Transit Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes ... - City of Welland

Transit Advisory Committee Meeting
Minutes to Sept. 9, 2015 Meeting
Council Ante Room – Civic Square
Mission Statement: ‘To provide a safe, attractive and effective public
transportation system, enhancing community connectivity and
accessibility, while innovatively addressing the challenges of the future.’
Present: William Barnes Jr., Councillor Leo Van Vliet, Dave Duffus, Gregg
Furtney, Meredith Hicks, Alfred Stockwell
Regrets: Steven Soos, Dave Evans; Jenn Howarth, Joseph Morris
Meeting began at 5:00 pm
Additions to Agenda: Pelham Transit
Approval of Sept. 2015 Agenda: Motion to move the Agenda as amended moved by
Dave Duffus and seconded by Gregg Furtney.
Approval of May 2015 Minutes:
Correction from the July minutes that the next meeting would be taking place on Sept.
9, 2015 and not Sept. 16, 2015 as incorrectly stated in minutes.
Motion to move the July 2015 minutes as corrected moved by Dave Duffus and seconded
by Gregg Furtney.
15-11 Pelham Transit: a discussion ensued about Pelham service and the service
agreement on who was providing the service and the effect on Welland Transit. Service
will not be provided by Welland Transit as a private operator (Sharp Bus Lines) will be
providing this service. Pelham Transit riders will have to pay full fare when boarding
Welland Transit bus. Pelham transit users may board Welland Transit at Niagara College
or Seaway Mall and they may board the Regional service at Seaway Mall.
• TAC Terms of Reference & Sector Responsibility: Update:
It was confirmed that the Chair would only vote to break a tied motion.
It was also confirmed that the 4 sectors were
1. Education
2. Seniors
3. Physical disability
4. Bus Driver

Item
To Discuss
Inter Municipal Transit Update: an update was provided on Inter Municipal Transit
including new Pelham Transit and possibility of rerouting of the St. Catharines to
Welland route to accommodate connection to Pelham.
Welland Ridership Update: Committee reviewed the Statistics from Welland In Town
and Inter Municipal Transit.
WellTrans Statistics: Committee reviewed WellTrans stats from January to August for
2015 as compared to 2014.
12-19 Transit Master Plan Recommendations: update
• Community Bus changes – 2015: Discussion took place regarding the recent
Saturday morning route and schedule changes and the move to the new Modified
Conventional service.
• 2016 will see a move from Monday to Friday evening Community Bus service to
the modified conventional service.
Fare increase on 10 Ride passes: 10 Ride passes increased July 1 st and new rates are
Adult 10 Ride = $24.00, Student 10 ride = $21.00 and Senior 10 Ride = $19.00 are in
place.
13-11 Stop Announcement System – update was provided as system is still in
testing status.
14-01 Clearing of Snow from Bus Shelters and Bus Stops: Council approved
funding for both snow removal at bus shelters and also at some bus stops without
shelters. Staff will prepare a list. Discussion ensued about need for a shelter at 157 Fitch
St. due to rerouting of Route 3 First Ave. it was also noted that snow must be removed
from shelter to the curb.
A suggestion was also made to investigate whether the shoveling of snow from bus stops
could be used towards Community Hours for High School students.
The issue of installing a crosswalk or warning sign for passengers crossing the street from
the Prince and Princess apartments.
14-12 2014 & 2015 bus order status: New Nova bus 2014 order was delayed
but arrived at end of July and is in service. The Nova hybrid loaner bus has been
returned. The 2015 bus order is expected to arrive in January 2017.

NEW BUSINESS
15-08 Timing of Routes 2 and 3 on Saturday: Committee requested to review the
timing of Routes 2 and 3 on Saturdays. This request will be reviewed by the Transit
scheduling committee however as schedules are being printed no changes will take place
until next year. It is suggested that the Route 2 and 3 operate opposite each other to
provide better coverage to the north west area of Town.
15-09 World Dragon Boat Championships: Transit rerouted Route 1 Broadway much
as it did for the Pan Am Games to accommodate service to this venue. Some international
riders depended on this service and were quite pleased with our service.
15-10 Review of Route 5 and 6 scheduling issues. – the Transit scheduling
committee will review the issues with scheduling on these two routes. Currently these
routes are affected by detours due to the construction on Wellington St.
15-11 Shelter list: This list has been sent away and changes are expected to take place
prior to end of September.
15-12 Wi Fi on buses: a discussion ensued about putting Wi Fi on the Brock and NOTL
Link buses as well as at the Terminal. Manager to investigate.
15-13 Complaint: a serious complaint alleged very negative matters about Welland
Transit from a woman in a wheelchair from St. Catharines. This matter was thoroughly
investigated and found not to be true. One of the complaints was that wheelchair
restraints were rusty and not usable and the other was that the driver was not helpful at
all. It was found that the wheelchair restraints were not rusty and all were usable and that
the driver did in fact assist the woman.
Next Meeting Date: Nov.11, 2015 5:00 pm
Council Ante Room – Civic Square