Commuter Service The Statistics and the Need for a Commuter
Service?
Slide 2
Facts Town of Smiths Falls is rapidly growing and actively
recruiting new residents from the National Capital Region. $26,000
is budgeted under Residential Attraction Residents are commuting to
the Ottawa area for employment and educational opportunities. The
#1 question? Do you have a commuter service to and from
Ottawa?
Slide 3
Stats The commuter demographic - How they get to
work/college/university *Source Stats Can Environics Adjusted
Census Data 200620132020 Population877787138239 Population of over
the age of 15 + 708673656909 Labor Force Drives353137963580
Transportation Drive / Passenger 2477/3952643/4102492/386 Public
Transit/ Walk41/54539/66138/567 *Bronson Study conducted for LCT
Transit in 2007 found 6% of the population was employed somewhere
else in a Lanark County Community
Commuting Get on the Road or get on Track Over the summer 10
inquiries from potential new residents seeking Smiths Falls as a
future home. Of these inquiries 9 people asked about commuter
service to and from Ottawa. Real Estate Agents can attest to the
need for commuter service. From the commuter survey conducted last
year 19 of the 21 participants felt having a commuter service from
Smiths Falls to Ottawa would influence people to move here from
Ottawa. The other two didnt feel it was a factor.
Slide 6
Commuting Options SourceDeparture for OttawaReturn from
OttawaCostRecommendation Driving/ Carpooling Flexible $20.00 (min)
per day plus parking. $10.00 (min) $100.00 a week(min) Start a
carpooling Face book page or a blog on www.smithsfalls.ca Via
Rail10:42 a.m.18:43 p.m.$45.20 taxes inContinue discussions for
additional trains and commuter/ frequency pricing Grey Hound Canada
Mr. Gas on Union Street 8:10 a.m. Arrive 9:30 a.m. downtown 4:30
p.m.$9. 33 per trip Commuter frequency package $186.45 (20 tickets)
* Continue discussions with Greyhound to move schedule to 7:10 a.m.
Galland Route Carleton Place # 538 1 5:55 a.m. Bridge 7:30 a.m. -
Bridge 3:15 p.m./ 5:15 p.m.* bus can take riders into Ottawa. 10
tickets $75.00 tax in. Monthly $290.00 pass and OC Transpo package.
$10.00 Individual trip. Park free at the arena/ or Barron hotel.
*running with 33 riders and 27 riders on morning departures Howard
Bus Lines Merrickville #509 6:20 a.m. Carling Holland 7:20 a.m.
Laurier/ Kent 7:33 a.m. Slater/OConner 7:35 a.m. 4:30 p.m. start in
the City returning to Merricksville6:10 p.m. $9.00 each way or
frequency 10 passes $75.00/ 40 passes $250.00 no receipts Consider
as an option to start in Smiths Falls if there is interest. Smiths
Falls Commuter Service RFP 6:30 a.m. ( proposed)5:00 p.m. (
proposed)Approx $500.00 per day supported by the municipality- Cost
recruitment $320.00 for a monthly pass. 33 passengers need to
commit to a monthly pass Hold public meeting seeking interested
passengers and feed back. Form a Commuters Task Force
Slide 7
Recommendations Continue to work with Greyhound to secure a
earlier departure schedule For the interim use Craig Street Road
allowance for increased parking capacity. ($186.45/ 20 tickets)
Continue to work with Via to add train frequency and commuter e
-pass option (potential cost: $284.00 - $177.00/ 20 passes) Strike
a Commuter Task Force to seek interest and develop strategy.
Promote Smiths Falls as a community with a commuter service build
on Greyhound
Slide 8
Questions/ Discussion Please visit www.smithsfalls.ca for more
information regarding the Town of Smiths Falls commuter
options.www.smithsfalls.ca Thank - you
