Minutes

Brampton Transit Advisory Committee

The Corporation of the City of Brampton

Monday, October 25, 2021

7:00 P.m. - 9:00 P.m.

Council Chambers - 4th Floor, City Hall - Webex Electronic Meeting

Members Present:

• Regional Councillor P. Vicente (Co-Chair)
• Sylvia Menezes Roberts
• Akinade Oduntan
• Ameek Singh
• Myrna Adams, Representative, Age-Friendly Brampton Advisory Committee
• Alina Grzejszczak, Representative, Cycling Advisory Committee
• Todd Letts, Representative, Brampton Board of Trade
• Franco Spadafora, Representative, Accessibility Advisory Committee

Members Absent:

• Regional Councillor M. Palleschi (Co-Chair)
• Rafiqul Islam
• Sarbjeet Sani

Staff Present:

• Alex Milojevic, General Manager, Brampton Transit
• Ivana Tomas, Director, Transit Development, Transit
• Doug Rieger, Director, Transit Development, Transit
• Vincent Rodo, Director Transit
• Tammi Jackson, Legislative Coordinator

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1.

Call to Order

Note: In consideration of the current COVID-19 public health orders prohibiting large public gatherings of people and requirements for physical distancing between persons, in-person attendance at this Committee meeting was limited and physical distancing was maintained at all times during the meeting.

The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. and adjourned at 9:39 p.m. Councillor Vicente served as Chair for this meeting.

As this meeting of the Transit Advisory Committee was conducted with electronic participation by Members of the Committee, the meeting started with the Committee Clerk calling the roll for attendance at the meeting, as follows:

Members present during roll call: Regional Councillor P. Vicente (Co-Chair); Sylvia Menezes Roberts; Ameek Singh; Myrna Adams; Alina Grzejszczak, Representative, Cycling Advisory Committee; Todd Letts, Representative, Brampton Board of Trade; Franco Spadafora, Representative, Accessibility Advisory Committee

Members absent during roll call: Regional Councillor M. Palleschi (Co-Chair); Rafiqul Islam; Akinade Oduntan; Sarbjeet Sani; Representative, Age-Friendly Brampton Advisory Committee. 

2.

Approval of Agenda

The following motion was considered. 

• BTAC011-2021

  That the agenda for the Transit Advisory Committee Meeting of October 25, 2021, be approved, as amended,

   

  To Add:

  7.7 Discussion at the request of Ameek Singh, Citizen Member, re: Brampton Transit and York University

  Carried

3.

Declarations of Interest under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act

Nil

4.

Previous Minutes

The minutes were considered by Committee of Council on May 12, 2021, and were approved by Council on May 19, 2021.  The minutes were provided for Committee’s information. 

5.

Presentations\Delegations

5.1

Presentation by Alex Milojevic, General Manager, Brampton Transit, re: Transit Advisory Committee Presentation

Transit staff provided a presentation that included the following:

• COVID-19 Updates
• Electrification Update
• Third Brampton Transit Facility
• Service Recovery Plan
• LRT Extension Study
• Queen Street - Highway 7 - Bus Rapid Transit & Downtown Brampton Transit Hub

Committee discussion included:

• Inquiry regarding Brampton Transit project timelines
• Projection numbers of ridership over the next six months
• Clarification provided regarding Peel Health restrictions
• Outlined the Federal and Provincial Government funding received through the "Safe Start Program"
• Electrification Transit includes maintenance support for breakdowns
• Questions pertaining to the type of heating that will be used for the third Brampton Transit Facility
• Advised that all Brampton Transit infrastructure will be Accessibility compliant 

The following motion was considered. 

• BTAC012-2021
  1. That the Presentation from Alex Milojevic, General Manager, Brampton Transit, to the Brampton Transit Advisory Committee meeting of October 25, 2021, re: Transit Advisory Committee Presentation , be received.
  Carried

6.

Reports/Updates

Nil 

7.

