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HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-11-039 - Options for Implementing Cycling TDM and Traffic Calming1 Staff Re ort p Krr~.~-~~,i~iER ~nfrastru~ture Servrces Department www.kitthenerta REPORT T0: Community & Infrastructure Services Committee DATE OF MEETING: May 30, 2011 SUBMITTED BY: John McBride, Director Transportation Planning, 741-2374 PREPARED BY: John McBride, Director Transportation Planning, 741-2374 WARD(S) INVOLVED: All Wards DATE OF REPORT: May 20, 2011 REPORT NO.: INS-11-039 SUBJECT: OPTIONS FOR IMPLEMENTING CYCLING,TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT AND TRAFFIC CALMING RECOMMENDATION: That Council provide direction as to their priorities for the implementation of CyclinglTDM Initiatives and Traffic Calming. BACKGROUND: On Sept 7, 2010, Council approved report DTS-10-144 Cycling Master Plan which identified not only an on road and off road cycling network, but also a series of policies and programs to allow the City to develop a cycling network that will provide a viable alternative to the single occupant vehicle. Funding for the implementation was referred to the 2011 budget. On January 24, 2011, Council approved report INS-11-005 the Parking Enterprise Business Case which established a business unit to manage and operate the City's parking portfolio. It defined a number of business practices that would be followed including the recommendation of an annual dividend, the hiring of a Parking Manager, a Transportation Demand Management Coordinator and a Transportation Planning Project Manager all to be funded from the Parking Enterprise. In addition, the Cycling Master Plan implementation and the Transportation Demand Management initiatives were both to be funded annually from the Parking Enterprise in the amount of $200,000 each. Funding for the Parking Enterprise and the associated staff positions to implement these programs Parking Manager, TDM Coordinator and Transportation Planning Project Manager) were all referred to the 2011 budget. On Feb 14, 2011, Council approved report I NS-11-016 Transportation Demand Management Plan which identified a series of initiatives and programs that will encourage people to choose what, when, and how they travel in an effort to reduce single occupant vehicle use. Funding for the implementation of the TDM Plan as well as the TDM Coordinator position was referred to the 2011 budget. During the 2011 Budget Review, Council chose to use the funding that had been allocated for the Cycling Master Plan implementation, the TDM initiatives and the corresponding staff positions and reduce the levy impact. Without these funds and the resources necessary to 14b - 1 1 Staff Re ort p Krr~.~-~~,i~iER ~nfrastru~ture Servrces Department www.kitthenerta develop and implement the plans, we are unable to proceed at this time with any of these programs. In addition, Council did approve an additional $100,000 to implement two or more traffic calming reviews. At the time, Council was informed that this was not possible given our current workload and that a report would be brought back with options to increase the number of traffic calming reviews that are undertaken annually. The purpose of this report is to put forward options for Council to consider to allow Cycling/TDM initiatives or increased traffic calming to proceed this year. REPORT: A number of major new initiatives have recently been approved by Council (Cycling Master Plan, Transportation Demand Management Plan and Parking Enterprise Model) but the necessary staff resources and funding to develop and implement these programs were removed during the 2011 budget review. As part of the approved Parking Enterprise Model, $50,000 remains for staffing that was intended to fund a Parking Manger position. These funds could be reallocated towards Cycling/TDM or traffic calming if Council so chooses. Existing staff resources are working beyond our capacity and have no flexibility to assume any additional duties unless some core services are eliminated. This puts the City at risk in that there is little ability to provide backup in the event of an unscheduled absence or departure. In total there are 7 full time staff in Transportation Planning and 6 full time staff in the Parking Enterprise. Regular overtime is incurred, especially in the Transportation Planning side of the operation, just to try and meet the demands and expectations of other City and outside agencies that require our input on various projects. In order to quantify the workload limitations of existing staff, the City's Internal Auditor reviewed the current and future workload and associated resource requirements in the Transportation Planning Division. Her report, FCS-11-111, is being tabled separately, but in summary, there is a risk to the achievement of the city's strategic priorities in the areas of TDM, the Cycling Master Plan, community safety, and fiscal responsibility (as it relates to the parking enterprise) should Council not support additional staff in this division. The proposed positions are supported by strong evidence of a growth in workload and additional initiatives. Additional Resources Required to Implement New Initiatives As outlined above, there is no ability to perform additional work with existing staff resources without eliminating core services. As part of the Cycling Master Plan, Transportation Demand Management Plan and Parking Enterprise Model, three new positions were recommended and were to be funded from the Parking Enterprise. 