HomeMy WebLinkAboutGRACC - 2023-02-23 Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee
Date: Thursday, February 23, 2023
Location: Zoom Meeting
Present: Paula Saunders, Carrie Speers, Teresa McQuillin (Co-Chair), Amy Ross (City of Waterloo), Janis
McKenzie (City of Kitchener), Jennifer Walker (Region of Waterloo), Jolene MacDonald, Candice Greenley
(Township of Wilmot), Trevor Tamlin, Lolita Paroski (City of Kitchener), Alex Smyth (Township of Woolwich),
Robyn Jackson, Ashley Sage (Township of North Dumfries), Alyssa Clelland, Tamara Cooper, Sarah
Cunneyworth, Christine Nishiwaki, Farshid Sadatsharifi, Katherine Waybrant, Sarah Feeney-Martin, Councillor
Sandra Hanmer (City of Waterloo), Heather Clark-Harris
Regrets: Councillor Chantal Huinink (Region of Waterloo), Councillor Kayla Grant (Township of Woolwich),
Heather Gillespie, Councillor Jason Deneault (City of Kitchener), Amy Harron (Township of Wellesley)
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Approval of January Minutes and February Agenda
Jolene motioned to accept January agenda; Carrie seconded; All in favour.
Heather motioned to accept February agenda; Kathy seconded; All in favour.
Heather motioned to accept December minutes; Trevor seconded; All in favour.
Paula motioned to accept January minutes; Carrie seconded; All in favour.
3. Declarations of Pecuniary Interests
None
4. City of Kitchener, Vision Zero
Overview
• Kitchener City Council adopted Vision Zero in 2021.
• The objective of the Vizion Zero Strategy is to achieve zero serious injuries and zero fatalities on
Kitchener streets.
• As part of the Vision Zero plan the city committed to a review of its accessibility design guidelines for
Kitchener streets, focusing on items that could help reduce fatalities and serious injuries.
• The objective of this review is to develop a summary of best practices for accessibility requirements.
This document will be used as a guide in future street projects to help ensure that accessibility
requirements are implemented.
Accessibility Review Scope
• This study will look at current practices and design guidelines in the City of Kitchener to ensure
alignment with best practices
• The focus will be on items which reduce fatalities and serious injuries within the public right of way on
Kitchener streets
• Items under the jurisdiction of the Region of Waterloo, other municipalities and townships, and Grand
River Transit are outside the scope of this study.
• Items relating to maintenance and snow removal are outside the scope of this study
Complete Streets Guidelines and the Accessibility Handbook
• The Complete Streets Guidelines were developed with input from GRAAC and other advisory
committees and stakeholders
• The best practices from the Complete Streets Guidelines, as they relate to accessibility, will be included
in the Accessibility Handbook
• The Accessibility Handbook, which is a part of the Vision Zero project, allows an opportunity to review
these guidelines and ensure they reflect current best practices. The Accessibility Handbook will
supplement the Complete Streets Guidelines when designing and constructing new streets
Next Steps
• Continuously review best practices
• Review and accommodate GRAAC's feedback
• Annual Vision Zero Update Report will be presented to Council on April 24, 2023
Comments/Feedback
o Both raised crossings and non-raised crossings with a pedestrian island (with the TWSI's) have
safety issues and may create more of a hazard for persons in a wheelchair and people with visual
impairments, including those who maybe inside of a vehicle passing over the raised crossings a
speed that is too fast
o Site visit testing/audits by persons with disabilities of any new initiatives are always the best way to
show how and who might be impacted. Committee members are happy to be part of any site
visits/audits moving forward. Aaron was receptive to the idea
o Aaron says that he has Complete Streets that have locations to visit. Aaron will speak to his team
and contact Paula, GRAAC Built Environment sub-committee
o Bag Buttons are not in an accessible spot for pedestrians at traffic lights—feedback to be taken
back to the Region of Waterloo
o Like that the TWSI's will no longer wrap around an intersection but rather be placed in a way to
direct a person to cross the street straight across
o Confirmed that renovations take place when road is being reconstructed
o For more information and to leave additional feedback:
Vision Zero - City of Kitchener
https://www.kitchener.ca/en/resourcesGeneral/Documents/DSD TRANS Vision Zero Strategy.pdf
5. Elections, Ashley Sage
Position = GRAAC Co-chairs
Heather nominates Teresa - accepted
Heather nominates Paula - not accepted
Teresa nominates Heather - accepted
Position = Chair of Built Environment
Carrie nominates Paula - accepted
No further nominations.
