North Toronto, Vaughan Annual Report 2013-2014 -...

Smart Commute - North Toronto, Vaughan

Annual Report 2013-2014

TABLE OF CONTENTSOur Mission

Key Terms

Project Areas

Message from the Executive Director

Message from the Chair

Our People

Partners, Members and Key Funders

A Year in Review

Smart Work with our Partners

5

5

6

8

11

12

14

16

26

Smart Commute NTV Annual Report 2013-2014 5

Smart Commute NTVSmart Commute – North Toronto, Vaughan

GTHAGreater Toronto and Hamilton Area

TMATransporation Demand Mangagment Association

VKTVehicle Kilometres Travelled

SOVSingle Occupancy Vehicle

Smart Commute NETSmart Commute – Northeast Toronto

GHGGreenhouse Gas

Our MissionSmart 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 sustainable transportation programs.

Smart Commute is a program of Metrolinx and the municipalities in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, comprising of 13 TMAs across the region. As of March 2013, more than 255 employers with 608,000 employees have signed on to the program and are designated as Smart Commute Workplaces.

acronyms


project areas

Smart Commute NTV manages two Transportation Management Associations: Smart Commute NTV and Smart Commute NET.

Smart Commute NTV and NET Project Areas:

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

Don Valley Pkw

yAllen Rd

MacDonald-Car tier F

wy

Weston Rd

Jane St

Jane St

Don M

ills Rd

Leslie St

Bayview Ave

Bayview AveD

u�erin St

Du�erin St

Keele St

Keele St

Sheppard Ave W

Lawrence Ave W

Finch Ave W

Elgin Mills W

Major MacKenzie Dr

Don Mills Rd

Yonge StStYY

Yonge Stg

YY

King-V- aughan RdVV

Bathurst StStst

Bathurst Stur

Bathurst St

Eglinton Ave Wgl

Ato

Wilson AveW

v

Ave WSteeles AA

Victoria PPark Ave

CITY OF VAUGHAN,YORK REGION

CITY OF TORONTO

TOWN OF MARKHAM

TOWN OF RICHMOND HILL


Brian Shifman

message from the executive director

The past year has been one of the most successful in the 13 year history of Smart Commute – North Toronto, Vaughan. Following the intense recruitment push of the previous few years, our emphasis in 2014 has shifted towards deep-ening relationships with our existing partners to great success. We have focused on further integrating and harmonizing our transportation demand management services. The result has been significant reductions in background traffic and air pollution amongst our partners.

Our events and campaigns, including Carpool Week, Bike Month and Smart Commute Week continue to grow in popularity and recognition with each passing year. This provides a valuable opportunity for face to face contact with thousands of commuters at our partner workplaces.

The Don Mills Corporate Shuttle continues to gain momentum, hitting record rid-ership in February 2014 with over 2400 boardings from participating workplaces. Surveys continue to show a 100% recommendation rate, a positive testament to the success of the program.

Our staff is committed to staying ahead of the curve on local transportation in-frastructure as well as developments in transportation technology. This allows us to continue to offer new and innovative solutions to the challenges faced by our partner organizations.

To achieve our vision of reducing traffic congestion, improving air quality and mitigating the effects of climate change through reduction of single-occupancy vehicle commuting, our network needs to continue to grow. The many accom-plishments outlined in this year’s Annual Report are a clear indication that Smart Commute is constantly evolving.

As our focus on programming and engagement deepens in the coming years, Smart Commute NTV will continue to evolve and support the transportation needs of our growing region.

I would especially like to thank our talented and hard-working team, dedicat-ed volunteer Board of Directors, Advisory Committee members and our many government partners including Metrolinx, City of Toronto, York Region and City of Vaughan for their ongoing support.

Brian ShifmanExecutive Director


LawrenceBouchard

message from the chair

Over the past several years we have seen our network of partners expand to rep-resent more than 126,000 commuters in the North Toronto, Vaughan and North-east Toronto regions. During the 2013-2014 fiscal year we initiated a shift from a period of intensive recruiting and growth to a focus on depth of programming.

