PUBLIC WORKS & TRANSPORTATION REPORT: CRD TRANSPORTATION GOVERNANCE QUESTIONNAIRE FINALIZATION

4. Please identify the following benefits that a change in transportation governance could bring to your local government by selecting all that apply using the checkboxes.

5. Please rank which factors should be the highest priority when building out the Regional Multi-modal Network from 1-4, with one being the most important. Enter the ranked number in each text box accordingly. When ranking, consider areas with the highest potential for meeting regional objectives.

6. Please rank which factors should be the given primary consideration when allocating funds for transportation infrastructure from 1-3, with one being the most important. Enter the ranked number in each text box accordingly.

7. Are there any additional comments or suggestions you would like to provide regarding the understanding of and support for a change in transportation governance in our region?

• I would recommend a tiered approach to governance. Start with Common Standards. Then service design and user journeys. Invest in data systems and automatic monitoring to provide real time data. Set priorities that are realistic based on data and need. The paramount goal must be safety. (ST)
• Apply and maintain consistent 50 kph speed standards along all major collector roads in the region such as the Gorge, Craigflower etc (JR)
• When Transit fails to establish important regional bus routes like the #40 that serves 3 municipalities and 2 First Nations, one wonders how effect such governance will be (JR)
• Transit and province not being fully forthcoming to staff, councils and public on municipal impacts of proposed initiatives like park /ride mobility hubs.. it lessens credibility of basic consultation and addressing issues, and casts doubt on transportation governance. (JR)
• establish rapid transit routes to airport and ferries now.... not today's long and winding road with many stops ... duplicate the Translink 620!! (JR)
• The deeper I got into this the more uncomfortable I became. (GL)
• I feel we are being steered toward an outcome which will result in a new taxation body that will draw funds from and deplete our local infrastructure budget. (GL)
• As a smaller and compact municipality View Royal is at a disadvantage at regional tables… local voices on this side of the region outnumbered by the weighted votes to the east and southeast. I envision our goals and what’s best for our town being overwhelmed by the many voices/votes of the larger municipalities. (GL)
• This entire questionnaire is geared toward an outcome (eg reference to the regional authority as opposed to a hypothetical a) for which we pay but at a cost to the well being of our town. (GL)
• While I recognize the need for better regional transportation – without a convenient method of transportation to the major hubs, they will not be used. Within municipalities there needs to be effective transportation to these hubs – which requires better collaboration and information sharing with the CRD and other municipalities than happens under the current governance structure. (AM)
• With the growth of remote working, especially in the provincial public service, I believe priority for transportation is between municipalities to access businesses and other services (including ferry and airport) rather than downtown for employment. (AM)

SUSTAINABILITY/CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS:

As mentioned in the September 5, 2023 staff report, there are no direct sustainability or climate change impacts that would result from Council decisions pertaining to regional transportation governance. However, there may be indirect impacts: the spirit of the CRD’s exercise is to determine the level of support for regional transportation governance that could positively benefit in achieving transportation mode share and greenhouse gas reduction targets. Additional information will be required of the CRD to determine the magnitude of this indirect impact.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:

As mentioned in the September 5, 2023 staff report, there are no direct financial implications that would result from Council decisions pertaining to regional transportation governance. However, there may be indirect impacts with respect to the funding / grant funding of projects that are “regionally beneficial” versus “locally beneficial”. While many of the Town’s active transportation priorities lie within the CRD’s Regional Multi-Model Network, it is unknown how high of a priority these projects are within the region. Additional information will be required of the CRD to determine the magnitude of this indirect impact.

ALTERNATIVES:

As the CRD is requesting a unified response to be submitted, complete with Council resolution, there are no alternative options available. However, should Council wish to provide additional commentary, the CRD recommended that they complete this under Question 7 of the questionnaire.

CONCLUSION:

Staff have collated each Council member’s responses to the questionnaire, organized to help facilitate deliberations to obtain a unified response. Once the Committee has completed today’s deliberations, and upon adoption of the Committee of the Whole minutes at the October 3, 2023 regular Council meeting, staff will prepare a final response package, to be sent to the CRD.

ATTACHMENTS:

Appendix A: Council Member Responses