Correspondence from M. Asplin, PhD Re: Helmcken Road and Regional Transportation Investment

Matthew G. Asplin, PhD 301 Anya Court Victoria, BC V9B 6V4

View Royal Town Hall Attn: Mayor & Council 45 View Royal Avenue Victoria, BC, V9B 1A6

February 18, 2014

Re: Helmcken Road and Regional Transportation Investment

Dear Mayor and Members of Council:

I am writing in regards to the changes that are to be implemented on Helmcken Road between Burnside Road and the interchange with B.C. Highway 1, and how it will negatively impact the regional transportation network. While I respect the desire of local residents and Members of Council for improved road safety at this location, I am deeply concerned about the potential implications of this project. My primary reservation is that decreased road space and concomitant increases in congestion for southbound traffic at this location may critically decrease the ability of emergency responders in accessing the Victoria General Hospital. Furthermore, reducing road capacity that directly services a major regional hospital is unacceptable, particularly where an existing congestion problem exists that will be exacerbated by commercial development. Secondly, I cannot accept that the new configuration of the road network will be sufficient to handle the additional traffic volumes and movements that will be induced by the Eagle Creek Village development. I would sincerely hope that a traffic modeling study was conducted to support the changes at this location, particularly as they appear to impact the effectiveness of the Helmcken Road interchange with Highway 1. Decreasing the efficacy of a major piece of infrastructure such as an interchange is short-sighted and devalues past investment in our regional road network. Lastly, I do not feel that the expenditure involved with this project represents a net investment in our regional transportation network for the future, and instead detracts from the efficiency and capacity of a road that is clearly functioning as a critical link in the regional road network.

Given the existing and potential increases in traffic volumes at this location, and the immediate presence of Victoria General Hospital, I propose that a better and less-costly solution to merging accidents would be to simply reconfigure the onramp to the highway to allow for two lanes to turn right onto the on-ramp to the highway. The ramp could be reconfigured for these lanes to merge into one near the bottom of the ramp. This would not result in an increase in traffic volume, but merely would function to allow traffic to merge together while accelerating, instead of while decelerating. This would ensure that traffic using the right-hand southbound through-lane on Helmcken Road would not be required to change lanes to access the highway, and also preserves capacity for handling the inevitable increase in traffic resulting from the commercial development at Eagle Creek Village. This would act to move traffic more efficiently through the area and onto B.C. Highway 1, increase the efficiency of the operation of the Helmcken Interchange without compromising safety or the needs of emergency vehicles, and maintain appropriate capacity for what is destined to be a busy commercial-medical district.

I am well aware that the use of the Helmcken-Wilkinson corridor as an alternative route to McKenzie Avenue by non-resident commuter traffic is an issue of great concern to residents and Members of Council of the Town of View Royal, and the District of Saanich. The heavy traffic congestion along B.C. Highway 1 and McKenzie Avenue (a.k.a. the ‘Colwood Crawl’), is diverting commuter traffic from these routes to utilize Helmcken, Wilkinson and Interurban Roads. This has resulted in an atrocious congestion problem along these routes at peak hours. This is clearly a result of uncoordinated regional urban development, transportation planning, and a lack of action on improving the roads and transit services that are needed to accommodate a growing region. Unfortunately, growth rates appear to be very unbalanced in the Capital Region District, and municipalities such as View Royal are investing disproportionate amounts on infrastructure being utilized primarily by residents of other communities, or on traffic calming where a regional-level problem exists and warrants a regional-level solution. I strongly urge the Town of View Royal to seek out partnerships with neighbouring municipalities and leverage our limited civic infrastructure dollars by making applications to the Building Canada Fund to realize larger infrastructure investments that benefit the Town of View Royal than acting with limited resources.

Without significant investment in the McKenzie Avenue corridor, the Helmcken – Wilkinson route will continue to operate as a major route between B.C. Highway 17 and B.C. Highway 1, with traffic volumes exceeding design capacity. The Town of View Royal therefore needs to act by doing the following: 1) Open a dialogue with the District of Saanich and write a joint application to the new Building Canada Infrastructure fund to fund an interchange at McKenzie Avenue and associated improvements along McKenzie Avenue. This can be justified equally as a regional road improvement and an investment in tourism, a significant sector of our local, regional and national economies; or 2) A joint application to be made to the Building Canada Infrastructure fund to improve the Westbound McKenzie to Highway One turning movements by constructing a double-right turn lane and implementing a right-turn signal and / or extend the merge lane to the Helmcken Interchange on B.C. Highway 1 in View Royal as an auxiliary ‘add-drop’ lane. Improving the right-turn traffic movements onto B.C. Highway 1 westbound from McKenzie Avenue is paramount to lessening the congestion impacts on Helmcken – Wilkinson Roads, therefore improving the quality of life for residents of the area; or 3) Accept the Helmcken – Wilkinson route as a major part of the regional road network and treat it as such. The current lack of road options between the Westshore communities and the other Capital Region District Municipalities is problematic, and if the preferred route cannot be improved, then more routes are required, particularly in the public interest of emergency vehicle access and disaster response.

I do fully understand that the municipalities are actively pursuing a light rapid transit system, and that it is a major component of the transportation network envisioned for this region. However, given the long-term delays and disagreements over the scope and funding of a light rapid transit project, I strongly feel we need to address the issue of regional traffic congestion now. My foremost principle in urban design is that investment in transportation must follow a balanced approach, so that it helps shape the lifestyle choices of components of a diverse demographic without encroaching upon the lifestyle requirements and values of others.

I strongly encourage you, the Mayor and Council of the Town of View Royal, to actively pursue improved inter-municipal cooperation on regional transportation through dialogue, and joint applications for federal infrastructure money so that we may realize an improved regional transportation network that will improve the lives around the region. Transportation is key to shaping urban landscapes, and through proper planning we can achieve goals of improving community livability, public health through active transportation opportunities, and long-term sustainability.

Sincerely,

Dr. Matthew G. Asplin