Other/New Business/Information Items

7.1

Discussion at the request of Sylvia Menezes Roberts, Member, re: Regional Transit Passes

Sylvia Menezes Roberts, Citizen Member, provided information relating to the possibility of obtaining a Regional Transit Pass agreement between Caledon, Mississauga and Brampton, and responded to questions of clarification from Committee. S. Menezes Roberts also advised such an agreement would provide larger corporations to purchase Regional Transit passes in bulk for their employees, in turn encouraging the use of transit mobility. 

Staff clarified that a Regional Transit pass would be regionally funded and that a similar pass is already in place that allows cross boarder transit sharing with the use of a Presto pass. The Presto pass provides a reduced fair that individuals can use anywhere. The Presto pass also includes free transfers within a 2 hour window in the 905 area. Staff agreed to take the suggestions back for further discussion and include the City's Planning Department.   

7.2

Discussion at the request of Sylvia Menezes Roberts, Member, re: Student Transit Passes

Sylvia Menezes Roberts, Citizen Member, raised concerns regarding the number of students affected by the lack of transportation to and from schools.  In addition S. Menezes Roberts outlined municipalities that offer programs for student transportation. 

The following motion was introduced for consideration:

Whereas Peel District School Board has a Regional Learning Choice program with specialty schools, that do not offer transportation to students.

Whereas students attending those schools often have to be driven to them, or parents need to spend thousands of dollars a year for private busing.

Whereas often summer school is needed most by marginalized students, and PDSB does not provide transportation to them.

Whereas switching schools is often adversely impacts a student’s education, yet no transportation is provided for them.

Whereas the lack of transportation support can constitute a significant equity barrier for marginalized students.

Whereas transit passes would empower students with greater freedom and access to things like sports programs, libraries, and community centres, which particularly benefits all students, particularly marginalized students.

Whereas 70% of households in Brampton contain children.

Whereas if students get used to taking transit in school, they are more likely to persist taking transit after graduation.

Therefore it is the opinion of the Transit Advisory Committee that:

1. The City of Brampton collaborate with Peel District School Board, other relevant school boards, and the Region of Peel to provide transit passes with students in relevant categories, especially high school students.
2. That if feasible, a pilot begin for the 2022-2023 year, with pilot schools being Turner Fenton Secondary School and Central Peel Secondary School.

Staff advised the City of Brampton has worked with the school boards in the past and that they would be happy to support the board in future discussions to come up with services that may be able to assist students/families. 

Committee discussion included:

• Members raised concerns regarding the lack of information surrounding the financial implication if the motion is supported.
• Staff outlined that there would be a substantial amount of work involved to determine all implications on the City as a whole. 
• Concerns raised regarding clause 1 not referring to a feasibility study. 
• suggestion to refer the item back to staff for further review.

Alina Grzejszczak requested a friendly amendment to include the wording "free for students"

S. Menezes Roberts did not accept the friendly amendment and clarified that the request is to have staff look into the feasibility and how it can be implemented. 

A recorded vote was requested and the motion carried as follows:

• BTAC013-2021

  Whereas Peel District School Board (PDSB) has a Regional Learning Choice program with specialty schools, that does not offer transportation to students;

  Whereas students attending those schools often have to be driven to them, or parents need to spend thousands of dollars a year for private busing;

  Whereas often summer school is needed most by marginalized students, and PDSB does not provide transportation to them;

  Whereas switching schools often adversely impacts a student’s education, yet no transportation is provided for them;

  Whereas the lack of transportation support can constitute a significant equity barrier for marginalized students;

  Whereas transit passes would empower students with greater freedom and access to things like sports programs, libraries, and community centres, which particularly benefits all students, particularly marginalized students;

  Whereas 70 per cent of households in Brampton contain children;

  Whereas if students get used to taking transit to school, they are more likely to persist taking transit after graduation;

  Therefore it is the opinion of the Transit Advisory Committee that:

  1. The City of Brampton investigate the feasibility of a collaboration, including full cost implications, with Peel District School Board, other relevant school boards, and the Region of Peel to provide transit passes to students in relevant categories, especially high school students; and
  2. If feasible, a pilot begin for the 2022-2023 year, with pilot schools being Turner Fenton Secondary School and Central Peel Secondary School.

