1. BILL C-305 – AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A NATIONAL PUBLIC TRANSIT STRATEGY

PROJET DE LOI C-305 – LOI ÉTABLISSANT UNE STRATÉGIE NATIONALE DE TRANSPORT EN COMMUN

CommiSSION Recommendation

That Council support Bill C-305, “An Act to Establish a National Public Transit Strategy”.

Recommandation dE LA comMISSION

Que le Conseil appuie le projet de loi C-305, « loi établissant une stratégie nationale de transport en commun ».

Documentation

1. Commission Chair’s report dated 27 January 2012 (ACS2012-CMR-OTC-0001).

2. Extract of draft Minutes 18, Transit Commission meeting of 29 February, 2012.

Report to/Rapport au :

Transit Commission /

Commission du transport en commun

and Council / et au Conseil

27 January 2012 / 27 janvier 2012

Submitted by/Soumis par : Councillor / Conseillère Diane Deans, Chair / Présidente, Transit Commission / Commission du transport en commun

Contact/Personne-ressource : Rosemary Theriault, Coordinator / coordonatrice

(613) 580-2424 x/poste 21624

Rosemary.Theriault@Ottawa.ca

City Wide/à l'échelle de la Ville

Ref N°: ACS2012-CMR-OTC-0001

SUBJECT:

BILL C-305 – AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A NATIONAL PUBLIC TRANSIT STRATEGY

OBJET :

PROJET DE LOI C-305 – LOI ÉTABLISSANT UNE STRATÉGIE NATIONALE DE TRANSPORT EN COMMUN

REPORT RECOMMENDATION

That the Transit Commission recommend that Council support Bill C-305, “An Act to Establish a National Public Transit Strategy”.

RECOMMANDATION DU RAPPORT

Que la Commission du transport en commun recommande au Conseil d’appuyer le projet de loi C-305, « loi établissant une stratégie nationale de transport en commun ».

BACKGROUND

Bill C-305, an Act to establish a National Public Transit Strategy, was recently introduced before the House of Commons. The Bill calls on the Government of Canada to establish a national strategy to provide public transit that is fast, affordable and accessible. The Bill is designed to ensure fast, accessible, affordable public transit in cities across the country. It calls for a permanent investment plan for transit systems and innovation research, and calls on different levels of government to work together to ensure quality transit, under the leadership of the federal government.

DISCUSSION

Communities are increasingly relying on transit, creating greater infrastructure needs for Canadian transit systems. The Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) estimates that Canadian public transit systems face an $18-billion gap in transit infrastructure needs between 2010 and 2014. There is a need to act soon to secure reliable and sustainable funding for public transit, in order to build thriving, sustainable cities for tomorrow. Improved public transit is good for the economy and is an important component in building a more sustainable, environmentally friendly Canada. Investing in public transit can help to reduce the number of cars on the road, reducing green house gas emissions (by an estimated 2.4 million tons per year), and improving air quality.

Fast, affordable and accessible public transit is vital to the movement of people in cities and communities and has immeasurable social, environmental, economic and health benefits. Public transit plays a central role in urban and metropolitan regions by contributing to cleaner air, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, lessening congestion and reducing the pressure for more roads. Better public transit results in cleaner and more productive cities and communities in which people can access the jobs and services that are needed for economic growth.

Staff Comment

OC Transpo supports the recommendation of Bill C-305, which is to establish a national public transit strategy.

RURAL IMPLICATIONS

N/A

CONSULTATION

N/A

COMMENTS BY THE WARD COUNCILLOR(S)

N/A

ACCESSIBILITY IMPACTS

There is no accessibility impact associated with the recommendation in this report.

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

There are no legal impediments to implementing the recommendation in this report.

RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS

There are no risk management impediments to implementing the recommendation in this report.

CITY STRATEGIC PLAN

Bill C-305 directly and indirectly supports the following objectives of the City’s Transportation Master Plan and Council’s strategic directions.

A1. Improve the City’s transportation network to afford ease of mobility, keep pace with growth, reduce congestion and work towards modal split targets.

B1. Attain transit goals (30 per cent modal split) by 2021.

TECHNICAL IMPLICATIONS

N/A

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

There are no direct financial implications resulting from this recommendation.

As noted in the Long Range Financial Plan for Transit, presented to Council on July 14, 2011, ongoing gas tax funding and senior government grants for major infrastructure projects are required in order to make the plan affordable and in keeping with the strategic directions tabled in the Transportation Master Plan. A permanent investment plan being considered under the Bill would hopefully satisfy this condition and ensure affordability.

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

Document 1 - Bill C-305 – An Act to Establish a National Public Transit Strategy

Document 2 – Letter of support from the Canadian Urban Transit Association

DISPOSITION

OC Transpo will work with all levels of government to develop a national public transit strategy.