201 City Centre Dr., Suite 800 - Mississauga, Ontario - L5B 2T4 - (905) 896 5941 Breaking the Cycle of Automobile Dependency An Analysis of Meadowvale Business Park in the City of Mississauga
Executive Summary The Meadowvale Business Park is home to more than 30,000 employees (and growing) The park has been designed around personal vehicle travel Employment area is disconnected from surrounding residential communities Transit Score = 38 Some Transit Walk Score = 48 Car Dependent Employees in the business park predominantly drive to work each day 77% drive alone 10% carpool Transit users (7% of commuters), are almost exclusively captive riders they have no choice, but to use transit 52% do not have access to a car 25% do not have a drivers license
Executive Summary A lack of Pedestrian, Cycling and Transit infrastructure are significant barriers to sustainable transportation choices in the business park Commuters often cite a lack of transit capacity, service (off-peak and weekend), and basic infrastructure (shelters) as reasons for not using transit More than 50% of employees in the business park live in Mississauga and Brampton 32% live within 10 km of the business park More than 500 employees live within walking distance of the park (inside a 2 km radius) More than 4,000 employees live within cycling distance of the park (inside a 5 km radius) A Commuter Shed analysis indicates that commuter trips into the park largely originate from within Mississauga, West Brampton and to a smaller extent Milton Outside of these areas, commuters are very dispersed
Conclusions & Recommendations The Meadowvale Business Park requires a vision and a long-term Multi-Modal, Strategic Transportation Plan The plan should explore best practices for improving transportation options to the business park and should consider out of the box solutions Public transit is currently NOT appealing to choice riders, irrespective of the level of investment made in transit services to the area The plan needs to address pedestrian and cycling infrastructure needs and priorities in the business park Local infrastructure improvements will have the most significant impact on mode choice The largest cohort of employees in the business park, are residents of Mississauga (34%), followed by Brampton residents (17%) This is a local challenge that requires local solutions
Data Sources Primary Sources Smart Commute surveys On-site observations Secondary Sources City of Mississauga Economic Development Statistics Google Maps Statistics Canada (2011) www.walkscore.com
Analysis Conducted Commuter Shed Analysis Plot of employee home postal codes Origin density analysis and mapping Neighbourhood Connectivity Study Analysis and ratings for pedestrian and cycling connectivity from three residential neighbourhoods to four employment quadrants
City of Mississauga
Meadowvale Business Park C D B A
Parking Free parking is in ample supply at most worksites, however some workplaces are experiencing a shortage of parking. Some employers have applied for on-street parking permits to accommodate excess capacity during peek periods.
Mode Share Commuting Patterns: City of Mississauga and the Meadowvale Business Park Across employment areas in Mississauga, the majority of commuters (74%) drive alone This commute option is more predominant in the Meadowvale Business Park where 77% of commuters primarily drive alone to work each day 10% of commuters carpool to work 7% of commuters in the Meadowvale Business Park commuters use public transit Commute Satisfaction The majority of commuters (82%) are generally satisfied with their daily commute 44% are Very Satisfied 38% are Somewhat Satisfied
90% Primary Commute Mode 80% 74% 77% 70% 60% 50% 40% City of Mississauga Meadowvale Business Park 30% 20% 10% 0% Drive alone (including motorcycle) 10% 10% 9% 7% 3% 3% 0% 0% 1% 0% 1% 1% 1% 1% Carpool Public transit Bicycle Walk Telework Get dropped off Other
Commute Satisfaction 50% 45% 44% 44% 40% 38% 35% 31% 30% 25% City of Mississauga Meadowvale Business Park 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% 13% 12% 11% 6% 1% Very satisfied Somewhat satisfied Neither satisfied or dissatisfied Somewhat dissatisfied Very dissatisfied
Meadowvale Business Park Commuter Shed Analysis 51% of employees live in either Mississauga (34%) or Brampton (17%) An additional 7% live in Milton The remainder of employees are widely dispersed 32% of employees live within a 10km radius of the business park. This suggests that: More than 500 employees can walk to work (inside a 2 km radius) More than 4,000 employees live within a very moderate bike ride to work (inside a 5 km radius) More than 10,000 employees should consider cycling or local transit to work (inside a 10 km radius)
Survey conducted by SustainMobility from 2010-2013 Census Tracts Source: Statistics Canada 2011
Smart Commute Workplaces Commuter Shed - Meadowvale Business Park
Residential Neighbourhood Connectivity Study: Adjacent Residential Areas Map B RES 3 C A RES 1 D RES 2
Residential Neighbourhood Connectivity Study: Connectivity Ratings Scale (Developed through on-site observations) The Walking Connection ratings are: Sidewalks on both sides of every road and all pedestrian crossings are safe. Sidewalks on both sides of all roads. On some roads, there are sidewalks only on one side of the road. Some roads have discontinuous sidewalks. The Cycling Connection ratings are: Continuous off road bike path with safe intersection crossings at each major intersection. Off road bike path with good intersection crossings but is not continuous from residential neighbourhood to business park. Continuous bike lanes from residential area to section of the business park. A lack of cycling infrastructure (includes signed routes where there are no on-street markings or cycling lanes).
