2010-2011 Annual Report

Transformations in Transportation: The First 10 YearsSmart Commute NTV n Annual Report n 2010-2011

Smart Commute NTV n Annual Report n 2010-2011 3

A Year in Review

2010 - 2011Smart Commute NTV and NET Project Areas ................................4

Key Terms .................................................................................5

Executive Director’s Message ......................................................7

Chair’s Message .........................................................................8

Vice Chair’s Message ..................................................................9

Treasurer’s Message ...................................................................9

Smart Commute NTV Champions ................................................10

Transformations in Transportation: The First 10 Years .................... 12

A Year in Review ........................................................................14

Smart Work with our Partners ......................................................18

N

Hw

y 400

Hw

y 400

Hw

y 27

Hw

y 27

Hwy 7

Hwy 7

Hw

y 404

Hw

y 404

Hwy 401

Hwy 401

Hw

y 427

Hw

y 50

Hwy 407

Hwy 409

MacDonald-Cartier Fwy

Don Valley Pkw

yAllen Rd

Weston Rd

Jane St

Jane St

Don Mills Rd

Don Mills Rd

Leslie St

Bayview Ave

Bayview Ave

Du�erin St

Du�erin St

Keele St

Keele St

Sheppard Ave W

Lawrence Ave W

Finch Ave W

Elgin Mills W

Major MacKenzie DrYonge St

Yonge St

King-Vaughan Rd

Bathurst St

Bathurst St

Bathurst St

Eglinton Ave W

Wilson Ave

Steeles Ave W

Victoria Park Ave

CITY OF VAUGHAN,YORK REGION

CITY OF TORONTO

TOWN OF MARKHAM

TOWN OF RICHMOND HILL

Smart Commute - Northeast Toronto

Division between City of Vaughan, York Region and City of Toronto

Smart Commute - North Toronto Vaughan

N

Hw

y 400

Hw

y 400

Hw

y 27

Hw

y 27

Hwy 7

Hwy 7

Hw

y 404

Hw

y 404

Hwy 401

Hwy 401

Hw

y 427

Hw

y 50

Hwy 407

Hwy 409

MacDonald-Cartier Fwy

Don Valley Pkw

yAllen Rd

Weston Rd

Jane St

Jane St

Don Mills Rd

Don Mills Rd

Leslie St

Bayview Ave

Bayview Ave

Du�erin St

Du�erin St

Keele St

Keele St

Sheppard Ave W

Lawrence Ave W

Finch Ave W

Elgin Mills W

Major MacKenzie Dr

Yonge St

Yonge St

King-Vaughan Rd

Bathurst St

Bathurst St

Bathurst St

Eglinton Ave W

Wilson Ave

Steeles Ave W

Victoria Park Ave

CITY OF VAUGHAN,YORK REGION

CITY OF TORONTO

TOWN OF MARKHAM

TOWN OF RICHMOND HILL

Smart Commute - Northeast Toronto

Division between City of Vaughan, York Region and City of Toronto

Smart Commute - North Toronto Vaughan

Smart Commute NTV and NET Project Areas

Established in 2001, Smart Commute - North Toronto, Vaughan (NTV) is an award-winning non-profit organization

committed to reducing traffic congestion, improving air quality and raising awareness of sustainable transportation

modes. Smart Commute NTV manages two Transportation Management Association (TMA) projects: Smart Commute –

North Toronto, Vaughan and Smart Commute – Northeast Toronto. Their project areas are highlighted below:

KEY TERMS

Smart Commute NTV: Smart Commute – North Toronto, Vaughan

Smart Commute NET: Smart Commute – Northeast Toronto

TDM: Transportation Demand Management

TMA: Transportation Management Association

BUG: Bicycle User Group

SOV: Single Occupancy Vehicle

VKT: Vehicle Kilometres Travelled

GHG: Greenhouse Gases

GTHA: Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area


Smart Commute NTV is committed to reducing traffic congestion, improving

air quality and taking action on climate change. Together with our partners,

we provide workplace support for green transportation programs.

Smart Commute is a program of Metrolinx and the municipalities in the

Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.


2011 marks the 10 year anniversary of the creation of the inaugural Smart

Commute: The Black Creek Regional Transportation Management

Association (BCRTMA). Founded as a public-private partnership

between government and business, the creation of Smart Commute – North Toronto, Vaughan, as it

is now known, stands out as a watershed moment for the Smart Commute network. While numerous

individuals deserve credit for involvement in the initiative, three champions, Lawrence Bouchard,

Nicole Arsenault and Andy Manahan, stand out for their sustained commitment, visionary leadership

and persistent efforts.

