TRANSIT SERVICES – INDUSTRIAL AREAS
Office of the Aldermen
MEMO
TRANSPORATION DEPARTMENT
2007 January 22
File CG 14-03/SE
TO: Mayor Bronconnier and Members of Council
FROM: John Hubbell, General Manager – Transportation Department
SUBJECT: TRANSIT SERVICES TO THE FOOTHILLS INDUSTRIAL AND GREAT PLAINS INDUSTRIAL AREAS
The following information is provided in response to Alderman Ceci’s request during Question Period at the 2006 December 11 Council meeting regarding transit service in the Foothills Industrial and Great Plains Industrial areas in Calgary’s southeast.
Calgary Transit is aware of concerns regarding transit service in the Foothills Industrial and Great Plains Industrial areas. This growing southeast area is bounded by Peigan Trail, 84 Street, Barlow Trail and 90 Avenue SE. Currently, there are six bus routes providing service to the area as follows:
* Routes 72/73 provide a connection to the southeast industrial area from all quadrants of the city.
* Routes 90 and 176 connect the northeast residential communities to businesses in the southeast.
* Routes 23 and 409 connect the southeast industrial area to the Chinook and Anderson CTrain stations, respectively.
In 2005 Calgary Transit conducted a survey of businesses in the SE industrial area as part of a study to evaluate how transit service could be improved. Based on the origin/destination data collected, it was determined that the majority of employees in this area live in the northeast and southeast residential communities. Survey responses also indicated a preference for:
* Services to start earlier and end later during weekdays.
* New routes to serve areas with no service or to improve connections.
* Bus zones located closer to employment locations.
In response to these findings, a southeast industrial service plan has been prepared that identifies opportunities for new routes and modifications to existing services. A key requirement is to establish routes to connect the southeast industrial area with the southeast and northeast residential communities as well as the downtown. These routes would provide more direct connections and better opportunities for transfers to local routes within the southeast areas.
In 2006, to address growth in this area and bus overloads, transit service hours have been added to Routes 23, 72/73, 90, 176, and 409 and additional hours will be added in 2007. As well, beginning 2006 December 25, Route 24 – Ogden will be extended into the East Lake Industrial area and Douglas Glen and the Route 409 frequency will be increased during peak periods.
Calgary Transit is committed to continuing to improve transit service in this area. However, the nature of the area provides a number of challenges. The density of employment is very low, sidewalks are sparse and/or discontinuous, the road network is fragmented and shift work produces variable start and end times that do not always coincide with normal peak and off peak transit service hours.
Improvements to the SE Industrial Area roadways are required to provide a suitable operating environment for Calgary Transit and our customers. These have been identified and some are underway. For example, improvements to 52 Street, 90 Avenue, and other area roadways are planned that will provide for more continuous routing opportunities. As well, sidewalks and curbs are needed so that bus zones can be established closer to places of employment.
I can assure you that Calgary Transit will continue to work towards addressing capacity concerns and to improve transit service in the southeast industrial area. Service hours and new routes are planned and will be added as resources allow and as roadway amenities are completed.
John Hubbell
NM/sd
c: O. Tobert, City Manager
M. Logan, Director, Roads
A. Broda, Director, Transportation Planning