14b-2 1 Staff Re ort p Krr~.~-~~,i~iER ~nfrastru~ture Servrces Department www.kitthenerta These positions were identified as: • Manager of Parking • Transportation Demand Management Coordinator • Transportation Planning Project Manager It was intended that the Manager of Parking and Transportation Demand Management Coordinator positions be fully funded from the Parking Enterprise. The Transportation Planning Project Manager will be equally funded from the Parking Enterprise, the Development Charge fund and street lighting capital projects accounts. These positions were included as part of the Parking Enterprise Business Case as well as reflected in the 2011 budget. Obviously there aren't sufficient resources to accomplish all that is being asked of staff. Given that there will only be a partial year to implement any of these programs, and the corresponding annual expenses will be reduced, there are a number of options for Council's consideration and direction. The first issue is to determine which of the programs requested by Council has the highest priority given the limited resources, Cycling and TDM or traffic calming. Cycling and TDM initiatives have been identified by the community as important components of a broader transportation system. They provide greater opportunity and choice for residents who either do not have access to a car or choose not to use one. They promote both a healthier lifestyle as well as environmental benefits. TDM initiatives were clearly identified as part of Kitcheners Strategic Plan. The need for additional traffic calming reviews has been well documented. There are currently 35 outstanding reviews to be completed while only two per year can be addressed with existing staff resources. Requests for traffic calming reviews impact all areas of the City and will be one of the constant issues brought to the attention of Council. During budget deliberations, an additional $100,000 was added to the traffic calming budget to allow for two additional reviews to be complete each year. These funds were identified for the implementation of traffic calming measures, not the actual studies. Typically, when working with a neighbourhood, the studies are completed in the first year with the measures installed the second year. Given the current community pressures to move forward with TDM, Cycling Master Plan and Traffic Calming Initiatives, Staff recognizes that consideration of resources to support existing core services, may need to be temporarily deferred for 2011. However, as confirmed by the audit process, the Manager of Parking position, while critical to the long term management and viability of the Parking Enterprise, must be addressed for 2012, through the 2012 budget process. 14b-3 1 KITCx~i~~R Staff Report ~nfrastrurture Services Department ~w.k~~~~~r~erca Options for Consideration The $50,000 that was identified for the Parking Manager position is the only funding identified for staff resources and would represent approximately 6 months salary. It will allow for the commencement of either the CyclinglTDM initiatives or additional traffic calming. However, it must be realized that a commitment to either of these programs will result in continued future costs as they are annualized and implementation begins. Option A ATDM Coordinator could be hired as of July 1 to start the planning, programming and policy development for both the Cycling Master Plan and TDM initiatives. No funds would be available for implementation until 2012. This approach would commit Council to funding the TDM Coordinator position in future years as well as the implementation cost of the Cycling and TDM initiatives which would amount to an additional $300,000 annually. Option B A Transportation Planning Project Manager could be hired as of July 1 to start the public consultation process for two additional traffic calming reviews per year. It would also allow flexibility to participate in major transportation studies that will help to offload other existing staff. This option will commit Council to funding the Project Manager position in future years. The $100,000 would be applied to the implementation of the chosen traffic calming devices in 2012 and would require the continued additional funding of $100,000 annually. Option C This option is a combination of the two previous options and would allow for the commencement of both the Cycling/TDM initiatives as well as additional traffic calming in 2011. It would require the use of a portion of the funds identified for traffic calming implementation to be used to fund the necessary staff resources to complete the studies. This option would commit Council to two additional positions in future years as well as the annual implementation costs. Since these programs would only start midway through 2011, the costs for the remainder of this year have been estimated as follows. 