Association for Commuter Transportation of Canada
Sustainable Mobility Summit 2012
Brian Shifman BA Hons., P.R. Cert.
Executive Director
bshifman@smartcommutentv.ca, 416-650-8059
Suzanne Charbonneau, P. Eng.
Transportation Engineer
scharbonneau@dillon.ca, 416-229-4647 ext.2440
Providing Travel Choice Through
Employee Shuttles
Presentation Outline
Smart Commute Don Mills Corporate Shuttle
Filling the Gap
Piloting the New Service
Measuring Success
Employer’s Perspective
Moving Forward
2
Presentation Outline
Smart Commute Don Mills Corporate Shuttle
FILLING THE GAP
Piloting the New Service
Measuring Success
Employer’s Perspective
Moving Forward
3
A unique pilot project: multiple
organizations at various
locations coming together to
provide a shuttle service for
their employees
4
Filling the gap
•
•
Sheppard line stopped short at Don Mills Station
•
~ 10 to 30 min walk from businesses in the Don Mills
Corporate Area
•
Infrequent TTC service through the business park
Historically low transit mode share within the park with
high willingness to try public transit
•
•
2009 Dillon commuter survey: 20% of staff taking transit,
44% definitely willing to try
Opportunity to expand the Smart Commute program
amongst additional businesses within the park
5
Presentation Outline
Smart Commute Don Mills Corporate Shuttle
Filling the gap
PILOTING THE NEW SERVICE
Measuring Success
Employer’s Perspective
Moving Forward
6
Forming Partnerships
7
Overview
•
24 passenger shuttle bus operating between Don Mills
Station and key businesses within the Consumers Road
Business Area
•
Operates 5 days a week during the morning, evening,
and lunch time periods (15 runs/day)
•
Initial pilot project operating Feb. – April 2012
•
Pilot extension May 2012 – January 2013 (full year)
8
9
The route
10
The Schedule
• 30 minute round trip service
• Morning: 7:30 – 9:45 a.m.
• Evening: 3:30 – 6:45 p.m.
• Lunch time: 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
11
Project Costs
• Based on a cost-recovery model
• Subsidized by government partners
• Two-tiered payment structure:
•
Small businesses pay an equal, flat participation fee
•
Property managers pay proportionally based on the
building’s square footage rate
12
Presentation Outline
Smart Commute Don Mills Corporate Shuttle
Filling the gap
Piloting the New Service
MEASURING SUCCESS
Employer’s Perspective
Moving Forward
13
Measuring Success
•
Passenger counts (by employer, time of day)
•
Passenger surveys (measured against baseline survey)
•
Reduced pressure on employer parking/increased transit
ridership
•
Participating partner satisfaction
•
Ability to expand/extend the shuttle pilot period
•
Overall promotional buzz/visibility
14
Passenger Counts
2500
Ridership
2000
1500
1000
500
0
15
Passenger survey
•
97% of riders rate this service as
an 8, 9, or 10 out of 10
•
76% of riders reported taking the
shuttle due to its convenience
and ease (write in question)
•
100% of riders would
recommend the service to a
friend
16
Presentation Outline
Smart Commute Don Mills Corporate Shuttle
Filling the gap
Piloting the New Service
Measuring Success
EMPLOYER’S PERSPECTIVE
Moving Forward
17
Employer’s Perspective
The Challenges
The Issues
The Solution
The Transit Challenge
Corporate Perspective:
• Transit Solutions are not just about congestion reduction
strategies and addressing the needs of those that cannot
afford to drive
• From a business perspective, it is all about four broad
issues:
1. Recruitment and retention
2. Employee productivity and punctuality
3. Align actions with environmental policy/belief
4. Corporate Image and employee morale
19
Today’s Commuting Challenge
•
Source: “The Impact of Commuting on Employees”. Business Week Research Services in Partnership
with Transit Centre; February 2008
20
Today’s Commuting Challenge
•
Source: “The Impact of Commuting on Employees”. Business Week Research Services in Partnership
with Transit Centre; February 2008
21
Today’s Commuting Challenge
•
Source: “The Impact of Commuting on Employees”. Business Week Research Services in Partnership
with Transit Centre; February 2008
22
Dillon’s Challenge
• Toronto office of 100 staff members
• Located in an industrial park 12 minute walk from the
subway
• A young workforce attracted to a downtown environment
(live without a vehicle)
• Strong Corporate Environment Management Initiative and
Local ‘Green Team’ in the office
• Members of Smart Commute North Toronto Vaughan
23
Attracting Generation Y
Want to keep the Gen Y'ers happy?
• 96% want an environmentally aware workplace
• want evidence that their employers are going
beyond the minimum levels of environmental
compliance by embracing all things green on an
everyday basis
Source: Johnson Controls,
Inc.
Dillon’s Toronto Office
68% agree that their commute experience directly affects
their overall job satisfaction.
Source: stresstop.com
25
Internal Challenges
• Unpredictable consulting lives
• Culture change
• Competing environmental initiatives
Source: Bodyguardcareers.com
26
27
28
29
30
Transit Connection
31
Staff Transit Mode Share
Portion of staff using public transit:
• 19% in 2006
• 20% in 2009
Shuttle Introduced
• 28% in April 2012
• 41% in September 2012
32
Employee Reaction
• Ridership statistics:
– May 2012: 186
– August 2012: 232
– 60% of Dillon rides are in the
evening
• Staff survey:
– 30% of staff use shuttle
occasionally/regularly for
commuting or lunch (June 2012)
33
Internal Marketing
• Friday lunch outing to
Fairview Mall
• Free TTC tokens for new
staff for a week
• TTC token giveaways for
drivers committed to trying
transit for a week
• Schedule posted & provided
to employees
34
Presentation Outline
Smart Commute Don Mills Corporate Shuttle
Filling the gap
Piloting the New Service
Measuring Success
Employer’s Perspective
MOVING FORWARD
35
Moving forward
• Continue to work on a sustainable funding model
(focusing on property managers)
• Annual evaluation of the shuttle pilot
• Explore other shuttle options
• Use best practices gained through pilot to
facilitate continuous innovation and improvement
36
Thank-You!
Questions?
Association for Commuter Transportation of Canada
Sustainable Mobility Summit 2012
Brian Shifman BA Hons., P.R. Cert.
Executive Director
bshifman@smartcommutentv.ca, 416-650-8059
Suzanne Charbonneau, P. Eng.
Transportation Engineer
scharbonneau@dillon.ca, 416-229-4647 ext.2440