On March 15, 2012 the B.C. Government appointed a three-person Independent
Review Panel to review BC Transit performance and operations. The review was
in response to concerns from some local governments about aspects of BC Transit
operations that aff ect their communities.
The independent panel held 25 meetings with 40 local governments across the
province, and received 30 submissions from local government and other key stakeholders.
It delivered the report, including 18 recommendations, to the Minister of Transportation
and Infrastructure on August 1, 2012.
The government immediately published the report online, giving local governments
and the general public the opportunity to review the recommendations before
issuing a response.
The report confirmed that BC Transit provides first-rate, efficient and cost-effective
transit services to the people of British Columbia. While the delivery of transit
services works well in British Columbia, there is always room for improvement.
The report also highlighted the need for stronger partnership and better communication
around transportation planning and delivery. Its key themes are governance,
decision-making and accountability.
The Review Panel recommendations highlight the need to communicate eff ectively
and to re-evaluate how the BC Transit Board operates. The government is excited
at the prospect of working cooperatively with BC Transit and local governments
to reach the vision articulated so clearly in the report, aptly named: Modernizing
the Partnership.
Partnerships are only as strong as the commitment to make them work. The Review
Panel’s report is a roadmap showing how to improve our public transit system,
and a call to action to both provincial and local governments to revitalize
our partnership.
Minister’s Message
It has been just over a year since representatives from local governments voiced
concern about their relationship with BC Transit. Our government took those
concerns very seriously and appointed an independent panel to review BC Transit.
I am impressed with the work of the independent panel and believe the report
and our response provide a comprehensive foundation to move forward and improve
transit service for families and communities in British Columbia.
As the independent panel confirmed, we have an excellent transit system in
British Columbia, particularly in terms of ridership, supply of service and
efficiency of the services provided. Our province is well recognized for providing
the highest per capita transit investment in Canada, making it possible to offer
transit services in many smaller communities in addition to our larger cities.
The panel confirmed that BC Transit provides good value and efficient service;
however there is always room for improvement. We intend to modernize the shared
system so that local governments and BC Transit have the right tools to deliver
service in each of the unique and diverse communities that they serve.
We recognize the need for an approach that suits the diverse needs of all B.C.
families and communities. For example, the service needs in communities like
Dawson Creek, are much different than in Nanaimo or Kelowna. Our aim in this
response is to strengthen the partnership between local governments and BC Transit
with better information sharing and a more open decision making process while
recognizing that this partnership must be flexible enough to accommodate the
unique needs of every community. We have an excellent transit system in British
Columbia. By continuing to work together, we will ensure an even better transit
service, one that continues to meet the diverse needs of all B.C. families and
communities.
Joe Stanhope
Regional District of Nanaimo Chairperson
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Province and the members
of the BC Transit Independent Review Panel for their hard work throughout this
important process.
The Regional District of Nanaimo operates one of British Columbia’s larger
transit systems in partnership with BC Transit. While we appreciate the benefits
of working with BC Transit, the RDN started having a number of concerns about
the partnership and how it was working. We worked with other local governments
across BC and brought those concerns to the Minister asking for an independent
review. The Minister listened to our concerns about BC Transit and responded
by setting up an independent review panel. I am hopeful the recommendations
of the panel will give local government and BC Transit new ideas and tools that
will improve the way we can work together, particularly in the areas of rising
costs, funding, governance and communications.
This has been a very good process conducted by an excellent three-member panel.
The independent panel worked hard to obtain meaningful feedback from local governments,
and the resulting report will be very helpful as we move forward.
Heath Slee
Union of British Columbia Municipalities, President
The approach taken by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure on
the BC Transit independent review has been consultative and helpful. The independent
panel did a good job at engaging local governments to solicit meaningful feedback.
The release of the report provided another step forward and was well received.
Now that the provincial government has provided an official response to the
report, local governments will be able to judge for themselves whether the recommendations
address the concerns raised during the consultation period. I encourage all
communities that utilize BC Transit’s service to provide feedback to the
Minister.
Thank you very much to the Minister of Transportation for the strong support
for this independent review.
- The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure should work with local
governments and with public transit services to develop the Government Letter
of Expectations to BC Transit. The Letter of Expectations should clearly establish
the roles, responsibilities and accountabilities of the provincial government,
local governments and BC Transit.