While Smart Commute has continued to grow in size, it is clear that in order to change the travel behaviours of commuters, we need to continually push our programs be more engaging, inspiring and results-driven. The tangible benefits of working with Smart Commute need to be continually demonstrated and obvious to our partner businesses.

This year saw the continuation of the Workplace Designation program, whereby depending on the level of engagement and programming, high performing part-ners can achieve Silver or Gold designation. Our team has and will continue to work hard with each of our partners to strengthen programming and implement new initiatives that increase these designations on the way to reducing employ-ees’ contributions to traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions.

Through my work with Smart Commute NTV, I’ve witnessed the results of our programs and ultimately the success of our partners. Year over year, each work-place strives to create change and promote a healthier and more sustainable way of life for their employees.

Under the leadership of our Board of Directors, Executive Director, funders and Community Advisory Committees, Smart Commute will continue to play a leading role in finding innovative solutions for gridlock in our growing region.

Lawrence BouchardSmart Commute NTV ChairPrincipal, Magnum Opus Solutions

Andy ManahanSmart Commute NTV Vice-Chair; Chair of Northeast Toronto Advisory CommitteeExecutive Director, Residential and CivilConstruction Alliance of Ontario [RCCAO]

Michael LawrenceSmart Commute NTV Board MemberNational Manager, Workspace Strategy & Implementation, RBC Royal Bank of Canada

Les KelmanSmart Commute NTV Board MemberPrincipal, Les Kelman and Associates

David SaundersSmart Commute NTV Board MemberPresident, LEA Consulting

Tim AdamsonSmart Commute NTV Board MemberProgram Manager, Sustainable Energy,Enbridge Gas Distribution

Cameron MacKinnonSmart Commute NTV Board MemberPrincipal, Blackwater Communications

Darren CraigSmart Commute NTV Board MemberManager, Parking Operations and Technology Systems

Chris WongSmart Commute NTV SecretaryDirector of Transportation and Master Planning,York University Development Corporation

Nicole ArsenaultSmart Commute NTV TreasurerManager, Transportation and Student Services, York University

Board of Directors

Lawrence Bouchard

Andy Manahan

Nicole Arsenault

Chris Wong

David Saunders

Lauren BatesProgram Manager

Anise WongProgram Coordinator

Jay RobertsProgram Assistant

Jessica StronghillProgram Manager

Rachelle WatermanMarketing Manager

Brian ShifmanExecutive Director

Executive Committee

Staff

Smart Commute NTV Annual Report 2013-201412

our people

Bob Onyschuk

Chris Wong

Cameron MacKinnon

Edward Levy

Robert Merrick

Les Kelman

David Saunders

Brian Shifman

Individual Members (as represented by)

Asher MercerTDM Coordinator, York Region

Mark Bekkering Manager, Environmental Planning & Support,City of Toronto

Brian Dundas Sustainability Manager and CommunityTransformation, Toronto and RegionConservation Authority

Shirtley KamManager, Economic Development,City of Vaughan

Aubrey IwaniwSenior Advisor – Smart Commute, Metrolinx

Advisors


CH2M Hill Canada Limited (Partner)

City of Toronto (Funder)

City of Vaughan (Partner, Funder)

CNIB (Partner)

Crown Property Management (Partner)

Days Hotel – Toronto Don Valley (Partner)

Dillon Consulting (Member, Partner)

Earth Rangers (Partner)

Enbridge Gas Distribution (Member, Partner)

Four Seasons Hotels Limited (Partner)

GO Transit

Humber River Regional Hospital (Partner)

ING Direct (Partner)

Knoll North America Corp. (Member, Partner)

Metrolinx (Funder)

MicroSkills (Partner)

Morrison Hershfield Limited

Nestlé Canada (Partner)

North York Civic Centre (Partner)