Elections closed and results announced after break.
6. BREAK
7. Election Results —Ashley Sage
By acclamation Co-Chairs —Teresa McQuillin, Heather Clark-Harris
And by acclamation Paula Saunders - Chair of Built Environment
8. Region of Waterloo, GRT Status Update
GRT provides three public transit services:
• Conventional bus service
• ION light rail service
• MobilityPLUS specialized service
Grand River Transit (GRT) is committed to:
• The continuous development of accessible public transit services.
• Working to ensure its facilities are barrier free.
• Providing barrier free employment and employment opportunities; and
• Establishing communication services that respect the abilities of all customers, employees, and the
community
Ridership and Routes
• Ridership was 9.7 million in 2021; down 15% from 2020 (11.4 million) due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• In 2022, ridership is anticipated to be 17 million, with COVID-19 restrictions subsiding.
— More than 50 conventional service routes, all of which are utilizing low floor buses,43 local, 7
express, 5 busPLUS
— 1 ION light rail route, 1 ION bus route
Ion Light Rail
• ION LRT provides barrier-free, level boarding and alighting at 19 stations
• Platforms feature yellow and black tactile edges and information and audio speakers
• On board, the trains:
— announce and display station and service information
— provide priority seating and space for customers using mobility aids
— have buttons that allow customers to request extra time to exit
• Connect to ION bus (Route 302) at Fairway Station
• Stage 2 ION will convert ION bus to light rail, creating a seamless LRT route between Cambridge and
Waterloo
Accessible Bus Stops and Fleet
• GRT's entire fleet (conventional and MobilityPLUS) is low-floor accessible
• Since 2013, all GRT routes have been designated accessible
• 2,500 active stops by the end of 2021
• Annual upgrades are done to meet accessibility standards.
• More than 72% of stops are considered accessible without gravel or grass/turf landing pads.
— Approximately 13% have additional accessibility issues, such as lack of sidewalk connection,
obstructions, and steep grades.
• GRT is in the process of developing an enhanced accessibility standard that will determine the criteria
for enhanced accessibility at each stop that would accommodate a wider array of disabilities.
• Continuing forward, bus stops will be upgraded to accessibility standards as the Region's sidewalk
network is expanded
Technology
• Automatic Vehicle Location and Communication (AVLC) System upgrade complete.
— Real-time information is available through the EasyGO next bus texting, online trip planning and
mobile app., and digital LED next bus displays.
— In-vehicle visual display and audio announcement of next stop location
— On-street information signs with real-time information
— Exterior route and destination announcements
Dialysis Changes
• As part of our 2021 MobilityPLUS service review, we recently shared proposed changes to our
MobilityPLUS service and asked for community input regarding the following change:
• Customers in need of regular dialysis appointments apply to the MobilityPLUS service and if
approved, have trips booked through the same process as all other MobilityPLUS customers (a
first-come, first-served basis, regardless of the purpose of trip).
• The recommendations align CRT's MobilityPLUS service with the Accessibility for Ontarians with
Disabilities Act (AODA) and will help ensure equitable access to MobilityPLUS services.
• MobilityPLUS is a public transit service and is not an emergency/ non-emergency transportation
provider
• These changes were implemented in May 2022.
Customer Service
• Feedback is a key input service delivery and annual service plans, including those elements dealing
specifically with accessibility.
• Service First Call Centre (SFCC), who generate reports to the specific areas of GRT Services.
• Annual reports are reviewed to determine trends and whether new programs and services have had
an impact on customer contacts.
• As of March 2021, customer feedback submissions online have been enhanced to improve
response times, incident tracking and identify trends
• GRT has successfully launched the ability for MobilityPLUS riders to receive ride notifications
advising them up upcoming trips and imminent bus arrivals. Online booking for rides also launched
at the same time.
• As of August 2021, GRT has launched real-time service alerts for emergency detours, trip
cancellations and ION light rail disruptions via a dedicated Twitter account (@alertsGRT) as well as
the service alerts page on the GRT website.
Upcoming in 2023
• 2022 GRT-UW study assessed ION Station accessibility for people living with visual impairments
— Identified opportunities for enhanced station accessibility features and design considerations for
future projects like ION Stage 2
• GRT has submitted a funding application to Canada's Enabling Accessibility Fund for a pilot program
— If successful, GRT will install enhanced station accessibility features at Fairway Station (e.g.,
tactile path, tactile signage, high-contrast applied to station features like fare machines)
— Goals:
➢ Determine if enhanced features help meet the needs of the accessibility community (in
collaboration with GRAAC)
➢ Assess the durability of enhanced station features
Comments/Feedback
• Percentage of stops to be fully accessible hopefully 100%, but is not currently, is there somewhere to
find out which stops are not accessible? There is not currently, however an enhanced trip planner on
the project list.