- Lead Organizations: Union of British Columbia Municipalities, Ministry
of Transportation and Infrastructure
- Next Steps: The Government of British Columbia will ask UBCM to
develop a process that encourages local governments to provide timely and
relevant input for the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure to
consider in the Government Letter of Expectation to BC Transit. The Minister
will consider the local government perspective when defining expectations
for BC Transit. The first cycle of this process must conclude by June 2013
to be considered for the next Government Letter of Expectation.
- The provincial government should increase the membership of the Board
of Directors from seven to nine. While this recommendation requires legislative
change, the following recommendation (Recommendation 3) can be implemented
with either a seven or nine person Board.
- Lead Organizations: Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
- Next Steps: The B.C. Government supports strengthening the Board
of Directors, and will assess the benefits, challenges and logistics of
expanding the size of the board. In the meantime, government will proceed
immediately with all elements of Recommendation 3.
- Recognize the partnership for the delivery of public transit at the BC
Transit Board. Specifically:
- The Board of BC Transit should
provide local governments with a Board skills matrix to guide the selection
of nominees to the Board.
- Lead Organizations: BC Transit
- Next Steps: All partners in the delivery of BC Transit services
will benefit from a skilled, qualified and motivated Board of Directors.
BC Transit is currently identifying the skills requirements to ensure
that the most highly qualified candidates are considered and approached
for board appointments.
- The provincial government
should revise the appointment process for the Board of Directors to allow
local government to directly appoint representatives to the Board. Prior
to legislative change Cabinet should accept board nominations from local
governments for appointment to the Board.
- Lead Organizations: Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
- Next Steps: An effective board of directors accurately reflects
and articulates the interests of all partner-members. The B.C. Government
invites UBCM to establish and administer a process for local governments
to identify and recommend qualified individuals for the BC Transit
Board and Transit Commissions. These names will be put forward for
the consideration of the Minister.
- It is common practice that
elected officials do not sit on the boards of crown agencies, since their
responsibilities as D irector may conflict with their accountabilities
as an elected official. The Panel considered two options for theappointment
of the local government representatives and did not reach a conclusion
on a preferred approach.
- Lead Organizations: Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
- Next Steps: As above, an effective board of directors accurately
reflects and articulates the interests of all partner-members. The
Minister is satisfied that the current process of including elected
officials on the Board of BC Transit works well, and expects no changes
in the immediate future.
- Provincial government and local
government Board appointments should be made on the basis of staggered
terms to allow for Board continuity.
- Lead Organizations: Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure,
BC Transit, local governments
- Next Steps: A board of directors that strikes a balance between
refreshing turnover and stability among its membership will be able
to develop and implement a long-term vision. Together, the Ministry
and the BC Transit Board will develop a new appointment process to create
staggered board terms to help ensure board continuity.
- The provincial government and
local government should negotiate appointment guidelines to be consistent
with standard board practices regarding appointments and terms. In order
to implement these recommendations, local governments would need to determine
the appropriate body to coordinate the appointment process.
- Lead Organizations: UBCM, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
- Next Steps: As with Recommendation 3iv, the Ministry will begin
consulting immediately with local government on the appointment process.
These will continue to be consistent with legislation and government
appointment policies, including Board Resourcing and Development Office
requirements.
- The provincial government should amend the BC Transit Act to allow local
government to appoint all members of a transit commission and allow the transit
commission to hire its own clerical and technical staff. In the interim, Cabinet
should accept nominations from local governments for appointment to transit
commissions and BC Transit will continue to provide clerical and technical
staff to transit commissions.
- Lead Organizations: Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure,
local government
- Next Steps: The Ministry will work with local governments for support
in developing new, transparent and effective ways to nominate representatives
for consideration to transit commissions. While nominations must continue
to be consistent with legislation, there are opportunities to explore new
processes that strengthen the board’s effectiveness. The provincial
government will continue to fund BC Transit activities as a shared service,
and local governments can continue to hire additional clerical or technical
staff if they choose.
- Local government and BC Transit decision making authority should rest
with the partner that bears the consequences or benefits of any decision.
