Report on LPT2011-77 Deputation at LPT Committee 20 Jul 2011

[Principia Communications Strategies]

For the record, folks, here is the deputation I presented for Calgary TransitCamp on the fare strategy report (LPT2011-77) at Committee last night:

Calgary TransitCamp supports, in broad measure, the advice of Administration to address the seven cited criteria in creating Calgary Transit's business plan and operating budget from 2012 to 2014.

We would like to commend Calgary Transit for identifying the key roles that fare structure, fare discounting, and the standing City Council expectation of a 55-percent farebox recovery ratio all play in funding the daily and annual operations of a major Canadian public transit system.  At the same time, we recognise the extent to which network planning, fleet management, and the passenger service targets identified in the Municipal Development Plan and the Calgary Transportation Plan all affect the degree to which Calgary Transit will be able in coming years to fund its operations from the farebox effectively, responsibly, and sustainably.  We have a rare opportunity before us to look to 2014 and beyond in examining municipal and regional best practices in fare structure, electronic collection, and zoning--and in applying these lessons to a practical strategic perspective on operational funding for Calgary Transit that will ensure both simplicity and transparency for every f
are-paying passenger in Calgary.

The fare overview Calgary Transit has prepared is a helpful and important start to the larger conversation Calgarians deserve about giving public transit the resources and support that will be necessary to make transit in Calgary second nature.  We at Calgary TransitCamp are ready, willing, and able to stand with Calgary Transit and City Council in contributing to and resolving this conversation.


William Hamilton
Co-Chair
Calgary TransitCamp

City Administration asked City Council to direct Calgary Transit to report back this fall with a 2012-2014 business plan and operating budget based on the following criteria:

1A.  Continue to increase service levels to serve and attract ridership.  Carried by Committee 4-3.
1B.  Reduce fare discounts to achieve a 55% revenue cost ratio.  Lost at Committee 2-5.
1C.  In future budget cycles, shift towards a lower revenue/cost ratio to ensure that the value of increasing benefits of transit to the community are recognised and that fares do not rise to the point where the service is not an attractive alternative for choice users.  Carried by Committee 4-3.
1D.  Reduce discounts for some fares without creating a barrier to those with lesser abilities to pay.  Lost at Committee 3-4.
1E.  Utilise the new electronic fare system (mid 2012 implementation) to offer additional payment options and examine the feasibility of a revised fare structure using Electronic Fare Collection to attract ridership and increase revenues.  Carried by Committee 6-1.
1F.  Continue to charge for services that provide premium service for some users.  Carried by Committee 7-0.
1G.  Explore alternatives for funding and administration of low income transit fares.  Carried by Committee 6-1.
2.  Work with Fair Fares Calgary on low income transit fares.  Carried by Committee 4-3.

Bonnie Pacaud gave the Fair Fares deputation at Committee last night.  Several low-income passengers also gave deputations with the assistance of Disability Action Hall's Colleen Huston.

--

William Hamilton

Principia Communications Strategies

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[Stewart Midwinter]

Was there no direction to Calgary Transit to investigate or study zone-based tariffs?  With Calgary having a larger footprint that most other Canadian cities, many of whom already have zone-based tariffs in place, this would seem to be a fruitful line of investigation. 

regards

Stewart

BikeCalgary.org

[Principia Communications Strategies]

Investigating fare zones would fall somewhat untidily under "[examining] the feasibility of a revised fare structure using Electronic Fare Collection to attract ridership and increase revenues" as carried by Committee.  Practically, I expect it will take until 2014 at least for a coherent Calgary-and-region-wide fare zone system to emerge, and that with enthusiastic passenger uptake of the Prairie Oyster Connect card starting in 2012.

That being said, I would suggest as a starting point the following guiding principles for a fare zone proposal:

1.  Full fare within one fare zone of $2.00;
2.  Fare increment of $1.00 for every fare zone boundary crossed;
3.  Ninety percent of passengers within current Calgary city limits should be able to travel from their residence to downtown by crossing a maximum of one fare zone boundary;
4.  Fare zone boundaries should not partition communities;
5.  Fare zones for regional jurisdictions outside Calgary should be reasonably contiguous and should be based reasonably on proximity to Calgary city limits and on distance from Calgary's downtown core.