Letter from Victoria Regional Transit Commission Re: Transit Priority

Re: Transit Priority

The Transit Future Plan (Victoria Region) and the Region’s Travel Choices Strategy envisions a future Rapid Transit Network that connects regional growth centers with frequent transit service that is more direct and faster than regular transit service. The first step towards developing the Rapid Transit Network includes the implementation of transit priority measures such as bus only lanes and bus queue-jumper lanes. These incremental investments will allow us to continue to grow ridership that will support longer-term investments in rail rapid transit.

At the direction of the Victoria Regional Transit Commission (VRTC), BC Transit, in partnership with municipal staff, has been developing a plan to provide transit priority on the corridors that make up the future Rapid Transit Network including:

• Douglas,
• McKenzie
• Island Highway (View Royal to Colwood)

Highway 1 and Highway 17 were also identified and BC Transit has been working with the Ministry to identify potential transit improvements on these corridors.

A detailed analysis of each corridor was conducted to identify options that would provide the greatest value to support transit and that could be implemented in a timely and cost effective manner. The analysis of these options included a multiple account evaluation to understand the potential impacts and benefits, including financial, transportation, social/community and environment.

Based on this analysis, the following concepts were developed and presented for public feedback in May 2013.

• Douglas—dedicated bus lanes during peak periods
• McKenzie — queue jumper lanes at key intersections
• Island Highway— queue jumper lanes at key intersections

Results of the public consultation (see attached) were favorable, with continued support for transit priority in the region. Subsequently, at the June 26th, 2013 Victoria Regional Transit Commission meeting, the Commission received this report and agreed to support and fund up to $1.5 million to implement a pilot project of peak period bus only lanes pilot on Douglas Street.

In addition, the Commission requested BC Transit work with the municipal staff of Saanich, Colwood and View Royal to move forward the proposals on the remaining corridors on McKenzie and Island Highway. The timely implementation of transit priority on these corridors will facilitate implementation of the Transit Future Plan vision of a rapid transit network that improves transit connections between regional centres within the CRD. BC Transit would like to work with Colwood, View Royal and Saanich to discuss opportunities to advance the identified transit priority projects forward on Island Highway and McKenzie.

Thank you for your continued support to move transit forward in the region.

Yours sincerely,

Susan Brice, Chair Victoria Regional Transit Commission

cc: Commission Members

Attachments:

Link to Transit Priority Identification Report: http://bctransit.com/regions/vic/news/commission/pdf/cmtg-ra-729.pdf

Final report http://www.bctransit.com/transitfuture/pdf/vrptc 2013-06-20 Draft Final Document.pdf

Pubic Consultation http://www.bctransit.com/transitfuture/pdf/vrptc Survey Summary.pdf