Tech a top priority for new Fredericton transit and parking manager

Adopting new devices and software to assist keep track of ridership and timetable bus routes is a big priority for Fredericton’s new head of transit.

So is the introduction of Sunday service for Fredericton Transit buses, but that will however have to wait around a several decades, said Charlene Sharpe, who gave her 1st presentation to city councillors for the initially time Thursday due to the fact taking up the work a few months back. Sharpe is a previous divisional supervisor with the Toronto Transit Commission.

She laid out a timeline of objectives for Fredericton, with the implementation of new engineering to take place from now until eventually early up coming calendar year, adopted by tweaks to the community and other changes this sort of as Sunday service, which likely won’t come about right until at the very least 2024.

In her presentation, Sharpe stated she reviewed Fredericton’s 2019 Transit Learn Prepare and discovered a need to have for technological know-how a  widespread thread in numerous of the recommendations.

“We are now in 2022 and we need to have the technological innovation in get to aid and catch the attention of new ridership and produce these new efficiencies to make our services productive and practical for our prospects,” she reported.

Sharpe stated some of that would include things like initiatives the metropolis has now embarked on, which include purchasing CCTV cameras for every single of its buses to improve passenger and driver safety.

On Monday, councillors voted to award a get hold of worth $260,077.02 to Dramis Communications Options for the set up of CCTV cameras on all of its 28 buses and four para-transit buses.

Other engineering Fredericton Transit still demands includes passenger counters on buses in buy to gauge ridership and need for particular routes, she stated.

Other people consist of “dynamic scheduling software program,” which would give personnel the versatility and guidance for timetable generation, preparing, and creating operator operate schedules.

Utilizing computer software that enables on-need assistance for its para-transit buses is an additional priority, she stated.

She stated staff members will also be checking out electronic payment solutions.

“What engineering will give us and presents us is significant details wanted to make recommendations for effective provider advancement and presents a new stage of basic safety and enhanced interaction resources for both our team and our consumers,” she reported.

“Details from these technologies, alongside with census facts, incorporating plans for several initiatives authorized for the metropolis, as perfectly as community suggestions will present the facts expected to make company suggestions to council.”

Sharpe claimed the goal is to have the new technological innovation carried out by the first quarter of 2023.

From there, knowledge will be collected and analyzed in buy for employees to make adjustments to the design of the route network in early 2024.

“It will just take into thought all the information that we’ve collected about the previous yr so that we can realize cyclical modifications, how we assistance client vacation.

“It [will] also take into thing to consider census data … city expansion indicators and the new considerations through municipal reform.”

From there, any planned changes to the community and schedules will be brought forward to council and to the public for opinions and tips, she mentioned.

We want to make guaranteed that when we do generate Sunday provider, it can be remaining finished in a price-successful, effective fashion that operates very well for every person.- Charlene Sharpe, Fredericton’s manager of transit and parking services– Charlene Sharpe, Fredericton’s manager of transit and parking services

Speaking to CBC New following the assembly, Sharpe claimed any possible implementation of Sunday provider is not going to transpire until eventually 2024, as soon as all of all those actions have been taken.

“We identify that Sunday service has been at the prime of everyone’s desire listing,” Sharpe reported. “We want to make sure that when we do make Sunday service it can be getting done in a value-efficient, productive fashion that works perfectly for every person.”

Fredericton Transit users have for yrs named on the city to introduce Sunday bus support.

The lack of Sunday company has been criticized as far back again as since 2013, when the city prolonged its authorized Sunday shopping hours but failed to broaden its bus functions for the staff who have to have to work on that day.

Coun. Bruce Grandy, the chair of the mobility committee, said he was fired up about Sharpe’s plan and her timeline for employing it.

“To have our strategic prepare reviewed and a pathway and articulate approach going forward is so refreshing to see,” Grandy mentioned.

“And so any one who asks a question — we now have timelines, we have a program, but the most essential section of this presentation that council desires to have an understanding of is the fact that you can’t make choices with out appropriate information.”

Coun. Henri Maillet claimed he also preferred the timeline offered by Sharpe, including that it gives the town time to foyer the provincial and federal governments for additional monetary guidance to guidance the services.

“Often we are going to get emails as council, declaring that we are the only funds in the place that won’t have Sunday support. Effectively, following a rapid search, we’re just one of the only capitals that won’t get operational funding from from their province,” Maillet stated.

“So that would go a extended way, so I believe that gives us a pair of several years so we can keep on to advocate to get the correct funding so we can supply the good provider to our constituents.”