Leadership Café with TransLink
Date: February 16, 2016
Name: Leadership Café with TransLink
Presenter: Tim Savoie
Collaboration is an important skill for young leaders. Moreover, there is an increase trend of young leaders who are taking responsibility to make their community a better place for their generation. The Company of Young Professionals provides Leadership Café event for young leaders to suggest recommendations for industry experts. The event invites Tim Savoie, the VP of Transportation, Planning and Policy for TransLink. In this presentation, leaders will develop project management skills, growth strategies, and creativity to assist Tim Savoie to address the community transportation issue. They will contribute their meaningful ideas to TransLink and build connections with other young leaders.
Tim Savoie is the Vice President of Transportation, Planning and Policy for TransLink. He is also the member of the Canadian Institute of Planners (MCIP) and a registered professional planner. He worked as the Director of Planning and Development Services, Engineering and Operations at the City of Port Moody. In addition, Tim Savoie is serving as chair of the Professional Practice Review Committee. He has practiced in New Brunswick under the Atlantic Planners Institute. Moreover, he has many years of experience in municipal planning and led many interactive public consultation processes.
TransLink is recognized as the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority. Savoie highlights for the last year. TransLink hired new CEO, Cathy McLay, to the executive team. The compass card is now in operation for public and the failure of funding referendum.
Savoie believes the vision of TransLink is still in good stand. TransLink is still considered the main transportation for citizens in Lower Mainland; however, the public still questions where the funding source for the transportation. Savoie indicates TransLink is the first North American transportation authority responsible for both roads and transit. This includes bus, ferry, cycling, HandyDART, Transit, West Coast Rail, bridges, shuttles, and Transit Police Forces.
There were approximately 234 million transit trips in 2014. The usage has increased over 25% last 4 years. There are more than 1 million transit boarding each weekday and there are over 2,100 vehicles used. TransLink has the total 68 Kilometer for the Skytrain to provide transportation for people, which makes the longest transportation in Canada. For the past years, TransLink has raised over 1 billion capital investments and has committed over 145 million dollar of infrastructure last year.
Savoie emphasizes TransLink is not just transit, it supports people moving as well. Savoie provides the Plebiscite result showing over 51% of voters turnout.
The Mayor’s vision is still the blue print. The vision advances the objectives of the Regional Transportation Strategy. Broad government supports by the Mayors’ council, TransLink Board and Province. However, the broad public did not.
The total revenue of 2014 for TransLink is 1.45 billion.
- 34% on transit
- 24% on fuel tax
- 22% on property and replacement tax
- 10% on government transfer, interests and amortization
- 4% on parking tax
- 3% on Goldean Ear Tolls
- 2% on others
Savoie explains the future planning for TransLink continues to develop strategies and policies on fare policy review, transit ridership growth strategy, mobility pricing, Transportation Demand Management, and Goods movement. The structure has not changed since 1984, and Savoie believes people attitude are changing in the current economy.
Savoie also explains the future for TransLink will focus on the area transport plan, Evergreen extension, bus integration, and transit network consultation. Major projects include Broadway subway, surrey Light rail and Pattullo bridge replacement. In addition, TransLink will look at the option to secure senior funding.
Savoie wants young leaders to provide suggestions for the following two questions.
- Funding transportation in the region is a challenge. How do young leaders think TransLink can best build the case for public support for additional funding for transit and transportation projects and plans in the future?
- Transpiration needs have changed vastly since young leaders’ parents used to get around 20 to 30 years ago. What are the needs as a young busy professional with transportation in general or specific to transit? What needs to change?
Young leaders think TransLink has a lack of excitement. They need a place to feel they are outside of the corporate space. If TransLink includes excitement, such as hip-pop music in the transit, young leaders will be motivated to use TransLink.
Another way of looking at it is to humanize the process. TransLink is lacking on the marketing to tell a positive story for the community. They need to show how they can impact people’s lives. In addition, the more transparency will generate more confidence from young leaders. When TransLink integrates human element (emotion) into marketing campaign, young leaders will move forward.
Young leaders suggest TransLink to target different marketing campaign to different demographic. Instead of leveraging only one campaign to fit the whole region, TransLink needs to research deeper on different sectors.
“Different perspective, more trust”
Young leaders expect downloadable application for their smartphone. TransLink can build phone application that allows young leaders to view different routes. The application will provide alerts for live update. TransLink needs to find a way to connect young leaders with their daily activities. For example, TransLink can partner with different local coffee shop so young leaders can use compass card to pay for their coffees.
TransLink can have WIFI on every SkyTrain. TransLink needs to look at the punctuality and flexibility. If TransLink combines the necessity from young leaders, they will discover they are one more step closer with the new generation.
“Future thinking transit will be life changing”
“Optional to necessity”