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1. ACCESSIBILITY AUDIT OF THE
CITY OF OTTAWA'S PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM vérification de l’accessibilité
du système de transport en commun de la vIlle d’Ottawa |
Committee recommendation as
amended
That Council request a
comprehensive accessibility audit of the City of Ottawa’s public transit system
including Para Transpo be conducted with the participation of all relevant
players including the Real Property Asset Management Branch and Customer
Services; and
That the Terms of Reference
for the comprehensive accessibility review:
a)
incorporate the elements proposed by the Accessibility
Advisory Committee (save for the employment issues)
b)
incorporate consultation with the Auditor General to seek
his suggestions; and
c) be brought to the Transit Committee for approval.
Recommandation modifiÉe dU ComitÉ
Que le Conseil municipal demande la réalisation d’une vérification
exhaustive du système de transport en commun de la Ville d’Ottawa, y compris de
Para Transpo, vérification qui serait menée avec la participation de tous les
intervenants pertinents, dont la Direction de la gestion des biens immobiliers
et des Services à la clientèle; et
Que le cadre de référence de l’examen exhaustif
de l’accessibilité :
a)
intègre
les éléments proposés par le Comité consultatif sur l’accessibilité (à
l’exception des questions d’emploi);
b)
intègre
une consultation avec le vérificateur général afin d’obtenir ses suggestions;
c)
soit
présenté au Comité du transport en commun pour approbation.
Documentation
1. Accessibility Advisory Committee’s
report dated 6 February 2008 (ACS2008-CCV-AAC-0001).
2. Extract of draft Minutes, 20 February
2008.
Comité du transport en commun
and Council / et au Conseil
6 February 2008 / le 6 février 2008
Submitted by/Soumis par : Victor Emerson, Chair, Accessibility Advisory
Committee / Président du comité consultatif sur l’accessibilité
Contact Person/Personne ressource : Carole Langford, Advisory Committee
Coordinator / Coordonnatrice du comité consultatif
(613)
580-2424 x28934, carole.langford@ottawa.ca
SUBJECT:
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ACCESSIBILITY AUDIT OF THE CITY OF
OTTAWA'S PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM |
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OBJET :
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vérification de l’accessibilité du système de transport en commun de
la vIlle d’Ottawa |
That the Accessibility Advisory Committee recommend that the Transit Committee recommend that Council request a comprehensive accessibility audit of the City of Ottawa’s public transit system including Para Transpo be conducted with the participation of all relevant players including the Real Property Asset Management Branch and Customer Services.
Que le Comité
consultatif sur l’accessibilité recommande que le Comité du transport en commun
recommande au Conseil municipal de demander la réalisation d’une vérification
exhaustive du système de transport en commun de la Ville d’Ottawa, y compris de
Para Transpo, vérification qui serait menée avec la participation de tous les
intervenants pertinents, dont la Direction de la gestion des biens immobiliers
et des Services à la clientèle.
At the December 18, 2007 meeting, the members of the Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) discussed the recurring problems occurring in the transit system such as broken down elevators and various transportation issues within the past few years. Subsequent to that discussion, the following motion was passed:
WHEREAS the Accessibility
Advisory Committee recognizes that a safe, dependable and efficient public
transit system must exist for the City of Ottawa to be an inclusive community;
AND WHEREAS the Accessibility
Advisory Committee is aware of shortcomings and problems associated with the
public transit system, these conditions ranging from transit station elevators
being often out of service and OC Transpo pass and ticket vendor locations
being inaccessible, to frequent reports of poor customer relations and
communications;
AND WHEREAS the Accessibility
Advisory Committee deems that a system-wide audit is an effective and efficient
means to determine the extent of the deficiencies as well as a basis for
establishing benchmarks and setting priorities for improving the accessibility
of the public transit system;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that
the Accessibility Advisory Committee recommends that a comprehensive
accessibility audit of the City of Ottawa’s public transit system including
Para Transpo be conducted with the participation of all relevant players
including RPAM and Customer Services.