Lawrence Bouchard, Nicole Arsenault

and Andy Manahan have all been

instrumental in transforming a small

not-for-profit organization with few

partners to one that boasts a one-

of-a-kind storefront office in York

University’s bus loop, partners with

more than 20 leading employers,

and represents more than 90,000

commuters.

Inspired by the success of Ontario’s

first Transportation Management

Association (TMA), the Smart

Commute network has expanded

tremendously. It is now a program of

Metrolinx and the municipalities in the

Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.

Through exceptional leadership

skills, Lawrence Bouchard, Smart

Commute NTV Chair, has guided the

organization through incorporation,

key hires, two subsequent name

changes, the implementation of a new

service fee structure, the transition

from Transport Canada to Metrolinx

support, a significant office move and

ongoing organizational expansion.

In her time with Smart Commute NTV,

Nicole Arsenault, Smart Commute

NTV Treasurer, has facilitated a

tremendous working relationship

between York University and the

TMA. She has overseen significant

improvements in transportation to

the Keele and Glendon campuses. Key

accomplishments include:

n the addition of the York University

GO Transit Highway 407 bus

(approximately 12,000 rides/day),

n shuttle service between York

University’s Keele and Glendon

campuses, and

n Implementation of Carpool Zone

and Emergency Ride Home.

Andy Manahan is Vice Chair of the

Smart Commute NTV board and

the Chair of the Northeast Toronto

Community Advisory Committee.

Andy has provided strong support

for a strategic communications re-

brand, a comprehensive HR and policy

analysis, and outreach initiatives in the

Smart Commute NET service area.

Lawrence, Nicole and Andy have

championed Smart Commute NTV

since inception, contributing more

than 30 years combined to traffic

reduction and air quality goals. We

are indebted to these three long-time

directors on the Smart Commute

NTV board.

Message from the Executive Director

Brian Shifman

During the past 10 years, I have witnessed Smart Commute

NTV grow from a small non-profit organization into a leading,

results-driven Transportation Management Association.

Smart Commute NTV has helped to

pave the way for emerging TMAs in

more ways than one. In 2001, we

implemented a service-fee structure.

This system has been adopted by

several Smart Commute offices. In

more recent years, our team has made

the move from an underground, hard

to access office to a unique storefront

location in the heart of the York

University campus. This move has

brought in thousands of visitors,

students and faculty, and has helped

to transform our work environment

into a dynamic and welcoming area.

This change of workplace has allowed

Smart Commute NTV to grow its

team to six full-time employees.

Under the vision and leadership of

our current executive director, Brian

Shifman, this dedicated group of staff

work with the businesses of Toronto

and Vaughan to deliver seamless

transportation programs to help

create a greener tomorrow.

From 2001 to 2011, awareness of

climate change and the impact that our

everyday commute to work has on the

environment has grown substantially.

Now, more than ever, businesses need

to realize the need for CSR and take

the necessary steps to decrease their

negative impact on the environment.

I see Smart Commute as an essential

step in this process. As seen by our

partners from many industries, the

Smart Commute program can help

to increase employee productivity,

improve recruitment and retention,

reduce parking infrastructure costs,

and essentially, improve a workplace’s

bottom line.

Thank you to our Board of Directors,

staff, funders, partners and volunteers

who make this program a success.

Message from the Chair

Lawrence Bouchard


By way of background, my

introduction to Smart Commute

was initially accidental. More

than 10 years ago I attended a meeting

of the Greater Toronto Services Board’s

Transportation Committee at the

offices of Black Creek Pioneer Village.

The most intriguing subject on the

agenda concerned the formation of a

Black Creek Regional Transportation

Management Association. After

the presentation, I approached Sara

Climenhaga, the organization’s first

executive director. Following the

exchange of basic information, my

involvement seemed certain. From

a basic locational perspective, the

offices of Local 183 – the construction

union I worked for on Wilson Avenue

– were within the boundaries of the

Black Creek TMA so participation

potential was high.

On September 24, 2001, the Black

Creek Regional TMA was officially

launched. Now, 10 years later, Smart

Commute - North Toronto Vaughan

(as it was later renamed) has been a

model for other TMAs in this region.

The growth in the network has been

beyond most expectations: there are

now 11 Smart Commute offices in the

Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area

providing services to 177 employers

and over 430,000 employees and

post-secondary students. We have

led the way in many initiatives and

provided a useful framework for

growth in the network.

The institutionalization of Smart

Commute is evidenced through

the role played by Metrolinx and

governments throughout the GTHA.

