That the following recommendations from the Planning and Works Committee be approved:
1. That the Regional Municipality of Waterloo take the following actions with respect to the proposed Grand River Transit (GRT) Hub at Conestoga College Doon Campus in the City of Kitchener as outlined in report EES-DCS-24-001, dated January 16, 2024:
- Approve the Recommended Design Concept for the Conestoga College Transit Hub as set out in Appendix A; and
- Increase the Consulting Services Agreement with Arcadis Professional Services (Canada) Inc. to provide engineering consulting for detailed design, contract administration, and site inspection services for the proposed Conestoga College Transit Hub in the City of Kitchener by $357,000 for a revised upset limit total of $590,100 plus applicable taxes, with construction contract administration and inspection to be paid on a time basis.
2. That the Regional Municipality of Waterloo:
-
- Enter into an agreement with Conestoga Students Incorporated and Conestoga College to implement a universal transit pass (U-Pass) program for an initial term ending August 31, 2027 with a mutual option to renew, in a form satisfactory to the Regional Solicitor, as described in Report TSD-TRS-24-002, dated January 16, 2024;
- Amend and extend the existing U-Pass agreements with the Wilfrid Laurier University Students Union (WLUSU) and Wilfrid Laurier University, the Wilfrid Laurier University Graduate Students Association (WLU GSA) and Wilfrid Laurier University, the Waterloo Undergraduate Students Association (WUSA), the University of Waterloo Graduate Students Association (UW GSA), and the English Language Institute at Renison University College (Renison ELI), for a term ending August 31, 2027 with a mutual option to renew, in a form satisfactory to the Regional Solicitor, as described in Report TSD-TRS-24-002, dated January 16, 2024; and
- Approve an interim U-Pass Fee Schedule and associated annual price increases for the 2025/2026 Academic Year and 2026/2027 Academic Year for all U-Pass programs, as described in Report TSD-TRS-24-002, dated January 16, 2024.
3. Whereas 6% of the current transit operating budget is allocated to Mobility Plus; and
Whereas the current rate of undelivered trips on Mobility Plus is 5%, and has been as high as 15% historically;
Therefore be it resolved that the target rate for undelivered trips will be 2.5% for 2024; and
That staff continue to report quarterly on the rate of undelivered trips (previously called “unaccommodated trips”).
4. Whereas Mobility Plus’ total capacity is determined by resources (buses and operators), and the ability to optimize and group trips across the region; and
Whereas staff are exploring an upgrade to the Mobility Plus booking and scheduling software;
Therefore be it resolved that staff report back in-year, with the necessary operating and capital investments to accelerate the implementation of the Mobility Plus scheduling software upgrade and improve the optimization and grouping of trips.