- Committee Co-ordinator’s report dated 19 Jan 00

Ms. Oxana Sawka, Director , Marketing , Communications and Customer Relations, gave a brief presentation on the ECOPASS program, a pilot project to be launched by OC Transpo on 15 February 2000 at the University of Ottawa, the first employer to come on board. ECOPASS is an OC Transpo Transit Pass Payroll Deduction Program that offers the following benefits to participants through their employers:

Ms. Sawka said two cards are available, the ECOPASS Plus for express routes and the ECOPASS for regular routes and the cards were designed with input from bus operators. She indicated a maximum of $1,000 can be saved by using transit passes instead of paying cash. Ms. Sawka said the process will include approaching the employer to ascertain interest in the program, signing an agreement and identifying and training the program administrator. This would be followed by customer service for persons who join a participating company or sign up after the launch and regular follow-up to ensure the pilot project is working well. Service change information alerts can be part of the program. Ms. Sawka pointed out that information on ECOPASS will be available through Internet Access. She concluded her presentation by saying staff are pursuing a number of prospective employers, among which are the Region of Ottawa-Carleton, the Ottawa International Airport, a local office of the Ontario government and Nortel Networks. In addition, staff feel they are well positioned given the upcoming federal budget and initiatives related to the tax exempt employer provided transit passes.

Commissioner J. Legendre wanted to know whether the Place de Ville office of OC Transpo will be the only place to get an ECOPASS, post-launch. Oxana Sawka replied that, since this is only a pilot project, staff want to be able to monitor it. She added that staff would make every effort to extend the ECOPASS post-launch services to each OC Transpo Sales office. Commissioner Legendre suggested that the Internet access site be on OC Transpo’s home page to make access simpler.

Commissioner M. McGoldrick-Larsen suggested staff include discussions with JDS Uniphase, as that company has a higher ridership potential than Nortel Networks and it is involved with the Region in the Transportation Demand Management Program.

The General Manager, G. Diamond, indicated that staff hope to involve Carleton University in the program. Commissioner D. Holmes suggested that the pilot project be re-packaged should the federal government agree with the proposal for tax-exempt, employer-provided transit passes.

In response to a question from Commissioner Holmes, O. Sawka indicated that the Société de transport de l’Ouatouais is interested in the ECOPASS program, however it is presently testing Smart Card technology and may want to wait before implementing ECOPASS.

The Committee then considered the following recommendation:

That the Transit Services Committee receive this presentation for information.

That the Transit Services Committee approve the appointment of seven (7) interim members to the Regional Transit Advisory Committee until November 2000 as recommended in the report.

Commissioner D. Holmes said she was pleased to see this item on the agenda and the involvement of the Ottawa-Carleton Regional Police Service (OCRPS)in this process. She asked about the amount of funding budgeted in 2000 for the cost of retrofits. The Director, Planning and Development, Dr. H. Gault, indicated that, while there is no specific budget for the program, $100,000 has been set aside for safety and environmental issues, including the provision for closed circuit monitors in transitway stations. The General Manager, G. Diamond, indicated that staff will provide additional information to Commissioners on this matter.

Commissioner Holmes proposed that funds be provided to the Women’s Action Centre Against Violence (WACAV) to perform safety audits. Commissioner Holmes called this a legitimate expenditure and she expressed the hope the Police Service will continue its involvement in the safety audits.

Commissioner W. Byrne proposed that this report be circulated to both the Accessible Transit Advisory Committee and the Regional Transit Advisory Committee for comment, since input from these groups would tie-in with the ongoing work of safety audits. In reply to a question from Commissioner Byrne, Dr. Gault indicated that the Police Service has not charged OC Transpo for its part of the safety audit work to-date.

Commissioner J. Legendre inquired whether the safety audit at the St Laurent Station will be undertaken this year. Dr. Gault replied in the affirmative. She added that staff would like to do one to two stations each month and, in order to do so, the stations will need to be prioritized from a security perspective.

Commissioner Legendre expressed interest in being involved in the St Laurent audit, and also at seeing the partnership agreement to ensure no elements are missed.

The Committee Chair, A. Loney, asked whether safety concerns are part of the process in the design and construction of new stations. Dr. Gault indicated this was the case and that Constable VanRyswick, of OCRPS participates in the process. Commissioner M. McGoldrick-Larsen suggested that Constable VanRyswick be part of the Environmental Design Team, along with representatives from WACAV.

Commissioner Holmes expressed the view OC Transpo has to be more aggressive in its dealings with the Regional Transportation Department, to ensure there is a philosophical change to the Department’s approach to this matter. The General Manager, G. Diamond, replied that there is good dialogue between the Region and OC Transpo when it comes to improving security measures.

CARRIED, as amended

Moved by W. Byrne

CARRIED, as amended

Moved by D. Holmes

CARRIED as amended

That the Transit Services Committee receive this report for information.

RECEIVED

Commissioner J. Legendre referred to the policy authorizing some passenger transport services to operate where service does not compete with that provided by OC Transpo having been put on hold pending results of the Municipal Act reforms. He pointed out that the policy was first presented in 1996 and that, in 2000, proposals from private firms that want to provide such service are still being put on hold. Commissioner Legendre posited that, in 1996, staff could have been directed to proceed with agreements pending any legislative changes. He spoke about one company which was interested in providing a similar service to seniors but which has since gone bankrupt, and he called the Commission’s manner of proceeding a cavalier way of dealing with the private sector and the business community.

Mr. Paul Hughes, legal counsel for the Transit Services Committee, indicated that the delay was caused by revisions to the Municipal Act under which the scope of the transit franchise and the manner of its enforcement would have been altered. He pointed out that, currently, an injunction is the only way to enforce the franchise, and this is seen as an onerous process. Mr. Hughes also said that the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) is renewing consultation on the new Municipal Act in the year 2000. He indicated that Bill 25, which will take effect on 1 January 2001, will change the scope of the franchises: staff will want to monitor the changes and incorporate them into subsequent contracts. The Bill will also eliminate the provisions of the RMOC Act. In Bill 25, the new city can give itself exclusive franchise for buses and can regulate taxis. According to the definitions of these two services, and subsequent to court-imposed definitions, the potential for unregulated service exists, and the Region of Ottawa-Carleton has already made representations to the MMAH on this matter. The General Manager, G. Diamond, said staff will need to take a serious look at this matter and report back to Committee.

Commission Chair A. Loney asked whether the Commission is able to collect fees from the franchisees for sightseeing services. P. Hughes said the collecting of fees was not pursued in 1999 but operators will be approached in 2000. He suggested the Commission review the cost of franchises to operators, noting the cost is $10,000 per operation, regardless of its size.

Chair Loney stressed the importance of reviewing this matter and of pursuing the collection of fees and he requested that the Committee receive an update from staff in February or March. Commissioner D. Holmes said she was surprised to learn that franchisees are not paying their fees. She asked that the report back to Committee include a policy framework, information on what operators are being charged and how the Commission can pursue them if they do not pay.

Responding to a question from Commissioner Legendre, Mr. David Habib, legal counsel for the proponent, Apollo Management, said his client would prefer a three-year contract to the one-year contract offered by staff. Commissioner Legendre put forward the following Motion in response to Mr. Habib’s comment:

Moved by J. Legendre

That the Transit Services Committee recommend that the Transit Commission authorize the General Manager to enter into an agreement on behalf of the Commission whereby Apollo Management Services Ltd. will be allowed to operate a shuttle bus service taking only Via Rail crew members to and from the Ottawa train station and the WelcomINN Hotel and Chimo Inn Hotel.

The meeting adjourned at 10:45 a.m.