North York General Hospital (Partner)

Northam Realty (Partner)

OPS Downsview Provincial Campus (Partner)

Parc Downsview Park (Partner, Member)

Pearson (Partner)

PowerStream (Partner)

Procter & Gamble (Partner)

RBC York Mills Centre (Partner, Member)

Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of

Ontario (RCCAO) (Member)

Sanofi Pasteur Limited (Partner)

Seneca College (Partner)

Smart Centres Retrocom Calloway (Partner)

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Partner)

Sysco Fine Meats/Freshpoint (Partner)

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

(Partner)

Toronto District School Board - North York

(Partner)

Vaughan Chamber of Commerce (Partner)

Vaughan Mills (Partner)

York Region Police (Partner)

York Region Transit

York University (Member, Partner)

Yorkdale Shopping Centre (Partner)

Zipcar (Member)

partners, members, key funders


year in review


Diamonds are a driver’s best friend.

yorkudiamonddrivers.ca

carpooling

Carpool Week 2014Smart Commute’s annual Carpool Week promotion took place from February 3rd to 9th.

Carpool Week encourages drivers to share the ride to work or school, and celebrates the amount of time and money that can be saved by carpooling. More than 350 employees participated in Carpool Week by attending outreaches at several NET and NTV partner employers.

Priority Carpool ParkingThe Priority Carpool Parking program at York University was launched in the Fall of 2012.

The program’s second year has seen tremendous growth in the popularity as measured by a 150% increase in permits issued since launch (12 permits issued in Fall 2012 vs. 35 in Spring 2014). This growth was no doubt fueled in part by successful promotion, such as the Diamonds are a driver’s best friend campaign.

Smart Commute NTV manages the program by issuing permits and gathering feedback while the York University Parking Office monitors and enforces permit usage at the 45 designated carpool parking spots across campus.

Audits conducted by Smart Commute NTV at popular lots are used to monitor carpooling needs and provide feedback and recommendations to the parking office should need exceed capacity. Looking ahead, we expect to see continued growth of the program measured by permits issued and space usage.

Smart Commute NTV also continues to support the management of carpool parking programs at OPS Downsview, PowerStream, and Sanofi Pasteur.


active commuting

Bike MonthBike to Work Day (May 27) and Bike Month (June) are annual opportunities to focus on demonstrating the feasibility of cycling as a commute mode by encouraging employees to give it a try. Smart Commute encouraged all types of cyclists to participate by riding to work and showing others that biking can be an easy, convenient and efficient mode of transportation.

Bike to Work Day and Bike Month events were held at Four Seasons, PowerStream, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, and York University.

Smart Commute WeekSmart Commute Week is a GTHA-wide campaign during which employees are encouraged to try a new commute mode other than what they usually use to get to work. Along with contests and incentives to encourage changes in behaviour Smart Commute visited workplaces to promote alternate modes and provide commute counselling.

Participating NTV/NET employers included: The City of Vaughan, Humber River Hospital, The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Sanofi Pasteur, CNIB, Northam, Dillon, Morrison Hershfield, Royal Bank York Mills, and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

Don Mills Corporate ShuttleThe Don Mills Corporate Shuttle continues to be a major focus for Smart Commute NET.

In its third year of operation- 2013/2014 - average ridership grew 31% over the previous year. The shuttle hit a record of 2326 boardings in February 2014.

The Shuttle is progressing towards maturity with 3 longer-term partners (Crown Property Development, Microskills, and Days Inn Hotel) and one short-term partner (Morguard Investments Limited).

Smart Commute NTV has continued to support ridership growth by running campaigns as the seasons change and encourage riders to try lunchtime trips to Fairview Mall. The Stay Warm and Shuttle On campaign concluded just as ridership hit it’s all time record in February.

innovation


Procter & GambleSmart Commute NET’s partnership with Procter & Gamble’s (P&G) office at the corner of Yonge Street and Sheppard Avenue was initiated in the Fall of 2013 as the company was preparing to embark upon a hoteling initiative which would rearrange the office from eight to three floors and result in a parking reduction of ~50%.

