service in BC and involvement of the province has a long history (unlike Alberta province today with limited exposure): 1890’s- 1890’s-streetcar service in Vancouver & Victoria as well as interurban connectors by BC Electric. 1899-streetcar in Nelson-private takeover 1962- BC Hydro takes over Victoria & Vancouver transit systems from BC Electric 1972- Province provides subsidy for community transit systems already in existence 1970’s - Ministry of Municipal Affairs, Bureau of Transit Services-creates Crown Corporation (Urban Transit Authority(1978) & provincial operating companies (Metro Transit Operating Company) 1980’s - BC Transit created as single transit entity covering the province 1986 - Province involved early in rapid transit--first SkyTrain opened with EXPO 86 being the impetus 1998 - Separate Transportation Authority and legislation set up for Metro Vancouver in -TransLink

3. BC Transit Evolution Victoria and Vancouver - Local government responsibility introduced in 1978 with regional transit commissions with provincially-appointed municipal representatives Small Systems - Transit Partnership Program established between UTA/BC Transit, local governments and private operating companies (except 5 municipally run systems) BC Transit Board of Directors with political and appointed representatives from across province Capital infrastructure and vehicles -bulk purchase and design) funded by province and municipalities pay an annual cost for these over life of assets

4. BC Transit Evolution Fares and bus stops set by local municipalities and transit services determined by service plans prepared by BC Transit with local input Municipalities pay 54% of operating costs from fares and property taxes Marketing, planning, scheduling and operations, contract administration and management functions undertaken by BC Transit with municipalities contributing towards these annual costs

5. BC Transit Evolution Successes Economies of scale with transit functions, specialized services and transit facilities (i.e. structures and designs)provide efficient and effective transit to communities Provide range of appropriate level of type of transit services to over 80 communities & greatly ease burden of capital and operating costs Integrate transit with other ministries and crowns e.g. Ministry of Transportation in design of roads-transit priority measures and park and ride lots Significantly improved mobility and inter-municipal connections in province and related economic development Advanced introduction of transit service more quickly and related benefits GHG reductions, economic development etc. Earliest systems in Canada to provide transit accessibility, fuel cells Developed funding partnerships with regional hospitals Improved integration of land use and transit at the regional level

6. BC Transit Evolution Risks At times local municipalities and /or province have not been able to match desires financially for improved service Larger municipalities are seeking more autonomy from provincial control , and want transfer of functions with funding –Victoria, Kelowna, and Nanaimo in particular Can allow small municipalities to enter transit without understanding long term impact of costs on a localized budget

7. BC Transit Evolution Learnings for CPR Provincial involvement and funding is essential for transit service growth and achieving its benefits –land use integration, economic development, highway transit priority measures, GHG reductions etc., Need to carefully balance provincial, regional and municipal roles Great efficiencies can be achieved in joining services regionally-infrastructure and operating savings, improved connectivity, quicker transit service starts, efficiency in functions Planning, scheduling, marketing, contract administration, monitoring done together at region versus in individual municipalities Municipalities have to have significant financial contributions(i.e. “Skin in the game) of transit systems to act responsibly in terms of service type and growth Significant provincial involvement has aided in obtaining federal funds-”BC is first and most successful at the table”

8. Calgary Regional Partnership Workshop Example of Work Completed for Increasing Mobility Connections with Same Resources –Scenario 1 to Scenario 2, and Other Analysis Bill Lambert, Manager, Transportation Solutions, April 16, 2013

9. Creating a transit system A C Step 1 Identify connecting points A B C Step 2 Determine Basic Route, and connecting patterns A C A B C

10. Creating a transit system 29.5 km A C Step 3 Determine Distance of Route A B C 10 km 19.5 km

11. Creating a transit system Mostly highway 39.3kph A C Step 4 Determine Running Speed which allows calculation of a round time A B C 24 kph 33.4 kph Some local roads, some highway Mostly highway with some local road

12. Creating a transit system 45 min A C Step 5 Determine Round Trip Time based on average speed estimate A B C 25 min 35 min

13. Creating a transit system Step 6 Create a basic running sheet that shows the number of buses needed to run a service. Step 7 Calculate the daily running times per bus and multiply by days of the year to get annual service hours • Example for Bus 3 • 7:00 – 12:55 equals 5:55 hours of service • This equals 5.917 hours of service • Multiplied by 251 average weekdays per year • Equates to 1,485 annual service hours Start Finish

14. Creating a transit system Step 9 Alternatives Analysis – Revise timetable based on potential demand to create trip scenarios Step 10 Create Trip and Schedule Alternatives Step 8 Create a public timetable version as a base

15. Other Research for Service Scenarios-Comparison Scenario 2 versus 1 Capital Costs Able to save in maintenance facilities and exchanges –e.g. common design, one heavy maintenance facility Bulk bus purchases , bus stops and exchanges/terminals Administrative Costs Planning ,contract management, marketing/branding, scheduling, performance monitoring Stronger force-addressing railways, City of Calgary, provincial and federal funding, fare integration Enhanced Planning –issues like regional commuter rail service Consistent private sector contracting and performance monitoring

16. Other Research for Service Scenarios-Comparison Scenario 2 versus 1 Expanded Service Growth and related benefits-economic development, community connectivity, environment, mode share and ridership Operating Costs-greater efficiency-savings, more service in terms of connections, trips, and frequency Increased seamlessness for customers Smart Growth and TOD and overall land use integration

17. Other Research for Service Scenarios-Financing Principles Considers direct and indirect benefits Understandable and comprehensive Applies to all Existing transit investments Likely provincial and federal funding Short and long term plans All capital and operating costs Municipal ability to pay Municipalities leaving and entering Everyone makes some contributions

18. Other Research for Service Scenarios-Governance Options Enhanced municipal cooperation Inter-municipal partnership Regional controlled agency Controlled corporation Regional transit services commission

19. Other Research Required-Governance and Funding options More research and work required to move forward on implementation of regional Governance and Financing models Bow Valley-even after had determined regional transit commission Needed to answer questions Details of governance structure Particulars of financing Operating bylaw How handle new members