ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09 - BC Transit

BC Transit introduced new programs in many areas of thecorporation to ensure that safe, efficient, effective, convenientand reliable service was available to customers in everyservice area of the province. Programs included a safety andsecurity management system, environmental policy andreporting systems, maintenance programs and financialinnovations program.Safety continues to be BC Transit’s top priority. To reflectour commitment to safety and continue to improve transitservice, a number of initiatives were undertaken in 2008/09.Safety, security and training were aligned within operationsand work began on a province-wide safety and securitymanagement system. BC Transit developed a strategicpartnership with WorkSafe BC around the Focus on Safetyprogram to develop leading safety practices and reduce thenumber of injuries and their associated costs.Other safety and security initiatives included:•• completing a security risk assessment of all majorservice systems through Transport Canada’s TransitSecure program,•• developing an accredited bus operator trainingprogram under the Motor Carrier Passenger Councilof Canada, and•• designing and delivering a provincially based Trainthe Trainer program.This past year, BC Transit established an environmentalsupport team and enhanced its environmental policy toreflect the goal of carbon neutrality by 2010. BC Transitadopted SMARTTooL, the provincial greenhouse gasinventory system, to begin reporting greenhousegas emissions.In recognition of staff’s expertise throughout the industry, busmanufacturer Alexander Dennis partnered with BC Transit totest North America’s first hybrid double-deck bus. BC Transitalso partnered with the Canadian Urban Transit Associationto develop a study guide on hybrid-propulsion systems fortransit buses.After preliminary testing, BC Transit issued a Notice to Proceedauthorizing the manufacture and delivery of a 20 hydrogenfuel cell bus demonstration fleet to be used during andafter the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games inWhistler. The demonstration fleet of 20 fuel cell buses will bethe largest fleet in the world operating in a single location inrevenue service.BC Transit continued to expand its environmental fuelstrategy that will see a phased migration from #1 light dieselto a renewable biodiesel blended with ultra low sulphurdiesel. The implementation has proceeded well, with anumber of systems operating B20 (20 per cent renewable8BC TRANSIT 2008/09 ANNUAL REPORT