Residential Neighbourhood Connectivity Study: Neighbourhood Connectivity Results
Transit Reasons for Using Transit In the Meadowvale Business Park, 7% of commuters predominantly use public transit The main reasons for using transit include: 52% do not have a car available 25% do not have a driver s license This implies that approximately 3/4 of transit users working in the area do not use transit by choice Current Transit Design Only 20.6% of bus stops have shelters Average gap between transit stops is 373 metres Many transit stops are located mid-block and lack safe pedestrian crossings to accommodate transit users
60% Reasons for Using Transit 52% 50% 40% 38% 30% 23% 25% 23% City of Mississauga Meadowvale Business Park 20% 19% 10% 7% 4% 5% 4% 0% Do not have a driver's license Car not available Transit is faster or more convenient than car Transit is cheaper than car Parking at work is too expensive 0% 0% Other
Willingness to Take Transit 50% 45% 43% 40% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 21% 22% 20% 20% City of Mississauga Meadowvale Business Park 15% 10% 5% 11% 10% 8% 6% 0% Definitely Willing Probably Willing Probably Not Willing Definitely Not Willing Already Do
Current Transit Design Address: Meadowvale Blvd. west of Mississauga Road Mid-block stop No pedestrian crossing No shelter Address: 6696 Financial Drive (LoyaltyOne) Mid-block stop No safe pedestrian crossing Incomplete sidewalk No shelter
Current Transit Design Address: Mississauga Road at Dupont Meadow Place GO bus and MiWay stop Mid-block stop No shelter No safe pedestrian crossing Address: Syntex Drive at Derry Road Mid-block stop No Shelter or Pedestrian crossing
Current Transit Design Address: Argentia Road at Century Avenue (north leg) Mid-block stop No pedestrian crossing Address: Argentia Road at Kitimat Road Sheltered stop Convenient pedestrian crossing Excellent sidewalks
Current Transit Design Address: Argentia Road at Mississauga Road Mid-block stop No pedestrian crossing Address: 6880 Financial Drive (RBC Meadowvale) Excellent shelters and sidewalks on near side Mid-block stop No pedestrian crossing No shelter on far side Address: Syntex Drive at Meadowvale Blvd. Pedestrian crossings and sidewalks near sheltered transit stops
Multi-Modal Commuting: Meadowvale GO Station Address: Meadowvale GO Station, north side of train line Sheltered bicycle parking Address: Meadowvale GO Station, north side of train line Walking pathway connects Argentia Road to GO Train station Pathway intersects Argentia Road mid-block and there is no safe pedestrian crossing
Recommendations: Enhancing Transit Enhanced amenities Shelters, sidewalks and pedestrian crossings in strategic locations to improve the transit experience and to improve access to transit stops Re-locate transit stops adjacent to pedestrian crossings Introduce mid-block crossings
Recommendations: Enhancing Transit Explore new ways to deliver transit Adjust transit frequency and hours of operation to match business demand and operating hours Consider Business Express services Improve pedestrian and cycling access to transit stops Focus transit on high density origin locations Pursue changes to the Ontario Public Vehicles Act to allow Third-Party Vanpooling Consider new transit services Circulating Shuttles (Private and/or Public) On-Demand Transit or Taxi Bus services
Enhancing Transit Recommendations: Develop / Support programs and employer incentives that encourage employer based solutions: Employer based incentive programs to attract choice riders Employer sponsored transit routes Employer sponsored shuttle services Employer sponsored vanpooling
Improving Transit Amenities Brampton Transit s bus stations for their Züm BRT service have heated shelter areas as well as real-time next stop information displayed digitally.
