Smart Commute North Toronto, Vaughan
Annual Report 2013-2014
TABLE OF CONTENTS Our Mission
5
Key Terms
5
Project Areas
6
Message from the Executive Director
8
Message from the Chair
11
Our People
12
Partners, Members and Key Funders
14
A Year in Review
16
Smart Work with our Partners
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Our Mission Smart 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.
Smart Commute NTV Smart Commute – North Toronto, Vaughan
Smart Commute NET Smart Commute – Northeast Toronto
GTHA Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area
SOV Single Occupancy Vehicle
TMA Transporation Demand Mangagment Association
VKT
GHG Greenhouse Gas
Vehicle Kilometres Travelled
acronyms Smart Commute NTV
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project areas Smart Commute NTV and NET Project Areas: Smart Commute NTV manages two Transportation Management Associations: Smart Commute NTV and Smart Commute NET.   N
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Annual Report 2013-2014
1 y 40
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Keele St
Jane St
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Smart Commute NTV
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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 deepening 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-
Brian Shifman
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 infrastructure 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 accomplishments 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, dedicated 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 Shifman Executive Director
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Smart Commute NTV
Annual Report 2013-2014
message from the chair Over the past several years we have seen our network of partners expand to represent more than 126,000 commuters in the North Toronto, Vaughan and Northeast 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 partners can achieve Silver or Gold designation. Our team has and will continue to
Lawrence Bouchard
work hard with each of our partners to strengthen programming and implement new initiatives that increase these designations on the way to reducing employees’ 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 workplace 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. 
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Board of Directors Lawrence Bouchard Smart Commute NTV Chair Principal, Magnum Opus Solutions Andy Manahan Smart Commute NTV Vice-Chair; Chair of Northeast Toronto Advisory Committee Executive Director, Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario [RCCAO] Nicole Arsenault Smart Commute NTV Treasurer Manager, Transportation and Student Services, York University Chris Wong Smart Commute NTV Secretary Director of Transportation and Master Planning, York University Development Corporation Darren Craig Smart Commute NTV Board Member Manager, Parking Operations and Technology Systems Cameron MacKinnon Smart Commute NTV Board Member Principal, Blackwater Communications Les Kelman Smart Commute NTV Board Member Principal, Les Kelman and Associates David Saunders Smart Commute NTV Board Member President, LEA Consulting Tim Adamson Smart Commute NTV Board Member Program Manager, Sustainable Energy, Enbridge Gas Distribution
Executive Committee Lawrence Bouchard Andy Manahan Nicole Arsenault Chris Wong David Saunders
Staff Brian Shifman Executive Director Rachelle Waterman Marketing Manager Jessica Stronghill Program Manager Lauren Bates Program Manager Anise Wong Program Coordinator Jay Roberts Program Assistant
Michael Lawrence Smart Commute NTV Board Member National Manager, Workspace Strategy & Implementation, RBC Royal Bank of Canada
our people 12
Smart Commute NTV
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Smart Commute NTV
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Individual Members (as represented by) Bob Onyschuk Chris Wong Cameron MacKinnon Edward Levy Robert Merrick Les Kelman David Saunders Brian Shifman
Advisors Aubrey Iwaniw Senior Advisor – Smart Commute, Metrolinx Shirtley Kam Manager, Economic Development, City of Vaughan Brian Dundas Sustainability Manager and Community Transformation, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority Asher Mercer TDM Coordinator, York Region Mark Bekkering Manager, Environmental Planning & Support, City of Toronto
partners, members, key funders CH2M Hill Canada Limited (Partner)
Pearson (Partner)
City of Toronto (Funder)
PowerStream (Partner)
City of Vaughan (Partner, Funder)
Procter & Gamble (Partner)
CNIB (Partner)
RBC York Mills Centre (Partner, Member)
Crown Property Management (Partner)
Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of
Days Hotel – Toronto Don Valley (Partner)
Ontario (RCCAO) (Member)
Dillon Consulting (Member, Partner)
Sanofi Pasteur Limited (Partner)
Earth Rangers (Partner)
Seneca College (Partner)
Enbridge Gas Distribution (Member, Partner)
Smart Centres Retrocom Calloway (Partner)
Four Seasons Hotels Limited (Partner)
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Partner)
GO Transit
Sysco Fine Meats/Freshpoint (Partner)
Humber River Regional Hospital (Partner)
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
ING Direct (Partner)
(Partner)
Knoll North America Corp. (Member, Partner)
Toronto District School Board - North York
Metrolinx (Funder)
(Partner)
MicroSkills (Partner)
Vaughan Chamber of Commerce (Partner)
Morrison Hershfield Limited
Vaughan Mills (Partner)
Nestlé Canada (Partner)
York Region Police (Partner)
North York Civic Centre (Partner)
York Region Transit
North York General Hospital (Partner)
York University (Member, Partner)
Northam Realty (Partner)
Yorkdale Shopping Centre (Partner)
OPS Downsview Provincial Campus (Partner)
Zipcar (Member)
Parc Downsview Park (Partner, Member)
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year in review Smart Commute NTV
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carpooling Carpool Week 2014 Smart 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.