2011 Costs Option A Option B Option C TDM Coordinator 50,000 50,000 TDM Initiatives Cycling Initiatives TP Project Mgr 50,000 50,000 Traffic Calming Initiatives Tota I 50, 000 50, 000 100, 000 14b-4 1 KITCx~i~~R Staff Report ~nfrastrurture Services Department ~w.k~~~~~r~erca In subsequent years, annualized funding for staff positions will be required as well as implementation costs for the various initiatives. These figures have been based on the Council approved Cycling and TDM Master Plans. Annual Fundin Option A Option B Option C TDM Coordinator 100,000 100,000 TDM Initiatives 100,000 100,000 Cycling Initiatives 200, 000 200, 000 TP Project Mgr 100,000 100,000 Traffic Calming Initiatives 100,000 100,000 Tota I 400, 000 200, 000 600, 000 The salaries assumed for these positions are a place holder. There is a very specific job evaluation process that will determine the appropriate salary grade given the responsibility and accountability that will be assigned to these positions. That job evaluation process has yet to be completed. The salaries listed are expected to approximately represent both salary and fringe benefits. Options for Staff Resources There are few options available to provide the necessary resources to move these various programs forward, depending on Council's priorities. Both of these programs are major initiatives that will help to shape the community and are considered permanent. The staffing to develop and implement these programs should also be permanent but for Council's information, other options have been considered as outlined in the following table. Full time Contract Consultant Overtime Co-op TDM X Coordinator T P Pro'ect M r X X X X Full Time Position Full time positions give the greatest return on investment. The workloads for both positions are justified and will only grow in the future. None of these positions could be defined as temporary. The expected candidates for full time positions will be far greater than other options and will result in a better selection. Full time positions create the continuity from project to project and result in a far more consistent and measureable outcome. Contract Position The Transportation Planning Project Manager could technically be filled with a contract position, but this position is permanent and should correctly be full time. Contract positions tend to be for 14b-5 1 Staff Re ort p Krr~.~-~~,i~iER ~nfrastru~ture Servrces Department www.kitthenerta a defined period possibly up to three years but this position is a permanent initiative. It may be more difficult to attract a contract employee if the position was defined in 2 or 3 year terms. Consultant The services of a consultant would be limited and very expensive. They could perform very specific projects such as traffic calming reviews. The cost would be double what a full time employee would cost based on experience with past traffic calming reviews. Overtime Offering overtime to existing employees might generate some interest but not over the long term. It would take all seven full time staff working an additional five hours per week to offset the Transportation Planning Project Manager hours, which is not realistic, sustainable or financially prudent. Staff are already working in excess of the defined work week and there may only be limited ability and interest to work even more hours. All overtime would be paid at a rate of 1.5 times the base salary. Co-op Students The experience and expertise required to perform the duties associated with these positions would not typically be found in co-op students. They would be developed based on completion of a diploma or degree program and years of progressively responsible positions in related fields. Co-op programs are typically 4 months in length and the continuity of program delivery could not be maintained. ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN: The implementation of the Cycling Master Plan, the TDM Plan and Traffic Calming address a number of strategic goals including; ^ Identify community priorities and develop a strategic financial plan that aligns city spending with those priorities; ^ To show leadership in the development of an environmentally sustainable community To develop a Transportation Demand Management Strategy. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: There is currently $50,000 available for staffing with an additional $100,000 allocated for traffic calming. There are no other funds available in 2011. Depending on Council's priorities, one or more programs could commence in 2011, however, Council will also need to commit to fully funding their priorities in 2012 and beyond. CONCLUSION: There are sufficient funds available to start one or more of the programs previously approved by Council, the Cycling Master Plan/TDM Plan and/or the expanded traffic calming program. 14b-6 1 Staff Re ort p Krr~.~-~~,i~iER ~nfrastru~ture Servrces Department www.kitthenerta Unless, or until, more funds are made available there is no ability to incorporate these programs into existing duties. If Council is prepared to redirect the funding intended for an expanded traffic calming program for staff resources to implement the Cycling Master Plan/TDM Plan and expanded traffic calming program, and that actual implementation will commence in 2012, then this can be accomplished with the existing funds. ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Pauline Houston, Deputy CAO Infrastructure Services Department 14b-7