Circulating Shuttle Service A potential local solution for the Meadowvale Business Park is to operate a corporate shuttle within the business park. With sponsorships from participating employers, the service would be free to employees. Smart Commute North Toronto Vaughan has been operating a corporate shuttle in the Don Mills area since February 2012 and the service has been a great success. Running on a timed schedule, the shuttle transports commuters to and from the local subway station and local businesses during peak periods. Smart Commute North Toronto - Vaughan
On-demand Transit Since 1993, a public-private partnership known as Taxibus has been operating in Rimouski, Quebec. The operation has been very successful using private taxis which can bring passengers between any two designated stop points within the city. The city created a non-profit corporation which administers the service while local taxi drivers formed a cooperative to dispatch and drive the taxis. By 2004, 81,200 passenger trips were recorded with 2.9 passengers riding in each taxi at an average fare of $2.64 a price that is more comparable to a public transit fare than a normal taxi fare. Source: Transport Canada, 2010 (http://www.tc.gc.ca/media/documents/programs/cs06e_taxibus.pdf)
Employer Sponsored Vanpool Vanpooling is a commuting mode where a vehicle owned or leased by an employer is used to take a group of employees to and from the workplace. Riders share the cost of the lease and maintenance of the vehicle while taking turns driving. Smart Commute North Toronto Vaughan recently launched a vanpool service at PowerStream which is located in Vaughan. Six vans are in operation as part of the service and in the process, 44 single occupant vehicles have been removed from the road.
Third Party Vanpool Service (Currently Prohibited in Ontario) As an alternative to an employer sponsored vanpool, it is possible for a third party organization to operate a vanpool service for employees in participating organizations. The Jack Bell Foundation provides the Jack Bell Ride-Share program in British Columbia with funding from TransLink and BC Transit. It is Canada s only large-scale public vanpooling service. Commuters pay a monthly fee to be able to ride and drive in one of the vanpools. It has been extremely successful in Metro Vancouver with almost 100 vehicles currently operating in their fleet.
Interest in Cycling and/or Walking 8% of commuters (2,680 commuters) are interested in walking to work 1.6% live within a 2 km radius of the business park 15% of commuters (5,040 commuters) are interested in cycling to work 13% live within a 5 km radius of the business park Pedestrian/Cycling Design Active Modes Walk Score = 48 rating is Car Dependent Adjacent residential communities are poorly connected to employment areas Cycling and walking infrastructure is poor
80% 70% Willingness to Cycle to Work 69% 75% 60% 50% 40% City of Mississauga Meadowvale Business Park 30% 20% 10% 6% 5% 12% 11% 10% 9% 0% Definitely Willing Probably Willing Probably Not Willing Definitely Not Willing Already Do 1% 0%
Willingness to Walk to Work 90% 85% 84% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% City of Mississauga Meadowvale Business Park 30% 20% 10% 0% 6% 7% 5% 5% 2% 3% 2% 1% Definitely Willing Probably Willing Probably Not Willing Definitely Not Willing Already Do
Cycling Address: Meadowvale Blvd. west of Syntex Drive Dedicated cycling lane - westbound Address: Meadowvale Blvd. west of Rapistan Court Dedicated cycling lane continuing westbound
Cycling Address: Creditview Road near Financial Drive Sign directs cyclist to cycling route on Financial drive Address: 6696 Financial Drive (Loyalty One) The cycling route on Financial Drive No on-street markings Dangerous cycling route
Cycling Address: Creditview Road south of Financial Drive Posted cycling route with no supporting infrastructure
Driver, Cyclist and Pedestrian Confusion Address: Syntax Court at Langer Drive Marked cycling route with no supporting infrastructure Caution sign to warn vehicles about pedestrians Pictured right pedestrian crossing the street
Pedestrian Case Study #1 Address: Derry Road walking underneath the 401 There is an unprotected sidewalk on one side of the road and discontinuous sidewalk on the other side of the road.
