staff report executive summary - innisfil · 2019-06-27 · staff report dsr-171-17 october 18,...

STAFF REPORT

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

STAFF REPORT NO: DSR-171-17

DATE:

October 18, 2017

To:

Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Members of Council

From:

Paul Pentikainen, Senior Policy Planner

Subject:

Ridesharing Transit System: 4½ Month Update

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

The purpose of this Staff Report is to update Council on the results of the first 4½ months of Stage 1 the Town’s ridesharing transit system from May 15 to September 30.

RECOMMENDATION:

That the update on the Town's ridesharing transit service be received as information.

…/

TOWN OF INNISFIL STAFF REPORT

Staff Report No.:

DSR-171-17

Date:

October 18, 2017

To:

Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Members of Council

From:

Tim Cane, Manager of Land Use Planning

Subject:

Ridesharing Transit System – 4½ Month Update

Cross Reference:

Aug. 9/17 Memo; DSR-042-17; DSR-079-16; DSR-143-15

RECOMMENDATION: That the update on the Town's ridesharing transit service be received as information. BACKGROUND: The Town’s partnerships with Uber (for general trips) and Barrie Taxi (for accessible trips) were launched on May 15. This was after Council’s approval of DSR-042-17 on March 15, 2017. In addition to addressing immediate transit needs, one of the main purposes of Stage 1 is to collect data on the demand for transit in Innisfil and to see how the service is being used. This information will help improve the service in future implementation stages. Why did we decide on ridesharing transit? After determining that a fixed-route bus service would be too costly (a $270,000 start-up net cost for one bus and $610,000 for two buses) for the limited level of service that they would provide, Council directed Staff to pursue a more cost-effective demand-based transit solution. In the summer of 2016, a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI) was made. From this process, Uber emerged as the only company with an app-based platform (i.e. UberPool) that would facilitate ridesharing and the matching of 2 or more passengers on trips across the entire Town. What is the fare to use the service? People are able to book a trip wherever they need to go, 24 hours a day/7 days a week. There are three different types of trips that can be taken either using the Uber service (for general trips) or Barrie Taxi service (for wheelchair accessible trips):

1) Key Destination Request: When a trip is booked from within Innisfil to one of the following destinations, the passenger will pay $3-$5 (one-way):

$3 for each trip to/from Innisfil Recreational Complex/Town Hall area

$4 for each trip to/from GO bus stops along Yonge St

$5 for each trip to/from Barrie South GO train station

$5 for each trip to/from Innisfil Heights Employment Area

Staff Report DSR-171-17 October 18, 2017 Subject: Ridesharing Transit System: 4½ Month Update Page 2 of 8

2) Custom Destination Request: A $5 discount applies to any other trips booked within, to or from Innisfil’s boundaries. 3) Accessible Vehicle Request: residents can request a wheelchair accessible vehicle through Barrie Taxi. The price of this trip will follow the same fare structure as for the Uber trips.

ANALYSIS/CONSIDERATION: Ridesharing Transit Service Results from May 15 to September 30 Below are highlights from the first 4½ months of the Town’s ridesharing transit service. Overall, between May 15 and September 30, a total of 12,393 Uber trips were taken using the transit service, while there were no wheelchair accessible trips taken through the taxi company (Barrie-Innisfil Taxi). The Town’s total subsidy for these trips amounts to approximately $71,000 or an average gross subsidy of about $5.73 per passenger. This compares to a gross subsidy of approximately $33 per passenger that was forecast for the 1-bus route in the Town’s Transit Feasibility Study.

Total trips:

12,393 Total cost:

$70,678 Ridership:

2,366 different people have taken at least one Innisfil Transit trip Unique drivers:

930 unique drivers have provided an Innisfil Transit trip Top destinations:

Innisfil Heights Employment Area (640 drop-offs) Barrie South GO (515 drop-offs) Innisfil Recreational Complex (457 drop-offs) Innisfil GO Bus Stops (262 drop-offs)

Match rates: Average of 10% of trips have matched (two or more riders in the car) – this

average has been trending upwards recently Average wait time:

9:36 minutes (from request to pick up) Peak hours for trips (in order of most popular)

3-5PM on Weekdays 4-10PM on Fridays 7-9AM on Weekdays

Transit Survey Results A Transit Survey was available from mid-July to the end of September. The purpose was to receive community feedback on the ridesharing transit service and to understand how residents are using the service, if they have any concerns/issues and how the service could be improved in future implementation stages. The survey was available on-line and in a hard copy format at community locations such as at the Town Hall, the YMCA and at the Town’s libraries. There were a total of 195 responses to the survey. The following provides a summary of the responses to some of the key questions that were asked in the survey.