This audit would be designed to identify barriers to the use of City of
Ottawa’s public transit system including Para Transpo by all persons. At a minimum, the recommended audit would
include an assessment of:
·
Policies, procedures and practices;
·
Employment, recruitment, job accommodation;
·
Information services, both within OC Transpo/Para
Transpo and between OC Transpo/Para Transpo and its customers;
·
Communication systems, both within OC Transpo/Para
Transpo and between OC Transpo/Para Transpo and its customers;
·
Customer service;
·
Staff training and knowledge levels for
accessibility, disability-related requirements/accommodations;
·
Safety, including planning, implementation, the
availability of fail-safe mechanisms;
·
Physical access inclusive of supporting structure
(vehicles, Transitway, transit stations, bus shelters, bus stops, ticket
outlets, elevators, etc.); and
Time and time again, the AAC has listened to
residents of Ottawa, either through AAC meetings or by e-mails, with growing
concerns relating to accessibility issues such as elevators being out of order
at transit stations, poor customer relations and communications and
dysfunctional ramps.
It is the belief of the AAC that an accessibility audit would demonstrate leadership by eliminating existing barriers experienced by all riders (not only those with disabilities) and preventing future barriers from being created as the City of Ottawa expands the public transit system.
Transit Services (OC Transpo and Para Transpo) has made
significant progress in improving the accessibility of the City’s transit system.
Transit Services has used a variety of means to identify and address existing
barriers to accessibility including independent safety audits, customer service
records, AODA standards development, RPAM accessibility reviews, public forums
such as the Accessible Community Forum (June 2007) and the Seniors
Transportation Forum (October 2006), as well as on-going liaison with the
Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC). These existing barriers are generally
documented as part of the annual process of reviewing and updating the City of
Ottawa Municipal Accessibility Plan (COMAP).
As part of Council’s intent to move to an outcome-based
system of management, Transit Services is scheduled to be one of several
branches that will undertake a Strategic Branch Review (SBR) in 2008. The
intent of this review is to confirm the set of outcomes, services, and service
standards for transit against which performance can be analysed and reported.
As part of the SBR, a comprehensive accessibility review
will be undertaken to enhance Transit Services’ ability to meet the needs of
people with disabilities. In partnership with the Corporate Interdepartmental
Accessibility Advisory Committee (ASC), AAC and SAC, an assessment tool could
be developed to identify and confirm known barriers and potentially any new
barriers, as well as solutions and expected timing for removal. The assessment
could also identify ways of preventing the development or introduction of new
barriers in the future, through possible changes to existing policy, procedures
and practices.
To maintain continuity with previous reviews, audits and
work-plans, actions arising from the accessibility audit will be documented as
part of COMAP, which, in addition to forming a good basis for an ongoing review
of progress, also provides the necessary accountability to the Province of
Ontario. Customer satisfaction surveys will also be revised to include
accessibility benchmarks for on-going performance evaluations.
Legislative obligations of the Accessibility for Ontarians with
Disabilities Act (AODA), 2005 continue to be refined and finalized as we enter
2008, but these standards will also be incorporated into COMAP, so that
compliance and consistency are assured.
Finally, Transit Services has committed to Transit Committee an Annual Performance Report outlining key programs, progress and measurement criteria. Selected by performance indexes affecting persons with disabilities will be included to ensure annual progress is measured.
Real Property Asset Management
Branch
The Real Property Asset Management (RPAM) Branch recognizes the merits of a system-wide audit to determine the extent of deficiencies, establish benchmarks and set priorities for improving accessibility of the public transit system. RPAM welcomes this initiative as it would assist with confirmation and validation of the nature of deficiencies. It would be beneficial in the identification and removal of barriers related to all facets of accessibility, with the outcome resulting in a prioritized work plan and confirmation of financial need. However, RPAM does not currently have sufficient funds available in the 2008 budget for a comprehensive building accessibility review.
Information Technology Services Branch
ITS does not have any concerns with an audit of Public Transit Accessibility, and would like to be involved once the process starts to provide our client (Transit) assistance in completing this audit should Council approve it going forward.
Employee Services Branch
ES has suggested a wording change as highlighted below. It is found on Page 3 of the report.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the
Accessibility Advisory Committee recommends that a comprehensive accessibility
audit of the City of Ottawa’s public transit system including Para Transpo be
conducted with the participation of all relevant players including RPAM and
Customer Services. This audit would be
designed to identify barriers to the use of City of Ottawa’s public transit
system including Para Transpo by all persons.
At a minimum, the recommended audit would include an assessment of:
This is employment equity not accessibility advisory committee role – not appropriate for review since this is monitored by the CHRC on a yearly basis;
Client Services and Public Information Branch
BTS supports the application of comprehensive accessibility audits to identify gaps between current infrastructure and services with goals of greater accessibility and inclusion for persons with disabilities.