Smart Commute became a program

of Metrolinx on January 1, 2008 and

this has not only provided additional

credibility but has also resulted in

the provision of resources that would

have been previously unavailable.

There is now a better societal

understanding of the broader costs

of gridlock and of the benefits of

providing a range of solutions. In the

early days, reluctance was expressed

about the viability of carpooling.

Now, technological solutions have

facilitated better outreach and

connectivity between potential users,

which has allowed such programs

to grow. More people recognize

that there are interconnections

between alleviating congestion,

increasing economic productivity

and promoting better health and

quality of life.

Smart Commute NTV has been

successful because of the dedication of

its staff, participants and government

agencies. We have achieved many

things due to greater stability in both

operations and at the board level.

Our current executive director, Brian

Shifman, has been in this position since

early 2005 and many board members

have volunteered for several years.

The future outlook for Smart

Commute NTV is positive and it is

clear through various metrics that

progress is being made.

York University was a founding

member of the original Black

Creek Regional Transportation

Management Association. In the

late 1990s, York University saw the

projected growth with the double

cohort. Under the leadership of the

late Tom Arnold, we began to look for

opportunities to develop sustainable

transportation options to reduce the

number of single occupant vehicles

coming to the University and reduce

parking requirements. My passion

and enthusiasm for environmental

issues was a good fit for the newly

created role of University Manager,

Transportation.

In the past 10 years, I’ve worked with

Smart Commute to accomplish many

milestones including the opening of

the York University GO Train Station,

increase in utilization of Carpool

Zone and the Bicycle User Group on

campus, and a 300% increase in the

number of public transit trips per day

serving York University.

Traffic congestion within the Greater

Toronto Area has reached critical

proportions which has a major impact

on our health & environment and

our economic prosperity. In the

next 10 years, Smart Commute will

continue to grow. It is an imperative

tool and resource. It can provide

leadership to continuously find the

means to improve mobility, decrease

congestion and champion advocacy

for developing a sustainable and

integrated regional transportation

system within the GTHA.

Message from the Vice Chair

Andy Manahan

Message from the Treasurer

Nicole Arsenault

Smart Commute NTV Champions

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Lawrence Bouchard Smart Commute NTV Chair (Facilities Manager,

Knoll North America Corp.)

Andy Manahan Smart Commute NTV Vice-Chair; Chair of Northeast Toronto Advisory Committee (Executive Director,

Residential and Civil Construction

Alliance of Ontario [RCCAO])

Nicole Arsenault Smart Commute NTV Treasurer (Manager, Transportation and Student

Services, York University)

Chris Wong Smart Commute NTV Board Member (Director of Transportation and Master

Planning, York University Development Corp.)

Cameron MacKinnon Smart Commute NTV Board Member (Principal, MacKinnon Public Affairs)

Les Kelman Smart Commute NTV Board Member (Principal, Les Kelman and Associates)

David Saunders Smart Commute NTV Board Member (President, LEA Consulting)

Tim Adamson Smart Commute NTV Board Member (Program Manager, Sustainable Energy,

Enbridge Gas Distribution)

Brian Shifman Smart Commute NTV Board Member (Executive Director, Smart Commute –

North Toronto, Vaughan)

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Lawrence Bouchard

Andy Manahan

Nicole Arsenault

Chris Wong

David Saunders

ADVISORS

Mark Singh Program Manager,

Toronto Environment Office,

City of Toronto

Shirley Kam Manager, Economic Development,

City of Vaughan

Brian Dundas Sustainability Manager and Community

Transformation, Toronto and Region

Conservation Authority

Loy Cheah Director, Infrastructure Planning,

York Region

Ryan Lanyon Manager, Smart Commute

Metrolinx

STAFF

Brian Shifman Executive Director

Adam Arnold Senior Program Manager

Kalina Soltys Program Manager – Northeast Toronto (outgoing)

Keagan Gartz Assistant Program Manager

Rachelle Waterman Assistant Program Manager (incoming)

Roshan Chandy Marketing Manager (incoming)

Sherman Wu Program Coordinator (incoming)

PARTNERS, ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERS & KEY FUNDERS

CH2M Hill (Partner)

City of Toronto (Funder)

City of Vaughan (Partner, Funder)

Dillon Consulting (Member, Partner)

Direct Energy (Partner)

Earth Rangers (Partner)

Enbridge Gas Distribution (Member, Partner)

ING Direct (Partner)

Knoll (Member, Partner)

Metrolinx (Funder)

North York General Hospital (Partner)

Parc Downsview Park (Member, Partner)

Pearson Education (Partner)

PowerStream (Partner)

Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario (RCCAO) (Member, Partner)

Sanofi Pasteur (Partner)

Seneca@York (Partner)

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) (Partner)

Transport Canada – Ontario Region (Partner)

Vaughan Mills (Partner)

York University (Member, Partner)

Zipcar (Member, Partner)

GO Transit

Toronto Transit Commission

York Region Transit

INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS

Bob Onyschuk Gowlings LLP

Chris Wong York University Development Corp.

