BC Transit representatives made presentations about a service review at both City of Powell River and Powell River Regional District committee-of-the-whole meetings on Thursday, October 17.
Rebecca Newlove, senior transit planner, and Alison McDonald, transportation planner, outlined the provisions for a transit service review.
The transit system has three components, including six fixed-routes within the city, handyDART service within the city and fixed-routes in the rural areas of the regional district. The city funds 53 per cent of the operating costs of the fixed-route service and 48 per cent of handyDART service, while the regional district funds 43 per cent of operating costs in the rural areas. The remainder of the funding is provided by the province via BC Transit.
“The rationale for the service review is based upon the length of time since completion of the Powell River Transit System Business Plan in 2001,” said McDonald. “Since that time there have been changes in the community, for example in terms of demographics, employment patterns, community programs and land use and development.”
The service review is an analysis of the transit system to determine to what extent it meets current and future community needs and to make recommendations for improved effectiveness and efficiency, McDonald explained.
Currently, the review is in the start-up phase, which lays the foundations for the process. The next phase is context and analysis, which will include an examination of data, finding out how the system is performing currently and looking at what community needs are in terms of transit.
Following that, the review will move into phase one of public consultation, which includes online surveys, onboard surveys for existing passengers, key stakeholder roundtables and recommendations from local government staff and elected officials, operating company staff, operators and other community stakeholders.
A draft report would be prepared next, followed by phase two of public engagement. “We go back to the public and say, this is what we think we heard and did we get it right?” said McDonald.
That feedback would be incorporated into a final report, which is presented to city council and the regional board for input and approval. “Pending approval of service change options, we would then have the opportunity to proceed to a memorandum of understanding for implementation of the agreement,” McDonald said.
Phase one of Public engagement is expected to take place in November and December, McDonald said, while the final report is expected to be completed by September 2014.
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