Pedestrian Case Study #1 Case Study: Bridge connecting residential section with business park under Derry road only has a pedestrian pathway on one side.
Pedestrian Case Study #1 This sidewalk begins on one side of the 401 and ends on the other side of the 401. The result is that a pedestrian would not feel safe using it.
Pedestrian Case Study #2 Address: Syntex Court crossing underneath Mississauga Road There is a fantastic pedestrian underpass on Syntex Court which connects pedestrians from either side of Mississauga Road. However, on the east side of the underpass, the first major pedestrian crossing at Syntex Court and Royal Bank Drive has a terribly unsafe pedestrian crossing. Use of the Syntex Court underpass is limited as a result.
Pedestrian Case Study #2 This picture illustrates that there are continuous sidewalks on either side of Syntex Court; on the south side of the road (right side of the picture), the sidewalk is elevated and protected.
Pedestrian Case Study #2 Address: Syntax Court at Royal Bank Drive If you continue walking east from the underpass shown in the previous slide, you reach this intersection. No marked pedestrian crosswalks. This is a very busy and unsafe place for pedestrians to cross.
Un-finished Pedestrian Pathways Address (both pictures): Creditview Road east of Financial Drive Both pictures illustrate dead end sidewalks which are on either side of a rail line
Improving Infrastructure for Active Modes Recommendations: Implement Pedestrian First design. Good pedestrian design accommodates users from 8 to 80 years old Complete sidewalk network Safe, signalled crossings for pedestrians Focus on connecting adjacent residential neighbourhoods to employment areas Implement Higher Order cycling infrastructure Introduce a network of bike lanes, separated from car traffic Introduce enhanced crossings and navigation for cyclists Provide bike lockers at transit stations
Improving Infrastructure for Active Modes Recommendations: Pilot programs and employer incentives that encourage employer based solutions: Employer bike fleets Secure bike parking and change facilities for cyclists
Make More Intersections Pedestrian Friendly Continuity is necessary. Along any given travel route, if six intersections are safe but one is unsafe, someone can easily be dissuaded from walking. "Copyright Queen's Printer for Ontario, image source: Ontario Growth Secretariat, Ministry of Infrastructure"
Separated Cycling Lanes The City of Toronto defines Cycle Tracks as separated cycling lanes situated next to a roadway but separated from vehicle traffic. They recently launched their first on Sherbourne Street (visible in the below photo) between Bloor Street and King Street in the city. The purpose of these lanes is to increase the safety of cycling on a city road. In doing so, cycling becomes a more attractive option to travelers who may feel unsafe travelling on a normal city street.
Bike Boxes Madison, Wisconsin has installed Bike Boxes at various intersections throughout the city. Their purpose is to reduce bicycle and vehicle collisions by giving drivers greater visibility of cyclists. They also allow cyclists to get into proper lane position to make appropriate turns. The Bike Boxes are a great tool to make cycling a more attractive commute mode. Pictured left is the intersection of Harbord St. and St. George St. which was the first to have bike boxes in the City of Toronto. The infrastructure was installed in October 2010. http://spacing.ca/toronto/2010/10/19/dri vers-should-love-toronto-bike-box-too/
Bike Stations at Transit Terminals The City of Toronto has bicycle stations at two transit terminals (Victoria Park & Union Station) which are secure indoor parking facilities for bikes. Cyclists pay a fee in order to have access to the bike parking stations. At the Union Bicycle Station (pictured below), amenities offered include a change room, a vending machine offering snacks, inner tubes and bike lights, tools and pumps for repair, and staff during business hours to offer assistance.
Bicycle Lockers The City of Toronto also offers a more widespread Bicycle Locker Program. There are currently 19 locations within the city that have bike lockers; these locations consist primarily of transit stations and range from 4 to 40 lockers per location. They provide secure bicycle parking that protects bikes and bike gear from theft, vandalism and weather conditions. Each user receives one key that is unique to their locker, further increasing security.
Employer Bike Fleet SustainMobility is launching a bike fleet in Mississauga s City Centre in the summer of 2013. Participating employers purchase bicycles to be used at their workplace location. The bikes will be free of charge for employees at these workplaces and will aid in local transportation in and around the City Centre.
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