• Budget implications to improve accessibility at the stops and tied to road reconstruction, but there is a
plan to get 100% accessible
• Renewals seem to be an arduous task, could the process be permanent if the disability is permanent?
Simplified renewal process within the two-month window of expiration, however, must be started over if
expired completely.
• Is there a reminder that the expiration is about to happen? It is included in the welcome package and
would need to be noted by the individual. Listed on the photo ID card, as well as, via phone call.
• Concrete Accessible stops are not cleared of snow, what is the approach to clearing the snow?
Contractors are required to clear all bus stops within 72 hours of snow ending. Coordination is key with
all the snow removal between roads, sidewalks, and bus stops and can sometimes be challenging
during long snow events.
• Don't use the words fully accessible and focus on using accessible, nothing can be fully accessible
• What happens with a detour? If known in advance, we can communicate to customers, however, if it is
short notice, ask the operator, service alert and social media pages. Is there a way to get the
information if you don't have a cell phone or computer? There is not, longer detours will be
supplemented by on street postings
• Staff support for in-depth application process? Well versed and will stick with individual until no longer
needed.
• Is a working group a possibility? Teresa to connect with the Region of Waterloo staff representative
9. Built Environment Sub-Committee Updates
City of Kitchener
• Westchester Park Basketball court
o Neighbourhood applied for a Love my Hood matching grant to install a basketball court
o At the existing sidewalk, design shows an asphalt path leading to an asphalt basketball court
o Looks good
• Kiwanis Water Wheelchair
o Outdoor pool looking to purchase a water wheelchair to help people with disabilities to get in
and out of the pool
o Example shown holds up to 286 lbs.
o Seatbelt and chest strap should be included
o Any other feedback contact Lolita via email
• Benches
o Armrests at either end is good
o Suggested a third armrest in the middle to accommodate various disabilities
o Wooden ones get damaged quickly— metal would be better and allows water to run off
o Is metal hot in the summer?
o Metal benches are scary to get fingers stuck, when using and need to pull self-up
• Picnic tables
o Design incorporates a space for a wheelchair to sit in the middle versus just at the end,
however, would like to have the opportunity to have both for flexibility. Middle and ends.
o Wooden not ideal, for the same reasons as benches, easily damaged
o On the wooden table photo, love the legs pushed in so people can pull in on the ends.
o On the blue table photo, it looks like there is less room underneath in the middle. Does this
sacrifice space for wheelchairs with footrests for people sitting in the middle cut-out section?
o Is it possible to do a flip seat option at the cut out, so dual purpose?
o Will a standard wheelchair fit in the middle cut out section and have room for leg rests under?
• Future Kitchener Facility Accessibility Audits
o KOF, Auditorium, and 24 Gaukel —once dates are set, Paula will send to committee members
City of Waterloo
• Ball Diamonds
o #3 and #4 ball diamonds are not accessible from the parking lot. Going to be revisited in the
future, no options to fix at this point, does not look good.
• Universal washrooms
o Plans to put one in Albert McCormick Arena and Waterloo City Hall
o Outdoor public washroom
An outdoor public washroom at King and William. Adult change tables should be included in a
universal washroom. Concrete bench will not work for everyone, exploring the possibility of a
folding adult change table, considering upgrading to metal. Mobile accessible washrooms
available which includes everything and can move. Company has been chosen to build this
public washroom. Please email Amy Ross with any recommendations.
10. Committee Updates
No updates
11. Councillor Reports
Councillor Sandra Hanmer (City of Waterloo)
• Tabled until next meeting
12. Co-chair/Staff Reports
Teresa McQuillin (Co-Chair)
• Tabled until next meeting
Amy Ross (City of Waterloo)
• Tabled until next meeting
Jennifer Walker (Region of Waterloo)
• Tabled until next meeting
Candice Greenly (Township of Wilmot)
• Tabled until next meeting
Lolita Paroski (City of Kitchener)
• Tabled until next meeting
Alex Smyth (Township of Woolwich)
• Tabled until next meeting
Ashley Sage (Township of North Dumfries)
• Tabled until next meeting
Please send regrets to Janis McKenzie — ianis.mckenzie(u-)kitchener.ca
Next Regular Meeting —Thursday March 23, 2023, at 1:30pm, ZOOM