Transit Priority Seating Review
Consultation has concluded
Introduction
The City of Winnipeg is reviewing the accessibility of our transit system. One aspect of this review may involve establishing designated priority seating areas on conventional buses.
We want to better understand the needs of transit users and develop processes that recognize the needs of transit users with disabilities. Your feedback, along with a jurisdictional scan and Winnipeg Transit data will be used to make recommendations for the future of priority space on Transit buses.
Background
On May 19, 2020, the Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works asked the public service to review the issues ofContinue reading
Introduction
The City of Winnipeg is reviewing the accessibility of our transit system. One aspect of this review may involve establishing designated priority seating areas on conventional buses.
We want to better understand the needs of transit users and develop processes that recognize the needs of transit users with disabilities. Your feedback, along with a jurisdictional scan and Winnipeg Transit data will be used to make recommendations for the future of priority space on Transit buses.
Background
On May 19, 2020, the Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works asked the public service to review the issues of accessibility for Transit customers related to policies for strollers, priority and courtesy seating and operator assistance.
This review builds on the February 2019 discussion paper outlining the Accessible Transportation Standard Terms of Reference, as part of the Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA). The provincial Accessibility Advisory Council (AAC) has drafted a Transportation Accessibility Standard in accordance with the AMA, part of which outlines new standards for priority seating and mobility aid spaces for transportation service providers, including Winnipeg Transit.
Current Issues:
- Winnipeg Transit experiences high volumes of transit riders at different points in the day and this leads to crowded buses and ‘pass-ups’ (when riders waiting are passed because the bus is too full to accommodate them).
- There are challenges with pass-ups for all transit riders and that is why the City is working on a Transit Master Plan that proposes a high frequency network.
- Accessible spaces (seats at the front of the bus where the benches flip up) on transit buses are limited and there is currently a ‘first come, first served’ approach.
- A first-come, first-served approach to priority space is not aligned with the Accessibility For Manitobans Act transportation standard.
The City of Winnipeg is seeking public feedback on the priority seating area and the possible impacts to the development of Transit policies related to barriers experienced by customers using wheelchairs and strollers, as well as barriers experienced by other transit users which may or may not be visible.
You may also read the summary of similar policies from other cities.
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December 2, 2020 – Report to SPC-IRPW
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkA summary of public and stakeholder feedback received is now available online. This summary will be presented to the Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works (SPC-IRPW) on Friday, December 4, 2020. The meeting agenda is now online, including the full report.
If you would like to appear as a delegation, please contact the City Clerk's Department by 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec.3.
Please note: An earlier version of this report included an inappropriate comment in the survey results. The comment has since been removed.
We apologize for missing this comment in our editing of survey responses prior to posting.
Using inappropriate and offensive language when providing feedback is not acceptable.
Please see moderation rules for this site for more information.
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September 16 - Thank you!
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkThank you to everyone who has taken time to provide feedback. Surveys were accepted until September 15, 2020. Feedback is currently being reviewed and a summary of the engagement process will be posted online.
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August 18, 2020
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkThe City of Winnipeg is currently reviewing options related to priority seating on transit. Feedback may be provided through the online survey and discussion forum on this website until September 15.
Timeline
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Project begins: May 19, 2020
Transit Priority Seating Review has finished this stage -
Jurisdictional scan and data collection: May – August 2020
Transit Priority Seating Review has finished this stage -
Public engagement: August 18 – September 15, 2020
Transit Priority Seating Review has finished this stage -
PE Summary posted: October 2020
Transit Priority Seating Review is currently at this stage -
Report to Standing Policy Committee (IRPW): December 4, 2020
this is an upcoming stage for Transit Priority Seating Review
How can we help?
Visit winnipeg.ca/publicengagement to learn about some of the ways we can accommodate those who may need alternative access to engagement or information.
For inquiries or those who require alternate formats, interpretation or any additional accommodations to participate please contact 311@winnipeg.ca or 311.
Who's listening
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Email city-engage@winnipeg.ca -
Email neilbailey@winnipeg.ca
FAQ
- Why are you doing this project?
- What is priority seating? What is courtesy seating?
- What is the current priority seating policy?
- Why are you changing the priority seating policy?
- How will potential changes regarding priority and courtesy seating be communicated to the public?
- Why would you need both Priority Seating and Courtesy Seating areas on a bus?
Engagement type
Consult
Share feedback on pre-determined options.