Timmins Transit

Timmins Transit is continuing an Earth Day tradition … free bus rides on Monday, April 22. Helping our planet can be as simple as choosing public transportation. Riding the bus can help lower our greenhouse gas emissions and conserve energy and fuel by reducing the number of private vehicles on the road. But the benefits of public transportation do not stop there. Did you know? Public transit makes our roads safer. Transit operators generally have more driver training, drive at lower speeds, and avoid high-risk driving situations. Public transit reduces traffic congestion. This is particularly helpful during busy road construction and maintenance months. Public transit can increase your physical activity. A bus ride often starts and ends with some form of activity (like walking) to and from the bus stop. On Monday, April 22 ride the bus for planet earth! It’s free and it’ll give the environment a break. Where will you go?

2024 will be a year of modernization for Timmins Transit. The City’s public transportation system will be updated with four (4) new conventional buses, a new fare box system, and the introduction of a microtransit pilot project for riders in Porcupine and South Porcupine. At last night’s council meeting, council approved the purchase of 4 news buses, covered in part by the City’s Investing in Canadian Infrastructure Program (ICIP) funding. The new buses will replace others at the end of their useful life under Transit’s asset management plan. The same funding stream will also allow for the purchase of new fare boxes. Council’s approval for twenty-five (25) fare boxes will not only improve Transit’s data collection on routes and ridership, but will give riders the option of modern electronic payment methods, like paying with debit, credit, smart phones, or reloadable bus passes. The City intends to cover our portion of fare box replacement with provincial gas tax funding, which means the update will have no impact on residents’ property tax bill. The purchases support Timmins Transit’s plan to move to a microtransit system, beginning with a pilot project in February for users in the east end of the City. Microtransit is an emerging public transportation system that connects people in low-density areas to existing transit. The City’s current transit system is fixed route; designed to move a large number of people in conventional buses from one place to another. A microtransit system is a smaller, shared transit option that runs on-demand using smaller-scale vehicles, like the City’s current para-transit buses. At last night’s council meeting, Timmins Transit’s current para-transit system was re-branded Timmins On-Demand and the user fees for para-transit riders were updated to prepare for the introduction of microtransit. In February, the City will begin testing microtransit for riders in Porcupine and South Porcupine. Through a new Timmins On-Demand app, currently in development, residents who live outside of main bus routes or at a distance from a fixed transit stop, can request a ride. One of the City’s smaller para-transit buses will pick that person up and transport them to the nearest fixed stop along the main bus route. Microtransit connects more people to public transportation and makes better use of current transit resources. Current clients of the para-transit service will now be able to request service on-demand as well, through the app, and without the need for advanced booking. More information on Timmins On-Demand, how to download and use the new app, and what areas are included in the pilot project will be available soon. In the meantime, Transit staff and management are working hard to update and improve the current transit system to one that is modern, efficient, and convenient for all residents. ____________________________________________________________________________ Quotes: “The City is actively working to improve Timmins Transit so that it’s reliable, convenient, and efficient for current and future riders. Public transportation can connect our residents with community support, employment opportunities, education, and more. During our series of ward meetings, we heard from residents in Porcupine, South Porcupine, and Schumacher who wanted better access to public transportation. We are fortunate to have an investment from both the federal and provincial governments that allows us to upgrade our buses, our fare systems, and explore solutions to expand transit access across the city.” ~ Mayor Michelle Boileau “The changes being made to Timmins Transit this year will prepare us to serve a greater number of residents in the future. The addition of microtransit will expand the Transit system responsibly, with service based on demand. Payment options will be simplified. Access for para-transit customers will be faster and more convenient. It is a year of modernization, and Timmins

The sale of Timmins Transit bus passes will move back to the Transit Terminal on Spruce St. S. effective Tuesday, August 8, 2023. While renovations continue, residents will now be able to purchase their monthly bus pas or bus tickets directly where they catch the bus. Thank you for your continued patience while we finish upgrades to the terminal building. Public washrooms will remain closed until work is completed.

Timmins Transit is continuing an Earth Day tradition … free bus rides on Saturday, April 22. Each year, Canadians are asked to join the green revolution. Helping our planet can be as simple as choosing public transportation. The benefits of riding the bus versus driving a private vehicle are well known. On-road transportation in Timmins is responsible for 37.7% of the City’s greenhouse gas emissions as identified in the City’s 2019 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan. Using public transportation helps lower our emissions and conserve energy and fuel by reducing the number of private vehicles on the road. But the benefits of public transportation do not stop there. Did you know? Public transit makes our roads safer. Transit operators generally have more driver training, drive at lower speeds, and avoid high-risk driving situations. Public transit reduces traffic congestion. This is particularly helpful during busy road construction and maintenance months. Public transit improves social equity by providing reliable transportation for all individuals regardless of ability, accessibility, age, or income. Public transit increases physical activity. A bus ride often starts and ends with some form of activity (like walking) to and from the bus stop. On Saturday, April 22 ride the bus for planet earth! It’s free and it’ll give the environment a break. Where will you go?

Ontario has announced their annual Gas Tax funding and Timmins is on the list to receive $620,457. With the investment, Timmins Transit is purchasing another new bus. “The new bus will replace an older model that is at end of life,” says Ken Krcel, Director of Public Works and Environmental Services. “Ontario’s support has allowed us to continue to update our fleet, as part of the City’s 10-year financial plan. Upgrading Transit’s active infrastructure is our current priority.” Improvements to Timmins Transit’s infrastructure also include on-going renovations at the Timmins Transit Terminal on Spruce St. and a route optimization review. “We want to thank the Government of Ontario for continuing to provide necessary funding for public transit,” adds Krcel. “We know that residents rely on us to deliver safe and reliable transportation. We have several projects underway that speak to our commitment to meet that expectation."