Understandably P&G was extremely interested in investigating opportunities to utilize alternative transportation modes to complement the existing employee car policy.

Smart Commute worked with P&G to support the rollout of a new carpool parking program, and worked alongside Transportation Team and HR to find out what information employees would need. With this information Smart Commute developed a new online Commuter Options Guide for P&G, which was rolled out and showcased at a special outreach – the P&G Transportation Fair at the end of February 2014. The Fair was attended by GO Transit, TTC, YRT/Viva, and Zipcar.


Royal Bank of Canada - York MillsRoyal Bank of Canada (RBC) – York Mills was named the 2013 Smart Commute NET Employer of the Year in recognition of its exceptional efforts and results over the past year.

In 2011, RBC approached Smart Commute – Northeast Toronto to help with the relocation of 1,600 employees from several down-town Toronto offices to their new uptown location at York Mills Centre. The goal was to retain as much of the public transit mode share (82.6% prior to the move) as possible while helping those unable to take transit to transition to carpooling.

Management’s efforts included the introduction of discounted tran-sit passes, and extensive promotion of the Carpool Zone carpool matching tool by way of internal messaging and creative Smart Commute outreaches.

Surveys before and after the move indicate that while transit use did drop somewhat, it is still exceptionally strong, with 67% of staff still commuting via public transit since the relocation. At the same time, carpooling among the employee population has increased dramatically from 3% to 11% of staff reporting this as their primary commute mode.

RBC looks forward to continued work with the Smart Commute team. Immediate plans include the creation of a RBC – York Mills Commuter Options brochure.

NET Employer of the Year

PowerStreamFor the third time in six years, PowerStream was named the Smart Commute Employer of the Year for North Toronto, Vaughan (NTV).

PowerStream, with over 27 per cent of its employees commuting to work using a smart commute method, removes at least 1,000 single occupancy vehicles (SOV) from the road each month, which has helped to prevent over 280 tonnes of CO2 from being emitted into the atmosphere each year since the company introduced their Smart Commute program in 2008.

One of PowerStream’s more successful Smart Commute initiatives has been the company’s employee carpool program. Employees, who work at PowerStream’s head office in Vaughan and commit to carpooling, are provided with one of the building’s highly-coveted indoor parking spaces.

In addition to carpooling, PowerStream has developed an exten-sive employee vanpool program that has seven vans providing a total of 54 employees with an environmentally-responsible way to get to and from work each day by eliminating 47 vehicles from the road each rush hour.

PowerStream was also named Smart Commute Employer of the Year for NTV in 2009 and 2011.

NTV Employer of the Year

smart work with our partnersnortheast toronto

Workplace Designation

Employee Population

VKTs Averted

GHGs Prevented

CH2M HillSmart Commute Workplace265 commuters296 kms64 kgs

Continued support of Smart Commute program

CNIBSmart Commute Workplace350 commuters1,972 kms428 kgs


Days Hotel -TorontoDon Valley

Smart Commute Workplace

Participating partner of Don Mills Corporate Shuttle. First year of full partnership with Smart Commute NET

Crown Property Management

Smart Commute Workplace3,800 commuters

Smart Commute Workplace700 commuters1,1162 kms252 kgs

Smart Commute Workplace1,071 commuters551 kms

Heron’s Hill site participating partner of Don Mills Corporate Shuttle

Concord site

Gordon Baker site

Heron’s Hill site

Dillon ConsultingSmart Commute Workplace100 commuters15,658 kms3,400 kgs

Continued support of Smart Commute program.

Four Seasons Hotels Limited

Smart Commute Workplace375 commuters

Participated in Carpool Week and Bike to Work Day. First year of full partnership with Smart Commute NET.

Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc.

