Fredericton Transit Master plan – How are they making out?
Posted by Lamespotting on 04 Apr 2011 at 04:00 am | Tagged as: Fredericton, transit
Been a while since anything about Fredericton Transit has shown up on this blog. In August 2008, Dillon Consulting released their report with 18 recommendations to be completed in the next five years. We’re halfway through the 5 years, let’s see how they did:
(from page 117 of report)
- ADOPT TRANSIT SERVICE STANDARDS – NO
- New Route to Two Nations Crossing / Cliffe Street – FAILED
- Service Frequency Improvements to maintain a minimum hourly service on all routes during their normal hours of operation - NO
- Modification of Route 216 to service Knowledge Park Drive - NO
- Increase service on Route 11 with introduction of a UNB U-Pass. - NO
- ESTABLISH NORTH SIDE TRANSFER POINT AT ST. MARY’S STREET AND MAPLE STREET - NO
- INCREASE AND IMPROVE SHELTERS - NO
- DEVELOP AN ENHANCED TRANSIT MARKETING PLAN - NO
- ADJUST FARES – YES
- EXPAND U-PASS - NO
- EXPLORE EMPLOYEE TRANSIT PASS PROGRAMS - NO
- CONSIDER NEW INDUSTRIAL SPECIAL TO ALLISON/GILLIS AREA - NO
- DEVELOP APPROPRIATE BUS TURNAROUNDS - NO
- EXPAND AND MODIFY KINGS PLACE TERMINAL - NO
- RELOCATE REGENT MALL TERMINAL - NO
- INITIATE REVIEW OF TRANSIT GARAGE/OPERATIONS CENTER – YES
- INITIATE DIAL-A-BUS REVIEW – YES
- INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY OF BUS SERVICE - NO
Out of eighteen action items, they successfully did three of them. That’s a grade of 16.67%. Of the three things they did, adjusting the fares actually raised revenue, the new transit garage was mostly Federal stimulus dollars and the dial-a-bus review cost $46,000. They also attempted to remove service to Silverwood, that plan was cancelled after much public outcry.
Fredericton City council has shown that they like to talk about being green and sustainable, yet can’t actually spend money on being green and sustainable. Many of these action items won’t cost much to implement, yet they don’t have the initiative or will to do them. The next municipal election is in 2012.
Great post Lamespotting.
It does seem that the city (and the province) views transit as a more as a necessary expense and does as little as possible to get by. It should look to transit as a differentiator to outlying areas and as a key investment for the city.
Issues that I would like to see addressed:
1) implement Sunday and Holiday bus service
2) improve frequency
3) UNB U-Pass and perhaps a high school program
I was very surprised – and encouraged – to see this article: we don’t have to look far to figure out better transit, as it turns out. I wonder if anyone from Transit has actually talked to them yet?
http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/search/article/1405372
I recently moved back to Fredericton after living in Ottawa for a couple of years, where buses are very numerous and frequent. Recently disabled I am now dependent on public transportation. Very disappointed to see the bus system in Fredericton so poorly managed.
As an example to what I am expressing, I now live on Crocket St.,(the most populated area in Marysville), and no bus comes up the street. Instead it goes up and back down Canada St. several times a day instead of making a circuit that would include Crocket and Two Nations Crossing. Is this an obvious loss of revenue only to me?