Review of Implementation

Transit Business Plan Update

2.0 REVIEW OF IMPLEMENTATION

1998/99 Implementation - Conventional Transit

• Operations review - This review led to a new operating and crew schedule with improved operational efficiency being implemented in August 1998 using Trapeze scheduling software. There was a total savings of 8 revenue hours per weekday following the August 1998 changes without any reduction in the service provided.
• Replace #12 Lost Lake route with #12 Dover Connector - This service change saw the reallocation of unproductive hours to a new route that focused on a peak hour connector service. Compared to the old route, counts done in March 1999 show a 54% increase in overall rides and a 16% increase in productivity.
• Provide all day service between Malaspina University College and downtown Nanaimo - This service was provided through the extension of 4 Bowen Road MUC trips to Downtown. Since 1998 overall weekday ridership and productivity have improved 13% and 16% respectively.
• New express service linking Malaspina University College and Woodgrove Mall - The new 15 College express was an immediate success carrying an average of 75 passengers daily on the four trips. Route productivity is 41.3 rides per hour, second highest in the Nanaimo system.
• Reallocate some early evening trips on primary routes to the more productive early peak hour frequency adjustments - These schedule adjustments shifted more commuter service to the critical 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm time slot.
• Parksville-Qualicum Beach service frequencies - Doubled local service between Parksville and Qualicum Beach and increased weekday service between Parksville and Woodgrove Mall in Nanaimo was implemented in March 1999.
• The Plan also recommended improvements to peak hour timed transfers at Country Club Mall as a service initiative for 1999, and some changes were made in March 1999.
• Two older vehicles were replaced with new low-floor accessible vehicles during 1998/99. Nanaimo had originally been slated for 6 replacement vehicles, but 4 of these were cancelled due to the RDN's budgetary concerns.

• The eligibility process was changed as described in the plan to make it more effective in determining who can use HandyDART. Essentially, the eligibility screening process has been changed from one based on medical certification to one based on the customer's ability to use conventional transit. This is important in controlling demand and encouraging people with a disability to use the accessible conventional transit service.
• Service routes were introduced in a modified form. There is scheduled service to a number of facilities, but it generally does not pick up other passengers who are in the same general vicinity but not at these facilities.
• Custom transit dispatching has moved to real-time dispatching. This allows for much more ridesharing, and has greatly improved the productivity of the service. In fact, this has been the single most important factor in improving HandyDART performance.
• Taxi programs have not been increased as planned. In fact, these have been reduced for 1999/00 to meet overall budget targets. However, taxi usage did increase from the previous year due to a lessening of the restrictions the RDN puts on their use.
• Increased HandyDART service was not implemented in 1999 as planned. Again, this was to meet budget targets.

• #5 Fairview and #6 Harewood - Combined routes during evenings. This was implemented in summer 1999.
• #3 Hospital - Northfield and Labieux Roads routing options - these were introduced in summer 1999.
• Country Club Mall Transit Exchange peak hour timed transfers - these changes were made, but then reversed.
• #2 Hammond Bay route structure - this was reviewed but no changes were made
• Improved service to MUC and Harewood area - this was originally included in the 1999/00 expansion plan, but was withdrawn.
• Integration of transit service and school district transportation - there is a separate process looking at this area
• Service levels were decreased in July 1999 resulting in 1,500 fewer hours.

• Parksville-Woodgrove connector increased service frequencies - this was originally included in the 2000/01 expansion plan, but was withdrawn. Routing adjustments in Parksville-Qualicum Beach and some express trips between Parksville and Woodgrove were introduced in summer 2000.