Cameron MacKinnon MacKinnon Public Affairs

Edward Levy BA Consulting Group

Robert Merrick 1st Avenue Communications

Les Kelman Les Kelman and Associates

David Saunders LEA Consulting

Brian Shifman Smart Commute –

North Toronto, Vaughan


Transformations in Transportation

The First 10 Years

Transit Initiatives

Cycling

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Car

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Vanpools

Development

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A Year in Review

2010 - 2011

Humber River Regional Hospital Carpool Zone Launch n May 2010

In May 2010, Humber River Regional Hospital successfully launched

their Carpool Zone subgroup. Approximately 110 employees attended the

outreach to learn about the benefits of ride sharing and how to register on

CarpoolZone.ca.

Bike to Work Day n May 2010

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre’s Bike to Work Day in May 2010 brought

together more than 100 cycling enthusiasts, including 75 new registrants to the

Sunnybrook Bicycle User Group.

Clean Air Commute n June 2010

Smart Commute NTV teamed up with 13 leading employers to promote

Pollution Probe’s Clean Air Commute campaign. By the end of the one-week

event, our partners had prevented approximately 4,800 GHG pollutants from

being emitted into the air and reduced 1,144 SOV trips, saving more than

18,500 VKTs!

York University Car Free Day n September 2010

To celebrate Car Free Day, Smart Commute NTV hosted a More Parks, Less

Parking event at York University. Staff, students and faculty visited the park to

enjoy lemonade and snacks, while learning about the benefits of going car free.

2010 Smart Commute Awards n Sanofi Pasteur n November 2010

The Smart Commute Awards were introduced in 2007 to officially recognize

partners who put forth exceptional effort in implementing Smart Commute

programs at their workplace. In 2010, Sanofi Pasteur, the country’s largest

vaccine company, was awarded with the Smart Commute Employer of the Year

Award for NTV.


York U Wii Fest n October 2010

In order to introduce the new storefront office, Smart Commute NTV hosted a

York University Wii Fest. Hundreds of students came to the office to play Wii,

register on Carpool Zone, and win prizes.

2010 Annual General Meeting n May 2011

The 2010 Annual General Meeting was graciously hosted by Days Hotel and

Conference Centre-Toronto Don Valley. Attendees participated in a lively

discussion about TDM activities with new clients such as the Downsview

Provincial Campus, and about projects including carpool parking.

The Smart Commute NTV team, along with Chair of the Board of Directors,

Lawrence Bouchard, commuted to the meeting in the Don Mills Corporate

Shuttle, which officially starts running in February 2012.

2010 Smart Commute Awards n Enbridge Gas Distribution n November 2010

The Smart Commute Awards were introduced in 2007 to officially recognize

partners who put forth exceptional effort in implementing Smart Commute

programs at their workplace. In 2010, Enbridge Gas Distribution, Canada’s

largest gas distribution utility, was awarded with the Smart Commute Employer

of the Year Award for NET.

Direct Energy Vanpooling n February 2011

Since November 2010, Direct Energy has been working with Smart Commute

NET to implement a successful Vanpool Program, supported in part by the

Metrolinx Innovation Fund. After several surveys, information sessions and

outreaches, six employees were chosen as members of the Mississauga Vanpool.

