Tackling transport
As the sidebar on the benefits of public transportation describes, improving public transportation opportunities in a community can significantly increase energy efficiency and liveability. However, this can also be one of the most difficult things for a community to tackle in a proactive way, since most municipalities in BC share responsibility for it with BC Transit.
The BC Transit Municipal Systems Program administers transit planning and funding for all systems outside Victoria and the Lower Mainland. Through this program, BC Transit partners with local communities to provide a level of service that balances the needs of various stakeholders.
Quesnel's experience shows that a community can be very much an active partner in this relationship.
The City of Quesnel is currently served only by a 'para-transport' system that is primarily aimed at people with specific (mostly ambulatory) needs.
However, largely through the enthusiasm and commitment of one member (see sidebar on Political Leadership), Quesnel Council recognized the key role improved transit could play in enhancing air quality and meeting other objectives. The City advised BC Transit of recent changes to its transportation needs, and invited it to assess potential public transportation options. Following a feasibility study by BC Transit, Council and BC Transit agreed to initiate a new, expanded transportation system.
Communities elsewhere in BC can similarly assume responsibility for alerting BC Transit to their changing needs. In this section, we summarize the kind of information BC Transit looks for in assessing the viability of a public transport system in a smaller community, with the intention of empowering local people to monitor these local indicators themselves.
Helping BC Transit monitor local needs
BC Transit works with communities to develop an appropriate level of service. In performing a transit feasibility study, BC transit follows a relatively predetermined procedure of the following logical steps:
- Identifying perceived local transport objectives;
- Examining the past experience of public transport in the City;
- Researching and analyzing the effectiveness of current transport arrangements;
- Examining potential transit markets;
- Evaluating various potential transit options;
- Proposing a specific portfolio of transit services;
- Outlining a proposed implementation strategy;
Local communities can assume a proactive role in their relationship with BC Transit by using their local knowledge to keep abreast of developments in the first activity (identifying perceived local transport objectives) and the fourth (examining potential transit markets).
BC Transit uses a variety of sources to assess the public transportation needs of the communities in its jurisdiction on an ongoing basis. For example, it uses statistical data generated by BC Stats to estimate the potential demand for each demographic group in each community.
However, as Mike Doyle's experience has shown, local people are best placed to understand the specific situations behind the statistics and so pick up on local needs before an external agency. In this section we draw from the BC Transit study prepared for the City of Quesnel to highlight the issues communities may wish to be alert to.
In performing a market analysis, BC Transit typically looks at the transport requirements of the community from the perspective of the following groups (Persons with a disability are also considered a specific target group by BC Transit because of their need for special services. However, these needs cannot be generalized in the same way as the others because they incorporates people of all ages):
- School students / youths;
- Younger adults / collage students;
- Adults;
- Seniors;
Unsurprisingly, each group has distinctive needs and patterns of transit use that are fairly consistent across communities. Significant changes in the local transportation situation of any of the following groups should be raised with BC Transit. By taking note of these local indicators, communities can begin to assume a proactive relationship with their public transport provider.
School students / youths
This group typically has limited transportation options, other than walking or cycling, and so is potentially a captive market for transit. Essentially a commuter market to and from school, other main uses include weekday afternoons and weekends to central areas. Transit's main strategies to maximize ridership in this group are to offer fixed schedule/route services to and from school, and central areas on weekday afternoons and weekends.
Possible indicators of changing transit needs in this group may therefore include the following:
- New schools, relocating schools;
- School District re-evaluations of busing needs due to changing ridership boundaries etc;
- New or emerging residential areas, increasing urban densification;
- Significantly increased school intakes;
- Emerging new central areas, regular attractions;
- Increased concern about security.
Establishing ridership at this stage will increase likelihood of transit use in later life.
Younger adults / college students
This group is again a potentially relatively captive market for transit, though many typically rely on family and friends for most transportation. This group tends to make multiple trips for a variety of personal errands; evening ridership higher than for youths. College students have commuting needs that may not conform to typical peak periods. Transit's strategies to capture this group therefore include include offering fixed schedule/route services to and from college, possible evening services, and consistent, moderately frequent fixed-route service during weekday business hours.
Possible indicators of changing transit needs in this group may therefore include the following:
- New colleges, relocating colleges;
- Significantly increased college intakes;
- New or emerging residential areas, increasing urban densification;
- Relocation of basic services, eg post offices, day care facilities etc;
- Emerging new central areas, regular attractions.
Adults
Adults are most likely to own a private car. Some do not, however, and typically have same needs as young adults. Some also choose not to use private car, for a variety of reasons. Adults will typically need transport for commuting, as well as during evenings and on weekends to core areas.
Adults might best be attracted to transit by offering fixed-route, fixed-schedule commuter service, consistent, moderately frequent fixed-route service during weekday business hours and possibly an evening service. Transit can also work with employers to create a 'Travel Options' strategy to reduce single occupancy vehicle use and peak time congestion.
Possible indicators of changing transit needs in this group may therefore include the following:
- New industrial or commercial areas, relocating industrial or commercial areas;
- Major new employers, change of major employer management;
- Significantly increased working population;
- New or emerging residential areas, increasing urban densification;
- Relocation of basic services, eg post offices, day care facilities etc;
- Emerging new central areas, regular attractions.
Seniors
Non-driving seniors are again a relatively captive market for transit, who tend to be midday riders. BC Transit tries to encourage multiple trips in a day, thereby giving passengers more ability to independently arrange their days and trip plans. A fixed-route, fixed-schedule service that offers consistent midday service and 'personal' service will appeal to a broad base of seniors.
Possible indicators of changing transit needs in this group may therefore include the following:
- Significantly increased senior population;
- New or emerging residential areas, increasing urban densification;
- Relocation of basic services, e.g. hospitals, medical centres, activity centres post offices, etc;
- Emerging new central areas, regular attractions.