Effective Monday, February 6, residents can pick up their transit bus passes and bus tickets at Service Timmins in City Hall. The move is to facilitate renovations at the Timmins Transit Terminal on Spruce St. S. Bus passes and tickets will be sold during regular Service Timmins hours from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. Bus passes and tickets are also available at the Timmins Square Information Booth during mall hours. Timmins Transit appreciates your cooperation and patience while renovations are completed.

Timmins Transit is set to receive $233,039 from the provincial government as part of Ontario’s commitment to safe and reliable transit services. Phase 4 of the federal-provincial Safe Restart Agreement will provide a total of $505 million across the province for municipal transit systems. The funds can be used to offset costs related to COVID-19 in 2022, including revenue loss, operating expenses, and priority projects. Since the start of the pandemic, Timmins Transit has relied on provincial and federal grants to help cover operating costs. “Providing accessible public transportation is a priority for the City of Timmins,” says Mayor Michelle Boileau. “This Safe Restart Funding speaks directly to where we are in terms of restarting and rebuilding transit services post pandemic. I want to thank both the provincial and federal governments for their continued support of transit services in Timmins.” “We appreciate the provincial government’s support,” says Ken Krcel, Director of Public Works and Environmental Services. “This funding helps us continue to deliver safe and reliable public transportation. We anticipate that this funding will be used to cover any shortfall in revenue from 2022.”

On September 3, Timmins Transit will end its temporary summer service reduction and resume the modified schedule implemented during the pandemic. Route 16 (South Porcupine / Porcupine) and Routes 37 and 38 (Melrose / Riverside) will return to 30-minute frequency. Timmins Transit will continue to run a modified Saturday schedule Monday to Friday based on current ridership numbers. Ridership refers to the number of the people who use the bus. That number has not returned to pre-pandemic levels. What does this mean for operations? Before COVID, transit fares covered roughly 35% of operating costs (fuel, wages, maintenance, and administration). On an operational budget exceeding $5 million, the municipal tax base had to absorb 64% of the costs with just 1% coming from other revenues. Since COVID, transit fares have covered just 19% of operational costs with the tax base now covering 68%. The City has also had to rely on operational grants to cover 12% of transit operations, even though the cost to operate was reduced through service reduction. The totals provided are based on actuals from 2019 to 2021. Add to that on-going labour shortages that have made hiring drivers post-COVID challenging. At this time, a modified schedule works best to balance service, convenience, and cost. Timmins Transit tracks ridership numbers every month and can respond to an increase in demand if necessary. Management has also initiated a complete route analysis that will help to determine system efficiency. It’s the first step in evaluating how to increase ridership and find alternative modes of service delivery that better suit the needs of our community. Timmins Transit’s popular Northern College Express will also hit the road on September 6 to help students travel back and forth from the Transit Terminal on Spruce St. direct to the Northern College campus. This seasonal service is another example of how Timmins Transit works to actively address demand and improve service. The City of Timmins is currently hiring part-time bus drivers. The successful candidate will have an acceptable driving record and be capable of possessing a Class “BZ” or “CZ” Ontario’s Driver’s License. No transit experience is required, training is provided. Learn more at: https://bit.ly/3KcasjA. Track your bus online using https://tracker.timminstransit.ca or download the Timmins Transit app today from Google Play or App Store.

A lasting effect of the COVID-19 pandemic has been a driver shortage at Timmins Transit. In an effort to reduce driver fatigue and stress, City Council has approved a temporary frequency reduction effective Monday, June 13. The revised schedule will be in place over the summer months from June through August and will reduce frequency times of some routes from service every 30 minutes to every forty-five minutes. “Last summer, Management had to cancel summer vacation requests due to driver shortage,” says Director of Public Works and Environmental Services Ken Krcel. “Our drivers need time to rest and recharge. The immediate benefit is a reduction in lost time and employee turnover. This small change will prevent a greater loss of service that could happen if drivers end up burned out and calling in sick.” Reducing the frequency of service will reduce the total number of driving hours each day, allowing for time off without having to cancel routes altogether. The timing is also ideal since past data shows a decline in ridership during the summer months. “We need to give drivers their requested time off as per their collective agreement,” adds Krcel. “We are doing that with as little impact to transit riders as possible while providing adequate public transportation in the summer.” For more information on Timmins Transit schedule and updated routes, including those impacted by Connecting Link construction, visit Timmins.ca / Our Services / Timmins Transit.

Ontario has announced their annual Gas Tax funding and Timmins is on the list to receive $661,115. Investment through the Gas Tax program will be used by Timmins Transit for the purchase of a new bus. “We receive Gas Tax funding annually,” says Director of Finance Natalie Moore. “The purpose of the program can be to upgrade infrastructure and that’s our current priority for Timmins Transit. New equipment will boost service reliability and performance, which works towards our overall goal of delivering more reliable transit service.” Discussions around Timmins current public transit system came up during recent budget talks with a request for a transit rationalization process and route review being requested by council. Timmins Transit continues to deal with the affects of the pandemic and low ridership, but has once again frozen user fees to help offset changes to service. Transit will be looking to purchase the new bus by the end of the year.