Staff Report #3
November 28, 2018
To All Commissioners
Re: 2019 – 2022 Business Plan
Recommendation
That the report be NOTED and FILED.
Background
Since first developed in the mid-1990’s, the Business Plan and related planning process have provided the crucial direction in the rebuilding of London Transit as an organization and a transportation service. The Plan, which is updated every four years consistent with the term of the Commission, serves:
- as a reflection of today, and as a starting point for the future
- to focus resources on prioritized challenges and expectations
- as a communication tool, supporting the development of informed relationships
- to promote accountability, transparency and continuous improvement
The 2015-2018 Business Plan sets out the following:
- Vision: The valued and trusted mobility choice for Londoners
- Mission: Moving Londoners – progressively, reliably and affordably
- Strategic outcomes:
- An integrated, affordable and valued mobility choice
- An engaged, diverse and respectful workplace
- Demonstrated fiscal accountability
- Being open, transparent and understood
- Effective utilization of infrastructure
The 2015-2018 Business Plan had clear linkage to three of the City of London’s five strategic outcomes:
- A strong economy
- A green and growing City
- A sustainable infrastructure
Further, the direction of the Plan is reflective of the City of London’s 2030 Transportation Master Plan, which has public transit (Bus Rapid Transit) as its focal point setting a transit mode share target of 20% by 2030. The Business Plan is also congruent with the draft London Plan (Official Plan) which clearly identifies that land use planning and transportation planning are inextricably linked.
Plan Update
Traditionally, the four year Business Plan is drafted in the third quarter of the plan’s last year, then approved in principle by the outgoing Commission, with the final Plan being approved by the incoming Commission early in their term (January or February meeting).
Consistent with past practice, the Vision and Mission Statements, and Strategic Outcomes were reviewed to determine whether they remain applicable or need to be amended. Given all of these were updated in the 2015-2018 Business Plan, it was determined that all remained relevant and were not in need of change.
The next step in the plan update is to identify the key initiatives that will be undertaken over the 4 year period that will result in achieving progress on each of the strategic outcomes. Several initiatives are currently underway that are expected to have significant influence on the 2019-2022 Business Plan initiatives, including:
- Five Year Service Strategy (resulting from the Post 2019 Framework Update approved by the Commission in October 2018)
- Ridership Growth Strategy and Fare Structure Review (see Staff Report #1, dated November 28, 2018)
- Voice of the Customer survey results, noting this will be the first time that a separate survey is undertaken for customers of the specialized transit service
- Bus Rapid Transit implementation phasing and timelines
- Assessment and determination of funding and program details going forward for subsidized fare programs undertaken over the previous two years including the Income Based pass, Youth pass and provision of free transit for children 12 and under
- City of London strategic plan, which will be a key initiative for the new municipal council during their first few months
- Status of funding programs from other levels of government including but not limited to the Provincial Gas Tax for Transit program and the Federal Investing in Canada – Public Transit Stream funding
Given the current Commission’s guidance and experience on the aforementioned initiatives, this report is being presented for discussion purposes in order to provide Commission members the opportunity for input and direction that should be incorporated into the 2019-2022 Business Plan. Based on the timelines associated with the aforementioned initiatives, it is anticipated that the 2019-2022 Business Plan with accompanying Financial Plan will be presented to the Commission for approval at the April 2019 meeting. This plan will be a key input piece for the next multi-year budget submission, which is likely to occur in the summer of 2019.
Recommended by:
Kelly S. Paleczny, General Manager