Smart Work with our Partners

Smart Commute – North Toronto Vaughan

* All figures are for

the 2010-2011 fiscal

year unless otherwise

indicated. Population: 900

VKT averted: 30,033

GHG (kg) prevented: 6,416

n Carpool parking program

in development: 12 carpool

signs purchased, ready to be

installed in April 2011

n As a part of the Green

Directions initiative, City of

Vaughan completed the Teston

Road multi-use path

n Averted more than 940 VKTs

during Clean Air Commute

Population: 2,000

VKT averted: 48,667


n First year of partnership with

Smart Commute NTV

n Launched Carpool Zone

subgroup

n Completed commuter survey

with 67% response rate

n Undertaking first steps of a

preferred carpool parking

program

City of VaughanDownsview

Provincial Campus

Population: 60

n Participated in Clean Air

Commute

n Installed carpool parking

spaces as part of eco-friendly

parking lot redevelopment

n Recognized as one of the Top

12 Green-IT Organizations

by IT publication,

Computerworld

Earth Rangers


Population: 3,000

VKT averted: 1,735

GHG (kg) prevented: 318

n First year of partnership with

Smart Commute NTV: Smart

Commute will be supporting

HRRH with their TDM

program as they transition to

their new site

n Launched Carpool Zone

subgroup


Commute

n Hosted an EcoDriver lunch

and learn, in conjunction

with a Carpool Zone sign-up

campaign

Population: 900

VKT averted: 5,736


n Carpool parking program

in development: carpool

signs purchased, ready to be

installed in April 2011


Commute

Population: 650

VKT averted: 1,140


n Site preparation for TTC

subway expansion


Commute

Humber River Regional Hospital

Knoll Parc Downsview Park

Population: 500

VKT averted: 883,635


n Increased amount of VKTs

avoided by 76% since

2009-2010

n Continued success with

vanpool and carpool program

PowerStream

Population: 450

VKT averted: 9,981


n 70% increase in Clean Air

Commute participation

over the previous year; 32%

behaviour change during

Clean Air Commute week

Population: 7,000

n Exploring expansion of Smart

Commute program across all

Seneca campuses

n Successful participation

in Clean Air Commute,

with approximately 11% of

employees participating in the

week-long event

Population: 3,000

VKT averted: 39,897


n Continued success of York

Region Transit discount pass

program

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

Seneca@York Vaughan Mills

Population: 60,000

VKT averted: 17.9 million

GHG (kg) prevented: 4,100,000

n Participation in Clean Air

Commute resulted in more

than 1,000 VKTs avoided

n Beginning to implement a

preferred carpool parking

program for registrants at

York University

n 18% year-over-year increase

in Bicycle User Group

memberships

York University


Population: 1,000


GHG Prevented: 63,697


and learn, in conjunction with

a Carpool Zone sign up drive

n Launched TTC discount transit

pass program

n Launched carpool parking

program

Population: 265

n Continues to encourage

employees to maintain a work-

life balance with a variety of

alternative work arrangements

n Recognized by the Ethisphere

Institute as one of the

2011 World’s Most Ethical

Companies.

Sanofi Pasteur CH2M HILL

Smart Commute – Northeast Toronto

Population: 1,150

VKT averted: 71,085


n Worked with Smart Commute

NET and Metrolinx to

implement vanpool program:

showcased as a model for

other organizations wanting to

develop a vanpool


Commute

n Continues to be involved

in the Smart Commute –

Northeast Toronto Community

Advisory Committee

Direct Energy

Population: 100

n Created and distributed

site specific Commuter

Options brochure for

employees, detailing local

transit and cycling routes,

and highlighting carpooling

program

n Participated in the month-long

Commuter Challenge

n Continues to be involved



Advisory Committee

Dillon Consulting

Population: 1,034



n Participated in Clean

Air Commute with

highest participation rate

(organizations with 500+

employees)

n Continued success of

employee vanpool program:

added additional vanpool

n Continued to be involved



Advisory Committee

Population: 856

n Conducted employee

commuting survey

n Over 70% of staff are

interested in trying carpooling

to work

Enbridge ING Direct

Population: 10,000

VKT averted: 2,198


n Sunnybrook’s Earth Matters

event showcased Smart

Commute programs to

hundreds of staff

n Hosted a successful Bike to

Work Day event with more

than 100 participants

Population: 3,260

VKT averted: 1,827


n Hosted a successful Car-Free

Day outreach


and learn, in conjunction

with a Carpool Zone sign-up

campaign

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

North York General Hospital

Population: 350

VKT averted: 1,804



Commute

n Strong support for sustainable

transportation initiatives

Population: 487

n Hosted a walking lunch and

learn for employees

n Continued emphasis on

environmental and sustainable

transportation initiatives

Pearson Education Transport Canada

TransportsCanada

TransportCanada


FOR MORE INFORMATION OR FOR COPIES OF THIS REPORT PLEASE CONTACT:Smart Commute – North Toronto, Vaughan • 36C York Lanes, 4700 Keele St. • Toronto, ON • M3J 1P3

[email protected] • SmartCommuteNTV.ca • Phone: 416-650-8205

Smart Commute proudly partners with:

TransportsCanada

TransportCanada

2010-2011 Annual Report

Documents

Transcript of 2010-2011 Annual Report