Question – On a scale of 1 to 5, how would you rate your overall satisfaction with the Town’s transit service? The first graph below shows that of all the respondents (including non-transit users), a total of 62% were either ‘Satisfied’ or ‘Strongly Satisfied’ with the Town’s transit service. The second graph shows that when only the responses from transit users are included (those that have taken at least one transit trip), a total of 77% of respondents are ‘Satisfied’ or ‘Strongly Satisfied’ with the Town’s transit service. Though this reflects a much stronger level of satisfaction from those that have actually used the service, it still reflects some challenges in addressing the comments/concerns from those that are dissatisfied or have not used the service. Staff will further consider all comments in improving the service in future implementation stages.

Strongly Satisfied

32%

Satisfied30%

Neutral17%

Dissatisfied8%

Strongly Dissatisfied

13%

Overall Satisfaction (All Responses)

Strongly Satisfied

39%

Satisfied38%

Neutral13%

Dissatisfied6%

Strongly Dissatisfied

4%

Overall Satisfaction (Transit Users With 1+ Trip)


Question – For what purpose(s) have you used the transit service? Select all that apply. The graph below shows that most people have used the ridesharing transit service for ‘Social’ (42%) or ‘Work’ (40%) purposes. 27% of people also responded that they have used the service for other ‘Personal’ reasons such as medical appointments.

Question – Please select any concerns/issues you have with using Innisfil’s transit service. The next graph shows that ‘Driver Availability’ is the greatest concern/issue that 43% of respondents have had with using the ridesharing transit service. ‘Wait Time’ (23%) and ‘Cost’ (18%) were the next highest identified concerns, while 22% of respondents identified that they had ‘No Concerns’ with using the service. Though there are over 900 different Uber driver partners that have made an Innisfil Transit trip, the survey responses and concerns noted for ‘Driver Availability’ and ‘Wait Time’ indicate that the current driver supply is not always matching up to the rider demand. The survey responses noted that this is particularly the case in the early mornings when people would like to use the service to get to their train departing from the Barrie South GO station. To address this issue, Staff is already working with Uber to incentivize drivers to be available at certain times of the day such as these early morning hours. The majority of comments related to the ‘Cost’ concern indicated that the Town should consider more $3-5 flat fare destinations so that using the service could be more affordable. This is something that will be addressed as part of improvements to the service for Stage 2.

41%

11%

18%

43%

27%

23%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

Work School Shopping Social Personal Have NotUsed Service

Purpose for Using Town's Transit Service


Question – Are there other places in Innisfil where there should be a flat fare of $3-5 to get to?

Respondents identified a large number of other places that should be flat fare destinations. Some of the places most commonly identified included:

Innisfil Beach Park

Town Libraries

Cookstown/Tanger Outlet Mall

Grocery stores

Nantyr Shores Secondary School

Community Centres/Arenas – also include Stroud and Lefroy

Bradford GO Station

Innisfil OnRoute

A flat fare location within each of Town’s settlement areas (the GO bus route already helps connect communities along Yonge St)

South Barrie - Mapleview/Big Bay Point

Barrie RVH Hospital When considering improvements for Stage 2 of the service anticipated to launch in early 2018, Staff will assess the feasibility of adding more flat fare destinations.

18%

23%

43%

11%9%

15%13%

22%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

Cost Wait time DriverAvailability

PaymentMethod

Safety Technology Other NoConcerns

Concerns/Issues With Transit Service


Survey Comments A number of comments were received through the Transit Survey that reflect the strong level of satisfaction that residents have had with the Town’s ridesharing transit service. There were particularly heartwarming accounts of the direct impact the Town’s initiative has had on enriching the well-being of individuals and their families. By providing an affordable and convenient door-to-door transit service, we have provided opportunities and independence, particularly to those such as youth and seniors without a driver’s license or automobile. This service has provided these individuals with opportunities to access employment and other services that has improved their overall quality of life. Furthermore, through our “call-in” service, we have heard firsthand the significant impact and level of independence that we have provided to the 15 seniors that have been registered for the service. They have been able to attend to their medical appointments, go shopping and visit friends. When booking their trips, we have been thanked numerous times for providing this service to them. Residents also commented on how they appreciated the Town’s innovation in providing a transit solution that has been more cost-effective than a traditional bus system. However, we also received comments from those that have been dissatisfied with the service, particularly from those that have not used the service because they may not have access to a smart phone or would prefer a bus service. Though the Town has been offering a ‘call-in’ service for residents without a smart phone, some residents are not aware of this. Staff is continuing to look at ways to improve this portion of the service prior to Stage 2. To address the comments from some residents who would prefer a bus service, fixed routes may be incorporated in future implementation stages. However, a traditional bus service would not have been able to provide the same level of service and convenience at the same cost as through the current demand-based ridesharing transit service. Implementation To assist with the implementation of Stage 1, Staff has been undertaking a number of initiatives to generate community awareness and to ensure the effectiveness of the service:

Hosting Uber driver information sessions Two sessions were held at the Alcona Lakeshore Library (one in April and one in August) and Uber staff provided information to those interested in becoming Uber drivers. There were several residents that signed up to become Uber drivers during these sessions.

