Creating a Transit Generation The Effect of the U-Pass on Lifelong - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Creating a Transit Generation

The Effect of the U-Pass on Lifelong Transit Use By Caitlin Cooper, MPP

INTRODUCTION

• Pass enticed me to use transit

Curious about long-term impacts Co-op with Translink introduced me to the goals and hallenges of the U-Pass

What is the U-Pass?

Post-Secondary Student Transit Pass Unlimited use across all 3 Zones Mandatory Paid for through student fees

Goals of the U-Pass

• ols:

Provide a lower cost transportation option for students Reduce car use to relieve traffic congestion and pollut Reduce car parking requirements on campus. nsLink: To create life-long transit users.

Liveable and Sustainable Communities

ransLink and Metro Vancouver are working

• wards creating a liveable and sustainable regio

ransportation mode share is an important eleme n both plans. Need to shift mode share from SOV to transit, walking, or cycling.

Focus of Study

006 Census data: 25% of 15-24 year olds use ransit as their primary mode of Transportation. 8% of 25-34 year olds choose transit as their rimary mode of Transportation.

Research Question

How has the U-Pass affected transit use after raduation? Understand what and why transportation choices re made post-graduation

Policy Problem

How can TransLink increase the transit mode sha mong 25-34 year olds? 5-34 year olds are the post U-Pass cohort. Key demographic to target: encourage settlemen ear transit or within walking distance.

Methodology

Created and administered an online survey to SFU lumni. Questions on current transportation behaviour, as well tudent behaviour. ample Size: 204 respondents pproximately 60% former U-Pass holders

p

Never Infrequent Frequent ersity Frequency 31% 21% ent Frequency 41% 17% Never Infrequent Frequen ersity Frequency 11% 17% ent Frequency 24% 23% Did Not Have a U-Pass Had a U-Pass

y

Influence of Transit on Lifestyle Decisions for Former U-Pass Holders

43% 44% 44% 37% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50% Where you live Where you work Where you shop Where you socialize

Lifestyle Decisions: Yes Responses

Significant Results

Dependent Variable:

Frequency of Transit Use Post-Graduation

Significant Regression Variables: + Had a U-Pass + Proximity to Transit Access point + Currently Commute By Transit

• Currently Walk/Cycle

Currently Drive a Personal Vehicle

Options For Going Forward

Status Quo Status Quo Plus Graduate U-Pass Extension

Status Quo

No change from what currently exists UBC, SFU, and Langara College remain the

• nly schools participating in the U-Pass

program Contracts remain as they are

Status Quo Plus

he U-Pass has been successful at creating ustained habits More schools are introduced to the U-Pass progr

• expand the benefits

Negotiate costs into contracts with schools

Graduate U-Pass Extension

he U-Pass has influenced, but does not uarantee, transit use after graduation ntroduce a pass to facilitate the transition betwee he U-Pass and the Employer Pass Directly targets the 25-34 year old cohort

Criteria

Cost: Implementation and Administrative Effectiveness: Ridership Account,

Environmental Externalities Equity: horizontal and Vertical

Feasibility: Public Acceptability, Provincial

Leadership Requirement

Recommendation

Build on to the Status Quo U-Pass expansion may take some time to negotiate Graduate Pass could be implemented quickly

Next Steps

Expand the study to cover both SFU and UBC Alumni ntroduce a Structural Change to break driving ha Work towards a region wide universal transit pas

g Transit Pass

Every household in the Vancouver region would eceive a transit pass in exchange for a fee Costs would currently be prohibitively high Start small with each household receiving a few d asses per month

Conclusion

U-Pass has been successful in achieving all goa Effective at increasing transit use among student nd alumni Should consider expanding the U-Pass program