THUNDER BAY – Residents may someday use a mobile app to schedule bus pick-up in some parts of the city.
Brad Loroff, manager of transit services, presented a report to council on changing the city's current fixed-route bus service to a hybrid model that introduces an on-demand service in areas of the city that are served poorly or not at all.
Regular bus service would be maintained for high frequency routes. In areas where on-demand service is implemented, the public will utilize an app to book trips.
Coun. Rajni Agarwal asked if the on-demand bus would stop at a resident’s house like the Lift+ program.
“The exact format of the hybrid model is yet to be determined, as the manager of transit has mentioned. But this is bus stop to bus stop service and there is still, of course, the accessibility service that will also be retained within this new model,” City manager John Collin said.
This is not the first time on-demand service has been considered by the city. Westfort coun. Kristen Oliver asked whether some of the same ideas were still being explored.
“Would this format still utilize that type of infrastructure, like for a drop off to connect to a conventional bus?” Oliver asked.
“In the instance of Westfort, there's a part of the network that it just makes best sense to connect to a transfer hub in Westfort. So, that is still a plan that we would certainly consider proceeding with,” answered Loroff.
He also stated that this plan to switch to an on-demand service would fill in gaps where city transit was underserved or not available.
For example, coun. Greg Johnsen asked if Fort William First Nation will a candidate for the on-demand service.
Loroff said the First Nation is a candidate, but that the report is in its beginning stages and whether there will be new stops added has yet to be determined.
The on-demand service would use existing bus stops as places where the public can catch their bus, but there are many commercial areas where additional stops would be beneficial, coun. Brian Hamilton suggested.
“There are places that haven't been traditionally served and some of those places are on private property. I know we have had issues with private property [owners] and them not potentially wanting bus stops there,” said Hamilton.
“We end up with like a lot of shopping carts at those bus stops that are near but not near enough. Does this potentially open up the channel for more conversations with private property owners on providing that service to residents that are shopping, getting groceries and the rest of it?” Hamilton asks.
Loroff said that there are specific reasons why private property owners do not want a bus stop located next to their building, but this on-demand service model might be a way to open up the conversation with those property owners.
Loroff noted that there is still a lot more exploratory work left to do before the hybrid model of transit services can be implemented.
However, part of that that work, Hamilton notes is “going to need bodies and resources and potentially consultants.”
Earlier that morning, Transit Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria announced a $5 million funding program for rural communities across Ontario to fill in public transportation gaps in smaller and remote communities, including First Nations.
Hamilton asked whether that funding stream could be leveraged by Thunder Bay public transit.
“As far as capacity for people to complete this work, we are envisioning a staff-led process. If conditions warrant more resources to be added, we will certainly look at the need for that at that time,” said Loroff.
He noted there maybe opportunity throughout the transforming transit process to tap into that grant funding as the work progresses, but if not the transportation department will take advantage any “funding opportunities that may be available.”
The report was presented to council for information only at this stage.