Developing a ‘call-in’ registration system for residents to use the Uber service When residents have contacted the Town with an issue where they are unable to book an Uber trip on their own device, Staff have developed a registration system to book trips on their behalf using the Uber Central platform. This service is currently available Monday to Friday during regular office hours from 8:30am-4:30pm, but Staff is exploring ways to expand the hours of service and to make it easier for residents to use this ‘call-in’ feature. Thus far, 15 residents have been registered to use the service. Computers


are also available at the Town Hall, libraries and the Innisfil Recreational Complex for people to book their trip.

Uber gift cards available for sale at Town Hall In response to comments from those unable to use the Uber app without a credit card, Uber gift cards can now be purchased for $25 from the Town Hall front desk. These gift cards can be loaded onto an individual’s Uber account instead of a credit card.

Developing promotional materials and attending community events Staff worked with Uber to create a postcard with clear instructions on how to use the Uber service. A business card was also created to promote to residents the code for a $20 credit towards their first Uber trip. These materials have been distributed at locations throughout the community, while Staff have also attended local events such as MakerFest, RibFest and the Farmer’s Market to promote the service and answer any questions that residents have had.

Pursuing additional funding sources To complement the funding ($100,000 for 2017 and $125,000 for 2018) that Council has approved for the implementation of the ridesharing transit service, Staff applied to the Province (MTO) to be eligible for gas tax funding, and to the County of Simcoe for up to $50,000 in funding. The Province has confirmed that the Town is eligible for Gas Tax funds, which are based on a formula that looks at ridership and total population, with eligible funding capped at 75% of municipal spending. Based on this formula, the Town will be eligible for up to $75,000 for 2017 and $93,750 for 2018. However, since the funding is based on the previous year’s ridership, the Town will not have access to these funds retroactively until after the transit service has been in place for at least one year. The Town’s application to the County of Simcoe has been submitted and was endorsed by the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury, while it was received as information, but not specifically endorsed, by the City of Barrie. County Council has not yet considered the Town’s funding request.

OPTIONS/ALTERNATIVES: In addition to receiving this report as information, Council can also provide comments for Staff to consider as improvements to the service. FINANCIAL CONSIDERATION: There are no direct financial implications from approving the recommendations of this report. As previously noted, Council has already approved $100,000 in 2017 and $125,000 in 2018 for the implementation of the ridesharing transit service. This funding is being complemented by Provincial Gas Tax funds as well as up to $50,000 that has been requested from the County of Simcoe. Staff anticipates that these funding sources are sufficient for Stage 1 of the program and will provide a further financial update to Council prior to the launch of Stage 2 in early 2018.


CONCLUSION: Overall, Staff is very pleased and excited with the results from the first 4 ½ months of the ridesharing transit service and looks forward to continuing with the implementation of Stage 1 until the end of 2017, leading to the launch of Stage 2 early next year. The partnerships with Uber and Barrie Taxi have provided a convenient door-to-door service that is available to all people in Innisfil. The total costs for trips during these first 4½ months has been about $71,000, while there would have been a $270,000 start-up net cost for one bus and $610,000 for two buses running along routes servicing only a small portion of the Town – this is strongly confirming that the cost of a fixed-route bus system to service all of Innisfil would have been far greater and a less convenient option than through the current ridesharing transit service.

Furthermore, the responses to the Town’s Transit Survey show that residents have a strong level of satisfaction in using the ridesharing transit service. Many of the comments, particularly the one below, indicate the significant impact that our initiative has had on improving their overall quality of life:

“Thank you for piloting this program. The town's partnership with Uber has made a world of difference to me and my family. It has given me a means to travel to and from work when it would have been impossible otherwise. It has markedly increased our income and contributed to the overall well-being of our family.” –user comment from Innisfil Transit Survey

Staff will next update Council in January 2018 with the launch of Stage 2 of the ridesharing transit service. This next report will include the results from Stage 1 of the ridesharing transit service and considerations for improvements to Stage 2 based on the results from the Transit Survey. Within the next few months, Staff will also continue to promote awareness of the service and will consider branding options for Innisfil’s ridesharing transit system to coincide with the launch of Stage 2. Funding partnerships and fare integration with other external agencies (e.g. Metrolinx) and local businesses will also continue to be explored with the aim of being in place for Stage 2. PREPARED BY: Paul Pentikainen, Senior Policy Planner APPROVED BY: Tim Cane, Manager of Land Use Planning

staff report executive summary - innisfil · 2019-06-27 · staff report dsr-171-17 october 18,...

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