  A recorded vote was requested and the motion carried as follows:

  Yea (7): Regional Councillor Vicente (Co-Chair), Sylvia Menezes Roberts, Akinade Oduntan, Ameek Singh, Myrna Adams, Alina Grzejszczak, Todd Letts, Representative, Brampton Board of Trade

  Nay (1): Franco Spadafora, Representative, Accessibility Advisory Committee 

  Absent (4):Regional Councillor M. Palleschi (Co-Chair); Rafiqul Islam; Sarbjeet Sani; Representative, Age-Friendly Brampton Advisory Committee.

  Carried (7/1)

  Carried

7.3

Discussion at the request of Sylvia Menezes Roberts, Member, re: Downtown Revitalization Program and Transit

Sylvia Menezes Roberts, Citizen Member, provided information relating to the possibility of utilizing the Downtown Revitalization Program to develop a transit mall and bus lanes in the downtown core, and responded to questions for clarification from Committee. 

Staff clarified that the downtown BRT will most likely not use the Revitalization Program and confirmed that the sidewalks will be widened substantially, and that the BRT will connect to the existing hub in the downtown core. Staff made note of the comments provide and advised they will bring them back to Planning and Public Works for discussion. 

7.4

Discussion at the request of Sylvia Menezes Roberts, Member, re: Queen Street BRT

Sylvia Menezes Roberts, Citizen Member, asked staff what kind of planning the City is doing to mitigate adverse impacts to housing along the BRT route in the area of Kennedy Road and Queen Street. S. Menezes Roberts expressed concerns that the BRT may increase the risk of renovation evictions. 

Staff advised the City's planning staff and the Region of Peel are developing a major busing station frame work, and will be considering the adverse impact to Brampton's marginalized population.

Sylvia Menezes Roberts, Citizen Member, called a point of order regarding the correct pronouns to be used when referencing her are her/she. 

7.5

Discussion at the request of Sylvia Menezes Roberts, Member, re: Steeles BRT

Sylvia, Menezes Roberts, Citizen Member, expressed concern regarding the lack of planning for a BRT along Steeles Avenue. S. Menezes Roberts characterized Steeles Avenue as a main route for a number of businesses/employers, including two major colleges/universities that rely on transit service and a high goods movement corridor. S. Menezes Roberts asked staff to continue updating the Committee on the status of the Steeles BRT and Metrolinx enhancements.  

Staff acknowledged the request and advised they will take the request as direction.

7.6

Discussion at the request of Sylvia Menezes Roberts, Member, re: Development Applications and Transportation Demand Measures

Sylvia Menezes Roberts, Citizen Member, posed questions to staff regarding the following:

• how planning ensures that developers are properly calculating transit trips. 
• does the Planning Department work together with Brampton Transit when reviewing developer applications to ensure transit trip fees are accurate.

Staff clarified that Planning staff provide reviews and reports back to Transit on all plans. Transit staff provide comments when required. Transit is one part of the process as planning is also responsible for analyzing comments received from the public.

Staff also responded to questions from committee regarding Transit safety measures for routes that have correctional facilities along the way and advised that safety measures are apart of Transits daily operations.  

7.7

Discussion at the request of Ameek Singh, Citizen Member, re: Brampton Transit and York University

This item was not specifically discussed, but was addressed under Items 5.1 and 7.5.

8.

Correspondence

Nil

9.

Question Period

Nil

10.

Public Question Period

The public was given the opportunity to submit questions via e-mail to the City Clerk’s Office regarding any decisions made at this meeting.

T. Jackson, Legislative Coordinator, confirmed that no questions were submitted regarding decisions made at this meeting.

11.

Closed Session

Nil

12.

Adjournment

The following motion was considered. 

• BTAC014-2021

  That the Brampton Transit Advisory Committee do now adjourn to meet again on Monday, February 7, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. or at the call of the Chair.

  Carried