COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE REPORT: BC Transit Island Highway Priority Project Update

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE REPORT

TO: Committee of the Whole FROM: J. Rosenberg, Director of Engineering DATE: February 04, 2021 MEETING DATE: February 09, 2021

BC Transit Island Highway Priority Project Update

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the Committee recommend that Council endorse the BC Transit Island Highway Priority Project;

AND THAT the Town of View Royal support the BC Transit Island Highway Priority Project throughout the process as required.

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER’S COMMENTS:

I concur with the recommendation

PURPOSE OF REPORT:

The purpose of this report is to update the Committee on the BC Transit Island Highway Priority Project and to endorse the project for construction.

BACKGROUND:

Regional Context

To support the implementation of the Transit Future Plan endorsed by local governments throughout the region, BC Transit developed a RapidBus Implementation Strategy to create a unifying action plan that accelerates the implementation of RapidBus services.

The Westshore Line connects the Westshore to downtown Victoria by linking the regional centres of downtown Victoria, Uptown, Colwood Corners and Langford Centre.

Island Highway Improvements

BC Transit, in partnership with municipal staff from View Royal and Colwood, have advanced plans for transit priority along the Island Highway corridor between Goldstream Avenue and the Colwood Interchange.

Island Highway Phase 1 Study

In 2018, BC Transit retained SNC-Lavalin Inc. (SU) to conduct the Island Highway Transit Priority Study. The objective of the study was to develop concept designs and cost estimates for future transit priority measures on the Island Highway that support the functional needs of BC Transit, the City of Colwood and the Town of View Royal. A technical advisory committee, comprised of City of Colwood, Town of View Royal, Capital Regional District and Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, provided guidance and expertise throughout the study.

Benefits

Together, the recommended improvements provide an estimated 20 percent transit travel timesaving in the critical direction at peak traffic periods.

Approvals in Principle

In late 2018, both Colwood and View Royal Councils, as well as the Transit Commission, approved in principle the recommended concepts from the SNC Lavalin - BC Transit Island Highway Transit Priority Plan.

Island Highway Phase 2 Design Work

With approval from local governments and the Transit Commission, BC Transit initiated designs for construction of the recommended transit priority measures on Island Highway.

In 2019, BC Transit retained McElhanney Engineering as the consultant to work with BC Transit and local governments to complete the detailed design process of the Island Highway View Royal improvements to develop solutions agreeable to all stakeholders.

The design process included engagement with parties impacted by project design and related construction activities. BC Transit, Town staff and the consultant held on-site meetings with property owners to discuss the design. The consultant incorporated the feedback into final design, including modifications to the driveways and sidewalks.

The civil design work is now complete and has been reviewed and commented on by staff. Preliminary Class B cost estimates to construct the works are estimated at $4.63 million for the View Royal section. Estimates include construction costs, transit signal priority equipment, traffic management, engineering, public engagement, and a contingency of 20 percent.

The Transit Commission directed BC Transit to budget for the funding of the Island Highway Transit Priority improvements over the next two fiscal years, and work with local governments to develop and execute project agreements for the projects. The first phase of this project is expected to be tendered and constructed in the 2021/22 fiscal year with second phase constructed in the 2022/23 fiscal year. It has not been determined whether the Colwood section or View Royal section would be done first.

PROJECT INFORMATION:

Although the proposed construction project does not technically conform perfectly to the VRSD-R16 cross-section contained within the Subdivision Servicing bylaw, it does conform to the philosophical ideals contained in the cross-section:

• R16- Bike lane width 1.5M Transit width 1.8M
• R16- Sidewalk width 1.5M Transit width 1.8M
• R16- median width 3.8M Transit width varies 1.2M-4.5M
• R16- Travel Lane width 3.5M Transit width varies 3.5M-3.3M
• R16- Bus Bay width 3.0M Transit width 3.5M

The Town will enter into a construction agreement with BC Transit. Council will be engaged to authorize the signing of the agreement that will form part of a Development Variance Permit (DVP) application.

The proposed location for the project is currently contained within our DCC program and is eligible for 30% funding with the remainder funded from other sources. The current project did not account for adding Transit lanes but does include adding bike lanes. The transit project helps to provide enhanced mode shift opportunities.

Endorsing the project will save significant capital funds for the town. It will however add a small amount of extra maintenance costs as the project will contain a traffic signal at Atkins Road, the planned town project does not include a traffic signal at this time. Town staff views this as a positive as it is likely the signal would have been required sometime in the future.

If the project were to be endorsed by Council, staff would work with the Transit team to include repaving of the unaffected areas of the Island Highway contained within the project as a cost saving measure for future required work in that area. Staff would bring forward the costs for authorization from Council once the tender has been awarded and costs to the town are known.

Construction scheduling/coordination:

BC Transit will be responsible for project costs and project delivery. Town staff will provide some support as needed to the tendering, award, and project construction phases. A project schedule will be developed as part of the project agreement that is satisfactory to all parties.

ALTERNATE RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the Committee receive the report entitled “BC TRANSIT ISLAND HIGHWAY PRIORITY PROJECT UPDATE” and dated February 04, 2021 for information

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the Committee recommend that Council endorse the BC Transit Island Highway Priority Project;

AND THAT the Town of View Royal support the BC Transit Island Highway Priority Project throughout the process as required.

SUBMITTED BY:

J. Rosenberg, Director of Engineering

REVIEWED BY:

K. Anema, Chief Administrative Officer