On Demand Transit as a Solution for your City – Webinar #1  

On Demand Transit as a Solution for your City – Webinar #1  

Apr 21, 2021 | On Demand

On April 9, 2021, we hosted Part 1 of our 3-part webinar series about On-Demand Transit with the City of Edmonton. If you missed it, don’t worry! Let’s get you caught up with On Demand Transit as a Solution for your City.

Here was the agenda for Part 1:  

Why On-Demand Transit (ODT)? 

  • What problems did the City of Edmonton need to solve?
  • What other problems can ODT address
  • Cost-benefit analysis

Service Delivery Decisions 

  • Where, when, and how
  • Contracted vs. in-house
  • Creating an RFP and contract

Council Buy-in / Approval Process 

  • Ridership and cost estimates
  • Service metrics, goals, and cost metrics

Opposed to traditional route-based services, On Demand transit consists of dynamic routes on a booking-based system. Customers book a pickup and a drop-off, and the automated system plans out the best route to optimize time and space on the bus.  

In 2017, Edmonton discovered a need to rethink how public transit looks in Edmonton which meant planning a whole new bus network. This initiated the development of the Edmonton Transit Strategy that would be planned and prepped for a launch in 2020. In the discovery phase, some of the major challenges were getting routes to developing neighbourhoods sooner, creating more effective transit services in the outskirts of the city, and bringing transit to areas where route-based transit was not working. Through extensive research, the City of Edmonton discovered that On Demand transit, may be the solution.   

After 3 years of research, public engagement, gender-based analysis, and planning, the service is finally ready to launch in May 2021. The research that went into the planning process informed 20% of decisions made later down the road in developing the service. This public engagement and analysis were crucial in gaining approval for this project.  

Watch the webinar recording below, or visit our YouTube Channel. 

Be sure to register for Part 2 of the webinar series on May 6, 2021.  

Register Now
On Demand Transportation: Top 4 Considerations

On Demand Transportation: Top 4 Considerations

Apr 15, 2021 | On Demand

Working with transportation agencies in communities across Canada, our teams help identify and pilot tailored approaches to meet the growing demand for accessible transportation options. Our goal is to deliver mobility to residents beyond the traditional fixed-route service.

 

With increasing traffic congestion and outdated or underutilized infrastructure, now is the time to rethink our approach to public transportation. Each day we are challenged to develop new solutions to these issues, and while there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, there are 4 main considerations that go into modernizing a transportation system with an on demand service delivery model:

 

Environmental Sustainability:

When considering integrating an on demand transportation model, it’s important to look at the potential impact that your current fixed-route service has on the environment. The traditional way we operate transit may be unsustainable, not only from an environmental perspective but also from a consumer or economic perspective. Integration of an on demand service has the potential to decrease traffic congestion and reduce the instances of vehicles running empty on our roadways, resulting in decreased carbon emissions. 

 

Communication and Convenience:

The times we live in are demand-based. Today’s consumer knows what they want and they don’t want to wait for it – when it comes to their transportation services, it’s no different. People want mobility services tailored to their specific needs and they want the technology to keep them connected and informed.  When it comes to on demand transportation, PWT understands this need and only utilizes the best in industry ride-sharing technology, combined with superior customer service to deliver top-of-the-line on demand services. 

 

First/Last Mile Consideration:

Many cities and towns’ conventional transit services are well utilized and move thousands of people on a daily basis. However, this traditional approach to transit, though well utilized, doesn’t cover all of the bases. There are many areas in urban and rural landscapes that are under-served by conventional transit systems, or not served at all. The on-demand application of transit can be used in a way that leaves nobody behind. Acting as a solution to the first/last mile problem, on demand transportation services can be integrated within conventional transit systems to improve access to existing infrastructure and drive further ridership on conventional services.

 

Funding and Cost Recovery:

Typically, public transportation isn’t a profit-generating venture. Municipalities are allocated a fixed sum of money and try to develop a transportation service model that is attractive to everyone – this is something that is very difficult to do with a one-size-fits-all, conventional transit approach. The integration of an on demand model can allow you to reach more customers with a customizable service offering, reducing the number of empty vehicles on the road and resulting in cost savings by taking money previously allocated to low-performing services and reallocating it to other areas. 

 

There are clear benefits and a growing list of agencies employing private, demand-responsive models within their existing transit systems, with many seeing overall reduced cost, increased ridership, and convenience to riders. 

At PWT, we are leaders in the people transportation industry and have the experience and technology to respond to unique development requirements to help you succeed — we aspire to build a service that is adaptable and brings effective solutions to your transportation problems.

 

Click here to learn more about our On Demand transportation solutions.

