Council was presented with information on mode share targets and asked to consider adopting a sustainable mode share target.
Mode shares describe the proportion of people using different modes of travel. A mode of travel can be any way of getting around and are commonly grouped into:
- Vehicle driver, vehicle passenger
- Public Transit (Bus, Light Rail, etc, if available)
- Walking, Cycling
- Other (Taxi, motorcycle, etc)
Mode share targets are an expression of municipal policy priorities. By setting a target for how each mode will serve the overall transportation mix in a community, it is implied that other capital and operational decisions will follow these targets. As cities grow, they often see a transition to modes like walking, biking, and public transit. This is driven by factors such as increased congestion, increased cost for parking, and increased density bringing more daily activities within reach. In St. John’s the projected population growth rates are relatively low. As such any change in mode shares that Council would like to target will require a concerted effort. Without purposeful intervention a shift in mode shares is unlikely to occur.
Typically, a mode share target would be informed by public engagement and baseline data with a basis in long range forecasting and discrete choice modelling and tested against alternative policy and infrastructure scenarios. This is a very cumbersome process and collecting the necessary data has been delayed multiple times over recent years. An opportunity exists to make an informed policy driven decision on whether, and to what extent, St. John’s should prioritize mobility by sustainable modes. If this approach is taken, then a reasonable target could be based on the jurisdictional comparison outlined in the decision note and projections from the 2019 Transit Service Review.
Council members expressed that it would be valuable to set sub goals as to what is intended for each type of sustainable transportation to assist in targeting efforts. It would be useful to have geographic conversation to identify neighborhood projects to invest in that would drive the effort and assist in achieving sustainability goals.
The figures in the attached are based on the data from the journey to work census. A household traffic survey will be completed when the pandemic has been resolved.