The City has achieved great progress in making its public transit services more accessible and indeed, in many areas is looked upon as a municipal leader within the province of Ontario and throughout the country. A comprehensive audit of transit services will further enhance capacity to respond to identified needs of people with disabilities and provide the corporation with tested accessibility assessment tools for application within in other service and business areas.
Accessible public transit was identified as a primary issue by participants of the 2007 Community Forum for Persons with Disabilities. The Corporate Interdepartmental Accessibility Steering Committee (ASC) has also identified transportation as an essential ingredient to the social and economic inclusion of residents with disabilities and to the successful attainment of the City's strategic direction of building an inclusive society. Corporate goals of making it easier to move around the City are impacted significantly by services of public transit.
The City of Ottawa Municipal Accessibility Plan (COMAP) provides an avenue for the identification and removal of barriers. The ASC is responsible for co-ordinating and monitoring COMAP initiatives as approved by Council. To date, audits implemented through COMAP have focused on specific areas of service delivery, such as physical access to city-owned facilities, access to ottawa.ca. A comprehensive audit designed to include policies, procedures and practices, staff training needs, service delivery, communications, protocols, and client satisfaction, would benefit the whole City by developing and testing accessibility audit tools which could be applied elsewhere.
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), 2005 requires full accessibility by the year 2025. One accessibility standard has been codified with the rest coming into law between 2008 and 2010. Compliance timelines will be phased-in starting as early as 2010. Obligatory accessibility requirements of the standards will affect all business areas of the City. Comprehensive audits can assist business areas to identify specific short-comings and provide evidence-based, decision making for compliance strategies.
Costs associated with a comprehensive accessibility audit of the City’s public transit system are not known at this time, and will be determined once the audit parameters are established and it’s determined how much can be covered within existing resources.
Should it be determined that there are incremental costs associated with this initiative, funds are not available within the City’s 2008 Operating/Capital Budget.
N/A
Planning, Transit and the Environment staff will undertake the appropriate action following Committee and Council consideration of the Motion.
ACCESSIBILITY
AUDIT OF THE CITY OF OTTAWA'S PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM
VÉRIFICATION
DE L’ACCESSIBILITÉ DU SYSTÈME DE TRANSPORT EN COMMUN DE LA VILLE D’OTTAWA
ACS2008-CCV-AAC-0001 City Wide / à l'échelle de la Ville
Chair Cullen introduced Victor
Emerson, Chair of the Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) who was
present to speak to the AAC’s report and recommendation.
Mr. Emerson provided the context of
the report recommendation. He explained
that in the motion itself there is a list of several aspects of Ottawa’s public
transit system that the AAC thought would be good to be part of an audit. The AAC tried to make the motion as
comprehensive as possible. In part,
this is based on the amount of time that the AAC spends dealing with issues
that come before it related to transit.
Just in the past few meetings they have dealt with the on-going issue of
announcing the bus stops and the associated compliance rate, which he thought
to be presently between 50 and 60 percent.
Given that this policy was put in place as the result of a Human Rights
decision and that it has been almost one year since that decision was rendered,
the compliance rate is not at a standard that the AAC feels Ottawa should be
delivering in terms of accessibility.
The Advisory Committee has also heard a number of issues over the last
few months with respect to people not being able to access buses because of
snow-covered roads, sidewalks and bus stops.
This is just to say there are a number of barriers with respect to
accessibility that don’t fall under one simple identifier, or one issue that
can be clearly identified as the problem that needs to be resolved. Other issues have come to light with the
City’s takeover of Para Transpo service.
The AAC accepts that there are accessibility issues in Ottawa’s public
transit system and one of the issues seems to be that if the City is to address
these problems, where it should best put the funds to address them. The AAC therefore has called for an
accessibility audit of the entire transit system, not in any way as a
punishment or focus on deficiencies, but rather to identify and characterize
what some of the issues are in order to help with decision-making so that when
it comes time to spend money, there will be a better idea of where the funds
would be best allocated to solve the problems.
Without an accessibility audit, there would be no way to determine the
best way to proceed.
Chair Cullen asked for staff comment
on the motion.
