Fredericton public transit survey gets unexpected response

The City of Fredericton says its survey on public public transit has drawn an overwhelming response.

Almost 1,200 of the online surveys have been completed, 40 per cent of themby non-riders, said a spokesperson for the firm running the project.

"People are very interested in voicing their opinions," said SashaPejcic, managing associate withStantec, who described it as one of the most "robust uptakes" he has ever seen in a survey of its kind.

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The city recently hiredthe engineering firm to prepare a strategic plan for Fredericton Transit. The work includes the survey, which asks people about their experience using city buses, the cost, whether they'd take advantage of specific improvements and what would make them use public transit more often.

The project is reviewing all transit routes in the city, which carry800,000 passengers a year, and studying ways to boost ridership.

"It's always nice to see those large numbers,"Coun. Henri Mallet, who alsochairsthe city's transportation committee, said of the survey response.

"People want to be engaged and I don't think we can be surprised anymore, but it's nice to see that people want to be heard and want to be part of the discussion."

The survey, available on the city's website, can be filled out until Feb. 9.

An "idea bus," where people areencouraged to tell their stories and shareideas onhow to make improvements to the transit system, was set up earlier this week.

The people have spoken

The most common piece of feedbackdeals with Sunday service, andPejcicsaid the topic needs discussing.

"There's a lot of people that need to get out," he said. "Life doesn't end on Saturday night."

But Sunday service comes at a price about $500,000 a year.

If you want me to give up my car, I need 100 per cent availability, I need to be able to live life.-SashaPejcic, managing associate withStantec

"We'll wait until the report comes in [and] we'll see what the consultant recommends," said Mallet.

"Then we'll need to have really good discussions around the council table, looking at what we can do, what we can't do and what we can offer."

But Pejcic saidbetter service requires more money. City residents aren't getting full service.

"You're essentially saying, 'I'm going to give you 85 per cent transit a week, not 100 per cent,'" he said.

"If you want me to give up my car, I need 100 per cent availability, I need to be able to live life."

A major project

The $90,000 cost of the project is being split with the federal government.

Mallet said it's been almost 10 years since the city did its last major transit plan and it's time for an update.

The review will also look at "home-to-hub" bus service, where riders can call or book online for smaller transit vehicles to pick them up where fixed routes don't work as welland drop them off at a regular transit stop.

Pejcic said the City of Oakville, Ont., saw an 80 per cent ridership increase when it started offering that service.

"It's accessing transit, it's first-mile, last-mile solution," he said. "A lot of people want to ride but the service offering is poor."