Canada’s Largest On Demand Transit Service Set to Launch in Edmonton

Canada’s Largest On Demand Transit Service Set to Launch in Edmonton

Sep 20, 2020 | News, On Demand

EDMONTON, AB, September 23, 2020 – To ensure all Edmontonians can connect to the City’s new bus network next year, Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) has selected Pacific Western Transportation (PWT) and Via to launch Canada’s largest On-Demand Transit service. A total of 57 shuttle buses will conveniently and safely connect residents in select neighbourhoods with a nearby transit hub. These accessible shuttles do not follow fixed routes and only operate upon request. The On-Demand Transit service, which will add a new layer to ETS’ integrated transit network, is set to launch in mid-2021 and will be part of a two-year pilot project.

Edmontonians will be able to book a ride directly from their smartphone using an app, a telephone, or a website. A shuttle bus with a professionally trained driver will take customers from designated stops in their neighbourhood to nearby transit hubs. This shared ride service provides quick and efficient trips by using Via’s advanced trip planning software to match multiple passengers headed in the same direction.

“As Edmonton continues to grow and evolve, we are looking for creative transportation solutions to keep our residents connected. That’s one of the reasons we are excited to work with PWT and Via as partners to provide On-Demand Transit given their strong experience operating on-demand service in Western Canada and applying their technology globally,” said Eddie Robar, Branch Manager of Edmonton Transit Service.

“We are immensely proud to partner with Pacific Western and the City of Edmonton to debut Canada’s largest on-demand public transportation network, connecting more residents to transit than ever before,” said Via CEO and co-founder Daniel Ramot. “Via’s technology provides a flexible mobility solution that currently enables more than 150 partners around the globe to transform the way people move, using technology to usher in the next generation of mass transit. The launch of Edmonton’s new on-demand service represents a milestone in Canada, and an opportunity for innovation-forward cities and transit agencies to follow.”

PWT has been leading the Canadian new mobility market since 2017 by offering solutions in the realm of On-Demand Transit, Autonomous Vehicles, and Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) in Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario. With its flourishing On-Demand Transit systems operating in Calgary, Cochrane, and Okotoks, PWT has the proven operational expertise and resources to successfully manage On-Demand Transit service in Edmonton.

“We take great pride and responsibility in being the leading operator of On-Demand Transportation in Canada and are excited to work with the transit industry trail-blazers at the City of Edmonton,” said Greg Nichols, Vice-President of Transit with Pacific Western Transportation.

Edmonton’s On-Demand Transit service will operate during peak and off-peak hours in approximately 30 communities and provide service to 18 large seniors residences. These sites, which were selected based on a number of factors, will be provided a flexible connection to the new bus network that is rolling out in mid-2021. Edmonton is one of many municipalities that are choosing on-demand transit options for neighbourhoods where it is a better fit than conventional bus service.

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For more information visit:

edmonton.ca/ondemandtransit

pwt.ca

ridewithvia.com

Media Contact:

Pacific Western Transportation (PWT) 
Pamela Deadmarsh, Director, Communications Centre of Excellence Phone: 403-999-2604

BACKGROUNDERS: 

About Edmonton Transit Service (ETS): Transit service in Edmonton began operation in 1908 and today it’s a fully integrated, progressive, easy-to-use public transit system that regularly provides over 80 million rides each year. Transit plays an essential role in city building so ETS is modernizing its system to provide safe, fast, convenient and reliable service to more Edmontonians. The new On Demand Transit service will complement the redesigned bus network rolling out in 2021 and the expanding LRT service. For more information, visit edmonton.ca/transit.

About Pacific Western Transportation (PWT): Founded in 1957, the Pacific Western Group of Companies is the largest privately-owned people transportation company in Canada. Today, PWT offers comprehensive transportation services and solutions across the country, with over 5,600 employees and numerous business locations. As an operator and integrator of mobility, the Pacific Western Group of Companies is proud to provide multiple innovative new mobility solutions that connect people and communities: Autonomous Vehicles, On Demand Transit, and Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS). Our team of innovators and industry leaders are passionate about getting people Safely Home and giving back to the communities we serve. We pride ourselves on building lasting relationships, trust and transparency, and the PWT passion in our commitment to customer service and mobility solutions that we are so well known for. For more information visit pwt.ca.

About Via: Via is reimagining how the world moves, from a system of rigid routes and schedules to fully dynamic networks. Via’s mobile app connects multiple passengers who are headed the same way, allowing riders to seamlessly share a premium vehicle. First launched in New York City in 2013, Via’s technology is now deployed globally, including in Europe as ViaVan. Today Via and ViaVan partner with over 150 public transportation agencies, private transit operators, taxi fleets, private companies, school districts, and universities, seamlessly integrating with transportation infrastructure to power cutting-edge mobility. For more information, visit ridewithvia.com.