Alain Mercier, Director of Transit
Services, Planning, Transit and the Environment (PTE) explained that comments
from PTE included in the report were in the context that the recommendation of
the AAC comes at the same time that Council has requested a branch service
review. One of the first components of
that review will be a report from staff to Committee and Council as to the
outcomes and mandates of the organization, the processes and policies under
which the organization is managed and how effective they are, and to provide a
briefing as to those elements where policy decisions may need to be taken. That two-phase process is happening this
year. In the context of the
recommendations by the AAC, PTE would need to address the delivery of
accessible services through the transit system itself, irrespective of the
decision of Committee and Council. From
that perspective, staff will be carrying out this exercise and look forward to
working within the organization, part of the mandate of Transit Services being
to incorporate plant and property issues and other elements within the city in
the delivery of transit services, including snow removal and the like. There will be an opportunity for Committee
and Council to direct Transit in certain areas, but more importantly for the
branch to present information as to the input from different committees and
from public consultation and then set a direction for further debate at the end
of the year as to how to proceed.
Chair Cullen requested clarification
that a report would come back to Committee and Council with respect to the
scope and Terms of Reference of the accessibility audit, that the AAC would
have the opportunity to comment on such, and that any associated budget
implications would be part of the 2009 budget.
Mr. Mercier confirmed.
Councillor Leadman inquired about
the audit parameters. Mr. Mercier advised the audit plan and parameters would
be established via the report back to Transit Committee for its consideration.
When asked whether he thought this
would be an appropriate process, Mr. Emerson responded that while the AAC is
eager to work with other municipal entities to make this happen, they are not
in a position to identify the associated costs. However, he suggested there are tools available to help in this
regard. He added that under the Accessibility
for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), there is a 20-year window in
which Ontario must become entirely accessible, but he cautioned the City should
not delay any longer than necessary to achieve this goal. There is a transportation committee under
the Act that will be putting milestones in place and the City will be expected
to meet those. In part, the
accessibility audit being recommended will ensure the planning tools are
available so that as the AODA working groups implement milestones, the
City can match its own plan against their proposals. AAC is willing to work with OC Transpo to move forward.
Councillor McRae asked Mr. Mercier
if the accessibility audit proposed by the AAC is different from what staff
wants to do with respect to the branch review and if Committee’s approval of
this audit would prevent staff from doing other things they want to do. Mr. Mercier responded that the audit
proposed by the AAC is in part different from what staff will be doing through
the service review. The service review
will deal with many issues, some of which have been raised by the AAC in their
report, and the outline of that review would be presented to Committee in late
May or early June. At that time it
would be clearer to Committee if there are elements within the service review
that Committee and Council would like staff to look at further, which would be
incremental or different than those proposed by the AAC via an audit. The scope and terms of reference for the
audit could then be prepared so as not to duplicate work.
The Councillor asked whether the
audit would include all community stakeholders (and public) at the table, as
identified in the AAC’s report. Mr.
Mercier confirmed.
Councillor McRae asked Mr. Mercier
whether he concurs with audit components requested by the AAC in the report as
minimum standards. Mr. Mercier replied
that other than employment, recruitment and job accommodation (which would not
be part of OC Transpo’s mandate as part of the hiring practices of the City)
the majority of the items listed would be covered within the branch service
review, but the question would be to what extent and what level of detail. Committee would determine that when staff
reports back.
When asked by Councillor McRae
whether this was favourable, Mr. Emerson responded that it is not. He acknowledged however that the AAC might
be looking for something that goes beyond Mr. Mercier’s ability to dictate. Councillor McRae noted it would therefore be
up to Committee to approve something different, should they so desire, to serve
the needs of the disabled community and seniors faced with these problems. Mr. Emerson agreed, noting that the AAC
deals with accessibility issues faced by everyone, not just by person with
disabilities, and that includes problems with the built environment as well as
transit.
Councillor Legendre asked Mr.
Emerson whether it is the AAC’s intent that the Auditor General conducts the
audit. Mr. Emerson replied that the
Auditor General may have a role in it but there is also a role to be played by
the Accessibility Specialist. He
thought a team of people would carry it out.
The Councillor asked Mr. Emerson
whether the AAC was aware of the strategic branch review that is to take place
this year when it approved this recommendation in December 2007. Mr. Emerson did not believe so.
The Councillor asked Mr. Mercier to
confirm whether all of the elements requested by the AAC (apart from the
employment, recruitment and job accommodation) could be part of the branch
review. Mr. Mercier confirmed. Councillor Legendre therefore suggested that
an audit need not be conducted to provide the information the AAC is looking
for. Mr. Mercier clarified that the branch
review could cover the components requested but he was not sure if it would be
covered to the degree that the AAC is looking for.
