Transportation Committee
	TO:	Mayor and Members of Council
	FROM:	Alan Brown, Director of Engineering
	PREPARED BY:	Lorenzo Mele, TDM Coordinator
	DATE OF MEETING:	January 24, 2005
	SUBJECT:	Transportation Management Association Consolidation

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Markham Centre and 404/7 Transportation Management Association initiatives be consolidated as one Transportation Management Association;

And that a separate and stand alone Transportation Management Association be reconsidered in the future as the Markham Centre development matures;

And that staff report back to Committee to seek Council approval for the organizational and governance structure and business plan of the soon to be incorporated Transportation Management Association.

PURPOSE:

To seek Council endorsement and support to consolidate the Transportation Management Association initiatives for Markham Centre and the 404/7 area in order to maximize financial, staff and volunteer resources.

BACKGROUND:

Transportation Management Association (TMA) Development in Markham

The Town has been working with key stakeholders in the business community, transportation industry and other governments over the past few years to obtain support and build the partnerships required to form Transportation Management Associations to serve Markham businesses. A TMA is a “public private partnership” formed so that employers, developers, building owners and government entities can work collectively to establish programs, services and policies to address local transportation problems.

The Hwy. 404/7 corridor and Markham Centre were identified as areas of current and future employment that would benefit from the activities and services of a TMA. The two separate but related initiatives were introduced to the business community in the fall of 2003 with the aim of soliciting and validating their support for the partnership. The outcome of this introduction was the formation of two Steering Teams, one for Markham Centre comprised of Markham Centre businesses, land owners and developers and another for the 404/7 area in collaboration with local businesses, landowners, Seneca College and the Town of Richmond Hill and their Chamber of Commerce. The Markham Board of Trade has supported Markham business interests for both initiatives and Councillor Shapero and Deputy Mayor Scarpitti have represented the Town by sitting on both Steering Teams.

TMA development in Markham has been supported by York Region and Transport Canada through the Urban Transportation Showcase Program GTA - Smart Commute initiative and the Towns of Markham and Richmond Hill have been collaborating on TMA development in the 404/7 area specifically. On July 7, 2004 the Smart Commute 404-7 Markham, Richmond Hill Association was formally launched and an expanded market research endeavor was initiated. Smart Commute is a broad-based undertaking that will develop an array of Transportation Demand Management (TDM) strategies to offer employers, employees, developers and others, the tools necessary to make the most efficient use of the transportation network. TMAs will promote transportation choices and offer TDM services in communities across the GTA.

During the fall of 2004 in order to take the initiatives to the next level, a consultant led process was introduced to consider and define a governance model and associated business plan for the association(s). In order to prepare meaningful operational and business plans the process first considered and confirmed the organization’s governance structure. As an extension of this approach and in the spirit of cooperation it was decide that both the Markham Centre and 404-7 Steering Teams should participate in the process and therefore the Smart Commute 404-7 group extended an invitation to the Markham Centre TMA Steering Team for the various governance and business planning workshops and presentations.

DISCUSSION:

The organization and governance review and business planning process considered the value of including the 404-7 and Markham Centre TMAs within one governance model. The rationale for a consolidated governance structure focuses on making the best use of the limited financial and staff resources, as well as the geographic proximity of the two areas.

The reality is that:

• The volunteers that will guide TMAs within York Region will likely come from the same pool of business and community leaders;
• Financial support will likely come from the same pool of government and corporate sponsors/members and;
• Community awareness may be difficult to tie to specific geographic boundaries.

Based on input from key stakeholders the recommendation for Smart Commute 404-7 is for a consolidated TMA structure and on November 23, 2004 the 404-7 TMA Steering Team Chair extended an invitation to the Markham Centre TMA to join forces – with the intent to create one Board of Directors – see Attachment 3. The Markham Centre TMA Steering Team accepted the offer from Smart Commute 404/7 to develop a consolidated TMA.

Recruitment for the inaugural Board will reflect business members from both geographic areas. As the new Board begins to operate in early 2005, a consolidated vision will emerge through the creation of a detailed strategic plan. It is expected that the implementation plan required to achieve the vision will include two streams – one dedicated to the 404-7 area and another dedicated to the Markham Centre area.

This approach will address the:

• possible unique characteristics of each area,
• need for strong working relationships amongst TMAs in the GTA,
• the ability to connect new developments to the services of the TMA across the Town of Markham,
• need for coordinated communication, public awareness initiatives and fund raising activities and,
• Need for efficient use of staff and volunteer resources to carry out the action plan.

During the discussions to develop the consolidated approach it was agreed that once the Markham Centre area matures and could warrant a stand alone TMA a policy should be implemented to allow for a smooth disengagement of the parties – Attachment 4.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Approved funding to support the development of the Markham Centre TMA will be reallocated to the development and operation of the consolidated Smart Commute Markham Richmond Hill TMA.

ATTACHMENTS:

1. Chronology of TMA Development in Markham.
2. Options for a Consolidated TMA Governance Structure – Consultant review.
3. Letter of invitation from 404-7 to Markham Centre.
4. Scope and Boundaries draft policy.

Alan Brown, C.E.T. Director of Engineering

Jim Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P. Commissioner of Development Services