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Making Transit More Customer Focused – Discussion Series

May 2, 2017

I am EXTREMELY pleased to be working with many community partners on a very informative transit event!

In fall 2015, on the advice of good friends, Curt Hull (Climate Change Connection) and Joseph Kornelsen (Functional Transit), I arranged a SKYPE meeting with Jarret Walker (Human Transit) and two Winnipeg Transit representatives: Dave Wardrop, (Director of Transit) and Bjorn Radstrom (Manager of Service Development).

  • We discussed the challenges and opportunities which cities experience when moving transit operations to a “High Frequency” routing model.
  • We spoke in depth specifically about Houston, Texas, which was shifting their transit routing to a ‘high frequency’ model based on RIDERSHIP, not COVERAGE.
  • Houston has since transitioned to the high frequency model of transit service delivery, and achieved a 3.3%  increase in ridership! Read more at Texas Tribune
  • Edmonton, Alberta is in the process of looking to higher frequency vs coverage (CBC Rerouting Design)
  • BUT – as with any change – there are challenges – as discussed in this  Edmonton Journal  article

Winnipeg does not have a CURRENT Transit Strategy. I believe as City Councillors we should always be looking beyond our borders to other cities – discussing,  talking and learning from all stakeholders on how to improve transit delivery.  This is an opportunity to do just that on Thursday, May 11 – I invite you to attend Humanizing Transit in Winnipeg! See you there!

Jarrett Walker – Humanizing Transit
WHEN: Thursday May 11, 7-9 PM
WHERE: Manitoba Museum Planetarium Auditorium, 190 Rupert Avenue

Walker builds an easily understandable framework for understanding public transit. Learn more about Walker’s work here.  The host organizations hope Walker’s insights will inspire a conversation about Winnipeg’s transit service and how to make it more customer-focused.   “First and foremost, [transit is] an instrument of liberty and opportunity,” says Walker. “It’s easy to think about transit as something that we build. Building something is often very important but we have to start with the principle of service.”

The May 11th event is the kick-off to the Humanizing Transit event series, which will continue with two follow-up events on May 18 and May 27:

Local Transit Panel
WHEN:  Thursday, May 18 at 7 p.m.
WHERE:  Richardson College for the Environment Atrium, 599 Portage Avenue

 

CANCELLED – This event on May 27 is cancelled.  It will be rescheduled in Fall, 2017. 

To stay informed, visit Functional Transit:  https://www.facebook.com/FunctionalTransit/

Discuss the Bus, a Community Roundtable
WHEN:  Saturday, May 27 at 1:30 p.m.
WHERE: Richardson College for the Environment Atrium, 599 Portage Avenue

Thanks to the host organizations:  Amalgamated Transit Union, Climate Change Connection, Functional Transit Winnipeg, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and the University of Winnipeg. This event series is generously sponsored by: the Amalgamated Transit Union, Assiniboine Credit Union, The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ, The West End BIZ, the Exchange District BIZ and The University of Winnipeg.

For more information:

 

Twitter:  https://janicelukes.ca/?p=9037