MINUTES – PUBLIC – ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION – 2nd meeting — May 2, 2024 - 12:30 p.m. to 1:28 p.m.

Follow-up on previous meetings and file updates

The members received the document CDÉ — Suivis des séances précédentes before the meeting. Three elements are highlighted:

CDÉ Work Plan

The 2024-2025 work plan recommended by the CDÉ was adopted by the municipal council on March 19. Work is therefore proceeding according to the mandates endorsed by the council.

Gatineau Digital Technology Innovation Centre

City authorities support the new version of the innovation zone. Information meetings with partners took place in March 2024 for the implementation and development of the project. The Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO) is in the recruitment process to complete and finalize the steering committee. A first meeting of the implementation committee will take place on May 3. As the project is generating a lot of interest, the governance had to be expanded to include other partners. A dozen people now sit on the committee.

Downtown Revitalization

A presentation of the report from the Observatoire du développement de l’Outaouais (ODO) took place at the Table de concertation du centre-ville, to which CDÉ members were invited. Given that about sixty actions have been identified, work is underway to prioritize them. Two working meetings have taken place. The file will be reviewed at the Table de concertation du centre-ville; CDÉ members may join this meeting as they wish. The file will be presented again to the CDÉ in June to validate the proposals and recommendations that will be submitted to the municipal council.

Mobility needs assessment in the Aéroparc

The document Étude de mobilité au sein de l’Aéroparc industriel de Gatineau was sent to members before the meeting. The CDÉ is consulted on this study by MOBI-O; a study mandated by the Société de transport de l’Outaouais (STO) and the Bureau du développement économique (BDÉ) and carried out between August and October 2023.

The presentation aims to expose the methodology, the results obtained, as well as the identified solution paths of the study. It has three objectives: identify mobility needs and barriers; consult stakeholders on common issues and solutions; propose solution paths regarding the identified issues. This study aims to contribute to solutions to address mobility issues in the Aéroparc sector in a context of labor shortages. The study is in continuity with the territorial strategy for the workforce published in 2022. One of the main objectives of this strategy is to improve multimodal transport service to the Aéroparc sector. This study is also an input for the opportunity study currently underway at the STO for the extension of the Rapibus to boulevard de l’Aéroport; public consultations show that the population is in favor of this extension.

The Aéroparc de Gatineau offers strong economic development potential: fifty-four unoccupied lots could accommodate new businesses. This industrial park is easily accessible by car via autoroute Guy-Lafleur; bus trips, however, are relatively long and complex, and the absence of sidewalks or bike paths makes active transport difficult. Participation rates in the surveys conducted for the study were: 19% of businesses; 6% of staff members; 22% of students. To get to the Aéroparc, the staff of the surveyed companies mainly use solo cars, followed by public transit and carpooling. The absence of bus stops at the Aéroparc and travel times stand out as the main limits to the use of public transit for travel between homes and workplaces. The limits to bicycle use are: the lack of facilities (sidewalks, bike paths, etc.) as well as reception infrastructure for cyclists and sanitary facilities in companies (showers, bike racks, changing rooms, etc.). A majority of employees work during the week. Public transit service poses a problem, particularly during morning peak hours. When asked about their interest in using the Rapibus or regular lines, respondents have a more marked interest in the extension of regular lines, particularly students. 17 out of 23 companies would be ready to offer a financial incentive to their employees for active transport. The idea of establishing a shuttle service between homes and workplaces receives a mixed reception from employers. Inter-company shuttles could lighten the logistical requirements of employers. Employers were more receptive to the establishment of a carpooling platform. If all necessary measures were put in place, the ideal modes of transport would mainly be: public transport followed by carpooling and solo car for respondents; on-demand transport, public transport, and carpooling platform for employers. Respondents ranked different incentives according to their preferences. Staff members prefer to receive incentives related to public transport based on an improvement in service (discount on the transit pass, monetary compensation, prizes, etc.). The guaranteed return home insurance in case of emergency and the shuttle service between homes and workplaces also stand out. The interest of students is very high for on-demand transport.

The study proposes solution paths grouped as follows:

• Concertation — Creation of a working committee bringing together transport actors (ID Gatineau, CCG, STO, MOBI-O, Transcollines, representatives of Aéroparc companies, City of Gatineau). The role of this committee would be to jointly identify a lead for the file to ensure implementation and monitoring of actions and their results as well as the identification of new issues and their solutions.
• Businesses — Travel management plan — assign a resource person and a budget; establish policies and incentive programs; inter-company shuttles; inter-company carpooling platform; infrastructure facilitating active transport; information, education, and awareness activities.
• STO — Medium term: Plan service aimed at reducing walking distances between stops and businesses; evaluate the on-demand transport offer; improve regular service. Long term: Extend the Rapibus to boulevard de l’Aéroport and evaluate the opportunity to include the north of the Aéroparc in the Transit-Oriented Development Zone (Zone axée sur le transport en commun or ZATC).
• City of Gatineau — align the planning of the airport zone as a type 2 Transit-Oriented Development Zone and provide for necessary adaptations; analyze the opportunity to include the northern part of the Aéroparc in the ZATC; consider the implementation of spontaneous carpooling stops; create programs favoring active transport; plan and carry out transitional developments as well as the addition of permanent developments in favor of active transport.

The presentation of the study's highlights sparked the following comments, questions, or clarifications:

• The proposed solutions represent a significant expense given the few people who spoke during data collection. In doing so, one should be cautious regarding the implementation of solutions. It is unfortunate that employers did not mobilize their employees more to participate in the study. This study seems to have a sampling problem. It is specified that people have been widely consulted in the past, including during surveys on service improvements by the STO. Employers are waiting for concrete actions following the consultations. The Aéroparc has strong economic development potential; many companies could potentially settle there. In the current context of labor shortages, arguments in favor of public transport could be an additional asset to attract staff. Supply conditions demand; the current supply is not of sufficient quality. Investments would encourage changes in travel modes and would thus create the possibility of increasing the staff of certain companies.
• One should not lose sight of the possibility that companies that are not there might go and settle there if transport and service were satisfactory and sufficient.
• One should first examine the aspects related to travel and safety.
• As things have evolved in parallel with the realization of the study, clarifications are made on certain elements. The CCG has submitted a project of more than $300,000 to the government of Quebec to follow up on this issue. This project would be carried out in collaboration with the City and would allow for obtaining funds to implement certain presented actions. Regarding the safety and development issues raised, a memorandum of understanding is under discussion with the ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable du Québec since the section, located near the highway, is of provincial and municipal responsibility. Regarding the mobilization of companies, the study clearly highlights the work to be done on this level. Companies are part of the solution and they must also contribute. Certain elements will be taken care of by the STO and the City. Over the coming months, work is envisaged with ID Gatineau for the development of a communication and mobilization strategy to implement certain solution paths.
• At the City of Gatineau, the information will be shared with the Mobility and Infrastructure departments.
• The models of secure bicycle lockers work well when private companies are responsible; their initiatives create a ripple effect among other companies.
• On-demand transport has existed for several months at Transcollines. It is a great success; more and more people are using it. One could find data on people from the MRC-des-Collines who use this mode of transport to go to the Aéroparc. Many employees residing in the MRC des Collines work in Gatineau.