Diamonds are a driver’s best friend. yorkudiamonddrivers.ca
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Annual Report 2013-2014
Priority Carpool Parking The 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 Smart Commute Week Smart Commute Week is a GTHA-wide campaign during which employees are encouraged to try a new commute mode other than what they usually
Bike Month
use to get to work. Along with contests and
Bike to Work Day (May 27) and Bike Month (June)
incentives to encourage changes in behaviour
are annual opportunities to focus on
Smart Commute visited workplaces to promote
demonstrating the feasibility of cycling as a
alternate modes and provide commute
commute mode by encouraging employees to
counselling.
give it a try. Smart Commute encouraged all types of cyclists to participate by riding to work and
Participating NTV/NET employers included: The
showing others that biking can be an easy,
City of Vaughan, Humber River Hospital, The
convenient and efficient mode of transportation.
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority,
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Sanofi Pasteur, CNIB, Northam, Dillon, Morrison
Bike to Work Day and Bike Month events were
Hershfield, Royal Bank York Mills, and
held at Four Seasons, PowerStream, Sunnybrook
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.
Health Sciences Centre, and York University.
Smart Commute NTV
Annual Report 2013-2014
Don Mills Corporate Shuttle The 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 & Gamble Smart 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.
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NET Employer of the Year Royal Bank of Canada - York Mills Royal 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 downtown 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 transit 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.
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Smart Commute NTV
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PowerStream For 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 extensive 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 partners northeast toronto Workplace Designation Employee Population VKTs Averted GHGs Prevented
Dillon Consulting Crown Property Management Concord site Smart Commute Workplace
Smart Commute Workplace 265 commuters 296 kms 64 kgs
Continued support of Smart Commute program
Smart Commute Workplace 700 commuters 1,1162 kms 252 kgs Heron’s Hill site Smart Commute Workplace 1,071 commuters 551 kms Heron’s Hill site participating partner of Don Mills Corporate Shuttle
CNIB
Smart Commute Workplace 350 commuters 1,972 kms 428 kgs
Continued support of Smart Commute program
100 commuters 15,658 kms 3,400 kgs Continued support of Smart Commute program.
3,800 commuters Gordon Baker site
CH2M Hill
Smart Commute Workplace
Days Hotel Toronto Don Valley
Smart Commute Workplace
Participating partner of Don Mills Corporate Shuttle. First year of full partnership with Smart Commute NET
Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc. Gold Smart Commute Workplace 1,034 commuters 2,189,294 kms 434,094 kgs Participated in Clean Air Commute. Vibrant vanpool program. 15% SOV reduction since baseline survey .
Four Seasons Hotels Limited Smart Commute Workplace 375 commuters Participated in Carpool Week and Bike to Work Day. First year of full partnership with Smart Commute NET.
ING Bank of Canada
Smart Commute Workplace 856 commuters
Installed 15 sustainable vehicle spots (hybrid/EV/NGV)
North York General Hospital Branson site
Smart Commute Workplace 56 commuters
Participating partner of Don Mills Corporate Shuttle
Morrison Hershfield Limited Smart Commute Workplace
Smart Commute Workplace 1,800 commuters
Smart Commute Workplace
12,939 kms
316 commuters
13,117 kgs Participated in Carpool Week. Smart Commute NET Employer of the Year. Completed followup survey
Leslie site
Microskills
RBC - York Mills
Smart Commute Workplace 2,849 commuters 355 kms 77 kgs Leslie site participated in Carpool Week
Northam Realty Smart Commute Workplace
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Smart Commute Workplace 10,000 commuters 2,325 kms
488 commuters
1,816 kgs
541 kms Participating partner on the Don Mills Corporate Shuttle.
