1. Session 10B – Integrating TDM into Municipal Operations Canadian TDM Summit Toronto 18 Nov 2009 TDM and the Transit Strike Surviving 53 days of Gridlock

2. 2 CITY OF OTTAWA SCENARIO Population - 870,000 40,000 in downtown Ottawa 15,000 in downtown Gatineau There are approximately 185,000 people that work in the downtown core of the National Capital Region (includes Ottawa and Gatineau) Area: 2,796 km 2, 90 km east to west Ottawa's area is almost 80 per cent rural Ottawa winter temperatures average around -10°C but can be up to -40°C in winter

3. 3 The Transitway – Rapid Transit Network Gatineau

4. 4 TRANSIT SHARE BY PERSON TRIPS 13% to 18% of the total trips displaced by transit strike An estimated 122,000 passengers used transit in the morning daily before the strike

5. 5 TRANSIT SHARE OF MOTORIZED TRAVEL

6. 6

7. 7 OC TRANSPO SRIKE TIMELINES No transit: Dec 10, 2008 to Jan 31, 2009 – a total of 53 days. No transit for 5 additional days after Jan 31, 2009

8. 8 PROVIDING ALTERNATIVES

9. 9

10. 10 DRIVING Improved signal timing Bus lanes opened Additional parking lots opened downtown (3000 spaces) Suburban transit park and rides & additional lots opened to carpoolers (approx. 600/day) On-street parking permitted all day in unmetered areas Reduced on street parking rates Reduced parking permit rates (-50%) New no-stopping zones City continued to enforced driving and parking regulations

11. 11 DRIVING IMPACTS

12. 12 CARPOOLING Increased promotion of www.OttawaRideMatch.com www.OttawaRideMatch.com Increased carpool parking lots (Transitway parking opened for carpoolers) Carpool parking signage downtown (designated pick-up/drop-off areas) and in suburban carpool parking lots Shuttle service for universities permitted on TransitWay

13. 13 WWW.OTTAWARIDEMATCH.COM WWW.OTTAWARIDEMATCH.COM IMPACTS WWW.OTTAWARIDEMATCH.COM WWW.OTTAWARIDEMATCH.COM IMPACTS Pre strike Nov 30/08 - 2221 ORM registrants (average < 5 new/day) Day 1 – 5000 new registrants. By Day 53 over 20,000 new registrants Ridematching system enhancements RideShark increased from 4 to 72 processors to handle anticipated peak loading Dedicated 12 CPUs to web farm for ORM exclusively Automated recognition of key destination addresses (e.g. Federal Government buildings) Launched bike and walking buddy matching Inclusion of new carpool park and ride locations on map

14. 14 ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION Enhanced winter maintenance of key cycling and pedestrian routes

15. 15 TELEWORK Anecdotal evidence of many private sector companies aggressively promoting and supporting telework. Conversely public sector did not.

16. 16 COMMUNITY IMPACT & MEASURES $700,000 funding to community agencies to meet the needs of low-income residents Additional emergency fund established for low-income residents Expanded Para-Transpo service – extra vehicles and drivers

17. 17 POST STRIKE TRANSIT FARE INCENTIVES Free rides for everyone for week one (until Feb. 15/09) Half price for all cash and ticket fares until the end of February. Free weekends the entire month of February for all transit riders. People who had purchased a December transit pass could return it for full reimbursement or ride for free with it in February, and then cash it in for a 60% discount on a March pass. Riders who purchased a February pass received a 65% discount. April and May express passes were also sold at regular prices to December express pass holders. Federal EcoPass riders that purchased express Ecopasses were given 3.5 monthly deductions off and regular Ecopass holders 2.5 monthly deductions off. While non-Federal government EcoPass express pass holders were given 10 bi-weekly deductions off and regular EcoPass holders were given 5 bi-weekly deductions off. The reason for the the extended discount period for express EcoPass holders was that early in the start-up of service it was contemplated that full express service could not be guaranteed until April 1.

18. 18 POST STRIKE TRANSIT RIDERSHIP 6.1 % ridership decline comparing July 2009 July 2008. Real test of strike recovering in ridership will come in September when budget and actual ridership levels are expected to be virtually the same. Ridership decline also due to employed labour force reduction of 5% in comparison to last year by 3 %.

19. 19 SUMMARY Lessons learned Be ready! TDM Showcase – Opportunity in crisis City of Ottawa minimized transit strike impacts through: Proactive planning and communication by City government, partners and stakeholders Clear transparency in available options Media communications of alternatives Transparency on strike status Engagement and positive participation of citizens

20. 20 THE RESULT The City kept MOVING...