Where a decision of one partner will have an impact on the other partner,
consultation should occur:
- The BC Transit Board should
ensure that BC Transit decision making explicitly considers the impact
on local governments and should ideally include a mechanism for local
government sign off. For example, the BC Transit Board told the Panel
that all decisions of the BC Transit Board that have capital cost implications
for an individual transit system must have local government approval.
BC Transit should ensure that all local governments are aware of this
policy.
- Lead Organizations: BC Transit, UBCM
- Next Steps: Together, BC Transit and local governments will
identify opportunities and appropriate processes to ensure local voices
are heard by BC Transit, and that BC Transit keeps local governments
current on issues that will directly affect them. In many cases, this
can happen within existing mechanisms (e.g. Transit’s Enterprise
Investment Initiative and renegotiation of Annual Operating Agreements
between BC Transit and local governments).
- The BC Transit Board should
ensure that any system wide capital spending decisions made by the BC
Transit Board has input from an advisory panel consisting of local government
representatives.
- Lead Organizations: BC Transit, local governments
- Next Steps: The BC Government agrees an advisory panel is an
option worthy of consideration. The BC Government encourages local governments
to provide their input to the BC Transit Board.
- Local governments should provide
sufficient notice to BC Transit on service adjustments so that the financial
consequences of that decision are appropriately shared between the partners.
- Lead Organizations: UBCM, BC Transit
- Next Steps: The government encourages local government to carefully
consider decisions that have financial consequences and to provide sufficient
notice to BC Transit on service adjustments that have financial implications.
- The Province should consult
with local governments on provincial public transit policy.
- Lead Organizations: Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
- Next Steps: In partnership with BC Transit, the Ministry will
consult with local government on appropriate public transit policy,
including intercity transit policy (See Recommendation 18).
- BC Transit should ensure that
it engages with and considers the input of local governments and transit
operating companies in route planning and scheduling activities.
- Lead Organizations: BC Transit
- Next Steps: BC Transit will consult with local governments
and operating companies to enhance agreements and clarify the roles
and input of the parties into route planning and scheduling. Working
together will ensure that local knowledge and expertise are part of
the decision-making process.
- Local government should involve BC Transit in key planning issues and
invite BC Transit to participate in official community planning processes.
Local governments should provide BC Transit with information regarding decisions
that may impact public transit including: Long term municipal transit budgets;
Land use planning; and Transportation planning and zoning decisions that will
result in developments that will require transit services, or impact the ability
to deliver public transit. These requirements should be outlined in operating
agreements between BC Transit and local governments.
- Lead Organizations: UBCM, BC Transit
- Next Steps: The Ministry encourages local government to include
BC Transit in key planning issues that may affect public transit. Working
together will ensure that local knowledge and expertise are part of the
decision-making process.
- BC Transit should develop a strategic communications plan that includes
provincial government, BC Transit and local government strategic goals for
transit and share the plan with local governments. The plan should outline
key dates and timelines for provincial government, BC Transit and local government
decision making processes.
- Lead Organizations: BC Transit, Ministry of Transportation and
Infrastructure, UBCM
- Next Steps: The Ministry will provide information and support
to BC Transit as it develops a strategic communications plan. This includes
budget building and approval processes, submission deadlines for project
or operating budgets and other timely and relevant information.
- The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure should provide BC Transit
with clear direction on its role in implementing the Provincial Transit Plan.
- Lead Organizations: Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure,
BC Transit
- Next Steps: The Ministry will work with BC Transit staff to define
BC Transit’s role in implementing the Provincial Transit Plan through
the Government’s Letter of Expectation. Ministry staff will work
with BC Transit to provide detail around the terms and deliverables in
the Government’s Letter of Expectation.
- BC Transit and local governments should enhance accountability in operating
agreements. While some roles and responsibilities are contained in existing
Master Operating Agreements and Annual Operating Agreements, accountabilities
could be strengthened by:
- Establishing information sharing
requirements appropriate for all partners in operating agreements, including
timelines and dates, performance measures (see recommendation 13) and
local government planning (see recommendation 6).
- Lead Organizations: BC Transit, local government
- Next Steps: The Government of British Columbia supports this
recommendation.
