Integrated Transportation Advisory Committee Meeting

Minutes

Meeting #:
Date:
Time:
-
Location:
Hybrid meeting- Virtual and Room 247 City Hall

1.
Members Present:

 

Pat Debly, Chair (BAAC), Andrea Grebenc, Tom Hayes, Lachlan Fraser, Michael Gioseffi, Sean Morrison (SDC), Steve Shuta (BSAC), Naomi Williams, Irene MacDonald, Jon Millman (Cycling)

2.
Member Regrets:

 

Councillor Shawna Stolte, Jim Young (Bfast)

3.
Others Present:

 

Lisa Palermo (Clerk)

4.
Land Acknowledgement:

 

The Chair read the Land Acknowledgement

5.
Declarations of Interest:

 

None.

6.
Approval of Minutes:

 

7.
Delegation(s):

 

None.

8.
Regular Items:

 

8.1
Transportation Planning and Active Transportation

 

No update at this time.

8.2
Traffic Signals and Operations

 

No update at this time.

8.3
Transit

 

Update provided via email:

  • Route 1 schedule changes effective May 26th, with improved service and an additional bus during peak schedule.  This has been communicated on social media and the Burlington Transit web site.
  • The Transit Signal Priority (TSP) project kick off meeting taking place this week.

8.4
Work Plan Initiatives

 

a.
Transit business plan review

 

The working group relayed their comments regarding Burlington Transit's business plan:

  • The business plan focuses on ways to get to the GO.  Members would like to see a greater focus on getting around within Burlington (i.e., getting to the mall, the doctor, etc.)
  • members appreciate the grid pattern the city is working towards but noted that prime employment areas around Mainway and the industrial area are not included.  The plan appears to be more focused on getting people out of town rather than moving them within the city.
  • members appreciate the electrification of the fleet.
  • members are interested in learning what is planned beyond 2024?  Is the next business plan currently in the works?
  • members were interested in knowing if and when “on-demand” service was going to be implemented.

b.
Bfast Forum update

This item has attachments. 
1.BFAST Forum Comments Received by ITAC.pdf

The Bfast forum was attended by Andrea, Jon, and Pat, who set up a table and engaged with participants.

  • The public was very receptive to engaging with ITAC members and provided them with feedback on their experiences.
  • Several residents relayed concerns with late buses.
  • Bfast held a survey for participants and ITAC members gathered feedback via comment cards.
  • 31 comment cards were completed. Naomi recorded the responses and gathered themes for the committee's consideration and discussion.  Main themes included;
    • frequency of service - for example recognizing that some shifts end at midnight.
    • user experience - for example, passengers commented on drivers leaving the stop before everyone seated.
    • how can you get a regular Burlington family and individuals using transit who are not using it today.
    • accessibility concerns - for example, not being able to read the bus number, needing to be dropped off between stops, takes a long time to cross crosswalks, does broader road structure support the transit system.

It was noted that members should keep in mind that participants at the Bfast forum were mainly transit users and therefore the themes reflect that.

Members shared some insights for consideration:

  • is there a process where a transit user can ask the driver for a few extra moments to get to the seat and sit down.
  • Harvester off ramp at Guelph Line coming off Toronto hwy. could use synchronized lighting. Lights at Guelph Line exit ramp from Toronto bound QEW - not synchronized with Harvester and this causes backups in the intersection)
  • Is there a happy medium between the pressure drivers are under to stay on schedule and speeding.
  • Tom shared that travel time consistency is the most important factor for transit users according to information shared at the Globe and Mail webinar he attended.

c.
Bike Month activity at BurlingtonGreen hub

 

Pat, Jon, Irene and Lachlan will attend the BurlingtonGreen bike month event on Sat., Jun. 8, 2024.

ITAC and Cycling committees will be teaming up to join BurlingtonGreen.

Comment cards will again be used for public’s feedback on cycling or any other transportation issue.

d.
Food for Feedback

 

Andrea, Jon, Pat, Tom and Naomi formed a working group to discuss engagement ideas for the Food for Feedback event.

The engagement activities will be used to engage with the public, join them in conversation and get insights to take into 2025 and their advisory role with Council.

Committee members discussed the proposed engagement boards and provided feedback to the working group.  The working group will take the comments into consideration and meet once again to modify the proposal to include the committee's feedback.

e.
Pedestrian Safety for Schools

 

Steve, Michael, Naomi, Andrea, Pat and Irene formed a working group to discuss ways to engage with students about safety and active transportation. The draft survey was shared with members for feedback.  The draft survey will also be shared with the city's communication and engagement staff for their feedback.  The survey is intended to go out to parents/guardians in the fall.

9.
Other Business:

 

10.
Adjournment:

 

Chair adjourned the meeting at 9:12 p.m.

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