When asked by the Councillor to
confirm that the parameters of the branch review would be brought to Committee
for review before it proceeds, Mr. Mercier replied that the Terms of Reference
and strategic mandate of the Transit Service branch would be brought to
Committee and Council for review. The
second phase of the review, which would come at the end of the year, would look
at the effectiveness under which the branch delivers those services. It is during this phase that details
regarding the audit would be considered.
Councillor Wilkinson requested
further clarification about the process.
Mr. Mercier explained that Council approved a strategic branch service
review that has two parts – one being a review of the mandate and policy
implications under which the branch operates, and the other phase, which would
likely come to Committee in early January of 2009, would look at the
effectiveness under which the branch delivers services.
Councillor Wilkinson did not see the
two parts of the branch review as equal to what is requested in the audit. She requested that staff, when coming back
with the Terms of Reference for the first phase, lay out a plan as to how and
when the audit components would be conducted.
Mr. Mercier agreed that would be possible and that staff would
consult the AAC in preparing that document.
When asked for comment, Mr. Emerson
responded there are two issues that concern him in this regard. One issue, he noted respectfully, is that
there should be an objective oversight of the issues under consideration. The other issue is that he is unsure whether
this audit fits into the strategic branch review or not, and he thought it is
necessary to define what is required in the accessibility audit and to lay it
out next to the branch review to ensure all the components are covered but
without duplication. Mr. Mercier agreed
with that suggestion.
When asked by the Councillor when
the scope of the branch review would be coming forward, Mr. Mercier suggested
that Phase 1 would likely be presented to Transit Committee at the beginning of
May and it would include the suggested plan of action to proceed with these elements.
Catherine Gardner expressed support for the AAC
recommendation but requested a couple of additions to the audit. She recommended that Para Transpo and OC
Transpo record customer calls for quality assurance purposes and as an effective
audit tool to determine where problems exist and how they might be best
remedied. She also suggested the audit
incorporate a thorough review of transit station elevators to determine the
priority for repair, upgrade and replacement.
Councillor Wilkinson asked Mr. Mercier
whether elevator replacements fall under his responsibility or that of Real
Property Asset Management (RPAM). Mr.
Mercier responded that an independent engineering firm conducted a
comprehensive review of all elevators.
Based on that review, the elevators were prioritized on an eight-year
long-range plan by RPAM, which staff is utilizing.
The Committee then proceeded with
discussion on the issue.
Councillor Legendre proposed the
following motion:
That the
Terms of Reference for the comprehensive accessibility review:
a)
incorporate the elements proposed by the Accessibility
Advisory Committee (save for the employment issues);
b)
incorporate consultation with the Auditor General to
seek his suggestions; and
c)
be brought to the Transit Committee for approval.
When asked by Councillor Wilkinson about the effect of this motion, Mr. Mercier clarified that staff could incorporate the recommendations of the AAC as outlined in the report into the branch review, with the appropriate consultation. Staff would then report back to Committee with the scope of the branch review and what elements might have to be taken outside of the branch review to be able to incorporate the final result of the audit recommendations. The motion proposed by Councillor Legendre poses no hindrance in that regard.
Councillor Bédard expressed concern about the role of the Auditor General in this audit. Councillor Legendre explained that his motion requests only that the Auditor General be consulted on the Terms of Reference in the event he might have any suggestions since part of his role is to look for value for money and to look for efficiencies of services rendered under various policies.
Moved by Councillor J. Legendre:
That the
Terms of Reference for the comprehensive accessibility review:
a)
incorporate the elements proposed by the Accessibility
Advisory Committee (save for the employment issues);
b)
incorporate consultation with the Auditor General to seek
his suggestions; and
c) be brought to the Transit Committee for approval.
CARRIED
The Committee then considered the report recommendation as amended by the preceding motion.
That the Accessibility Advisory
Committee recommend that the Transit Committee recommend that Council request a
comprehensive accessibility audit of the City of Ottawa’s public transit system
including Para Transpo be conducted with the participation of all relevant
players including the Real Property Asset Management Branch and Customer
Services; and
That the Terms of Reference for
the comprehensive accessibility review:
a)
incorporate the elements proposed by the Accessibility
Advisory Committee (save for the employment issues);
b)
incorporate consultation with the Auditor General to seek
his suggestions; and
c) be brought to the Transit Committee for approval.
CARRIED, as amended