- Establishing local government
financial accountability for service decisions that result in costs that
must be covered by BC Transit (see recommendation 5)
- Lead Organizations: BC Transit, local government
- Next Steps: The B.C. Government supports greater financial
accountability from all partners, including local
government.
- Improving transparency by including
the provincial share of debt servicing costs
- Lead Organizations: BC Transit, local government
- Next Steps: BC Transit will provide information about the provincial
share of debt servicing costs to local governments.
- Committing BC Transit to provide
financial information to local governments based on the calendar year.
- Lead Organizations: BC Transit, UBCM
- Next Steps: BC Transit will consult with local governments
to ensure that annual financial information is provided in a format
that meets local governments’ reporting needs.
- The provincial government should amend the BC Transit Act and Regulation
to enable multi-year operating agreements.
- Lead Organizations: Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure,
BC Transit
- Next Steps: The Ministry and BC Transit will work together to
determine what existing measures may allow for multi-year operating agreements.
- The provincial government should amend the BC Transit Act and Regulation
to require only one agreement between local governments and BC Transit, and
one operating agreement between BC Transit and a transit operating company
for each transit service area.
- Lead Organizations: Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
- Next Steps: The Ministry and BC Transit will work together to
determine what existing measures may allow BC Transit to enter into: one
agreement with local government; and one agreement with the transit operating
company, for each transit service area.
- BC Transit should work with local governments to set appropriate service
standards for each transit system and provide annual data on system and route
performance.
- Lead Organizations: BC Transit, UBCM
- Next Steps: BC Transit has already started to establish performance
standards and will consult with local government on their expectations.
- BC Transit should provide reports to Councils and Regional District Boards
at least twice a year on: system ridership; cost per capita; passengers per
capita; service hours per capita; cost per hour; cost per rider; and revenue
cost ratio. BC Transit should also provide each local Council and Board comparisons
with peers and performance over time for each of these measures.
- Lead Organizations: BC Transit
- Next Steps: BC Transit will amend its reporting schedule to provide
this key information to local governments.
- BC Transit should develop, in partnership with local government staff,
performance reporting templates which meet local government staff needs. The
review panel offered templates as part of its review.
- Lead Organizations: BC Transit, local governments
- Next Steps: BC Transit will consult with local governments to
implement templates that best meet the needs of local governments.
- BC Transit should report in detail annually to local government on its
administration costs, its fleet management activities and the benefits it
provides from centralized purchasing in comparison to other transit systems
across Canada.
- Lead Organizations: BC Transit
- Next Steps: BC Transit will include this information in its Corporate
Annual Report and other appropriate communications. The Ministry encourages
BC Transit and local governments to work together proactively and share
information.
- The provincial government should provide the Board of BC Transit with
the authority to authorize commercial revenue activities within an established
framework.
- Lead Organizations: Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure,
BC Transit
- Next Steps: The Ministry supports commercial ventures as a significant
opportunity to generate transit revenue when specific requirements are
met: there is no direct competition with the private sector or another
local government, and revenues are used to offset public investment. As
a first step, the Province will provide the BC Transit Board with policy
guidelines, including how partners would share any resulting revenues.
- The provincial government should provide BC Transit its capital funding
through the established service plan process with output targets.
- Lead Organizations: Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure,
BC Transit
- Next Steps: Together, the Ministry and BC Transit staff will
determine what areas of the service plan process may need to be enhanced
(e.g. capital planning) and will confirm service plan processes and output
targets.
- The provincial government should develop a policy framework for intercity
routes among multiple jurisdictions and if required amend the BC Transit Act
and Regulation to provide for a stable mechanism to implement these routes
- Lead Organizations: Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure,
BC Transit
- Next Steps: An intercity transit policy to address commuter service
to regional centers is in development. The Government of British Columbia
will consult with local governments as this policy is developed.
Victoria Regional Transit Commission
The Review Panel did not find consensus on transit governance in Greater Victoria,
and instead, presented three options. The Government of British Columbia expects
local governments in Greater Victoria will continue their discussion and is
prepared to re-examine this issue once a consensus is reached.
For more information:
Media Contact:
Meribeth Burton
Corporate Spokesperson | BC Transit
d: 250.995.5720
c: 250.507.8145
meribeth_burton@bctransit.com
www.bctransit.com