Participated in Bike to Work Day.
316 commuters Participated in Clean Air Commute. Continued support for Smart Commute Program
Pearson Canada Inc. Smart Commute Workplace 350 commuters Continued partnership between Smart Commute NET and Central York TMAs
Toronto District School Board North York
Procter & Gamble Inc.
Smart Commute Workplace
Smart Commute Workplace
700 commuters
480 commuters
2,779 kms 1,207 kgs Participated in Carpool Week. First year as Smart Commute NET Partner. Baseline survey completed. Rollout of carpool parking and commuter brochure.
Participated in Carpool Week. Initiated partnership with Zipcar to make carsharing available on campus
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smart work with our partners north toronto, vaughan
Humber River Hospital Church site
North York Civic Centre Smart Commute Workplace 1,522 commuters First year of full partnership with Smart Commute NTV
Smart Commute Workplace 1,752 commuters
City of Vaughan
Finch site Smart Commute Workplace 1,122 commuters
City Hall Silver Smart Commute Workplace
Keele site
753 commuters
Smart Commute Workplace
433,451 kms
146 commuters
102,910 kgs Joint Operations Centre
Continued support of Smart Commute program
OPS Downsview Provincial Campus Smart Commute Workplace 2,000 commuters 498,962 kms 276,549 kgs Participated in Carpool Week
Smart Commute Workplace 227 commuters 69,221 kms 19,421 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
Earth Rangers Smart Commute Workplace 60 commuters Continued support of Smart Commute program
Knoll
Smart Commute Workplace 600 commuters
Participated in Clean Air Commute. Followup survey complete
Parc Downsview Park Smart Commute Workplace 60 commuters Continued support of Smart Commute program
NestlĂŠ Canada Smart Commute Workplace 455 commuters Participated in Clean Air Commute and Carpool Week.
Seneca College Seneca @ York
PowerStream Cityview Blvd site Gold Smart Commute Workplace 400 commuters 161,070 kms 42,891 kgs Jane site Smart Commute Workplace 55 commuters
Silver Smart Commute Workplace 11,200 commuters Jane site Smart Commute Workplace 7,400 commuters
Downsview site
7,671 kms
Gold Smart Commute Workplace
2,273 kgs
100 commuters
Participated in Bike to Work Day. Seneca @ York has 18 Zipcars on site. Jane site initiated a staff vanpool
20,016 kgs
Smart Centres Vaughan 325 commuters
Gold Smart Commute Workplace 1,000 commuters
400 commuters 227,040 kms 54,700 kgs Participated in Clean Air Commute, and Smart Commute Week
16,204 kms 6,296 kgs First year of partnership with Smart Commute NTV. Participation in Bike to Work Day.
2,683,427 kms 591,641 kgs Participated in Carpool Week and Clean Air Commute
137 kgs
Smart Commute Workplace
Smart Commute Workplace
Sanofi Pasteur Limited
568 kms
Shoreham site
75,166 kms
Participated in Clean Air Commute, Bike to Work Day, and Carpool Week. NTV Employer of the Year
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
Vaughan Chamber of Commerce
Smart Commute Workplace
Sysco Fine Meats
300 commuters Continued support of Smart Commute program
Smart Commute Workplace
Yorkdale Shopping Centre
300 commuters Continued support of Smart Commute program
Smart Commute Workplace 5,000 commuters Continued support of Smart Commute program Smart Commute NTV
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Vaughan Mills Smart Commute Workplace 3,000 commuters Continued support of Smart Commute program
York Region Police Smart Commute Workplace 286 commuters Continued support of Smart Commute program
York University Keele campus Gold Smart Commute Workplace 60,000 commuters 162,775 kms 198,535 kgs Glendon campus Smart Commute Workplace 2,500 commuters 15 kms Participated in Bike to Work Day. Keele campus has 18 Zipcars on site and upgraded from Silver to Gold designation
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Smart Commute NTV
Annual Report 2013-2014
Smart Commute NTV proudly partners with:
EARTH
MATTERS
For more information, please contact: 36C York Lanes, 4700 Keele St. Toronto, ON M3J 1P3 416-650-8205 info@SmartCommuteNTV.ca SmartCommuteNTV.ca