Gold Smart Commute Workplace1,034 commuters2,189,294 kms434,094 kgs

Participated in Clean Air Commute. Vibrant vanpool program. 15% SOV reduction since baseline survey .


ING Bank of Canada


Installed 15 sustainable vehicle spots (hybrid/EV/NGV)


Microskills

Participating partner of Don Mills Corporate Shuttle


Pearson Canada Inc.

Continued partnershipbetween Smart CommuteNET and Central York TMAs


Morrison Hershfield Limited

Participated in Clean Air Commute. Continued support for Smart Commute Program

Northam RealtySmart Commute Workplace488 commuters541 kms

Participating partner on the Don Mills Corporate Shuttle.

North York General Hospital


Smart Commute Workplace2,849 commuters355 kms77 kgs

Leslie site participated in Carpool Week

Branson site

Leslie site

Procter & Gamble Inc.

Smart Commute Workplace700 commuters2,779 kms1,207 kgs

Participated in Carpool Week. First year as Smart Commute NET Partner. Baseline survey completed. Rollout of carpool parking and commuter brochure.

RBC - York MillsSmart Commute Workplace1,800 commuters12,939 kms13,117 kgs

Participated in Carpool Week. Smart Commute NET Employer of the Year. Completed followup survey

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Smart Commute Workplace10,000 commuters2,325 kms1,816 kgs

Participated in Bike to Work Day.

Toronto District School Board - North York


Participated in Carpool Week. Initiated partnership with Zipcar to make carsharing available on campus

OPS DownsviewProvincial Campus


Participated in Carpool Week

North York Civic Centre


First year of full partnership with Smart Commute NTV

Parc Downsview Park



north toronto,vaughan

Earth RangersSmart Commute Workplace60 commuters


City of Vaughan

Silver Smart Commute Workplace753 commuters433,451 kms102,910 kgs


Clean Air Commute, Bike to Work Day, Carpool Week, 5 fleet smart cars, 1 hybrid pickup in fleet, electric charging stations for electric vehicles available

City Hall

Joint Operations Centre

KnollSmart Commute Workplace600 commuters

Participated in Clean Air Commute. Followup survey complete

Nestlé CanadaSmart Commute Workplace455 commuters

Participated in Clean Air Commute and Carpool Week.

Humber River Hospital





Church site

Finch site

Keele site

smart work with our partners


Sanofi Pasteur Limited

Gold Smart Commute Workplace1,000 commuters2,683,427 kms591,641 kgs

Participated in Carpool Week and Clean Air Commute

PowerStream

Gold Smart Commute Workplace400 commuters161,070 kms42,891 kgs


Participated in Clean Air Commute, Bike to Work Day, and Carpool Week. NTV Employer of the Year

Cityview Blvd site

Jane site

Seneca College

Silver Smart Commute Workplace11,200 commuters


Participated in Bike to Work Day. Seneca @ York has 18 Zipcars on site. Jane site initiated a staff vanpool

Seneca @ York

Jane site

Smart Centres Vaughan


First year of partnership with Smart Commute NTV. Participation in Bike to Work Day.

Sysco Fine Meats



Vaughan Chamber of Commerce



Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

Gold Smart Commute Workplace100 commuters568 kms137 kgs


Participated in Clean Air Commute, and Smart Commute Week

Downsview site

Shoreham site

Yorkdale Shopping Centre




Vaughan MillsSmart Commute Workplace3,000 commuters


York Region Police



York University

Gold Smart Commute Workplace60,000 commuters162,775 kms198,535 kgs

Smart Commute Workplace2,500 commuters15 kms

Participated in Bike to Work Day. Keele campus has 18 Zipcars on site and upgraded from Silver to Gold designation

Keele campus

Glendon campus

Smart Commute NTV proudly partners with:

E A R T H M A T T E R S

For more information, please contact:36C York Lanes, 4700 Keele St. Toronto, ON M3J 1P3 416-650-8205 [email protected] SmartCommuteNTV.ca

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