Letter from Dick Faulks re: Official Community Plan / Transportation

November 28, 2013

Mayor and Council, Town of View Royal Victoria BC V9B 1A6

Dear Members of Council:

Re: Official Community Plan / Transportation

It has come to my attention that a revision - or update - of the Official Community Plan is taking place.

I was informed, to my utter dismay, that there is no focus in this update for the provision of rail transit facilities. Surely, the Plan should be just that, a "plan" ... a look at the future ... in anticipation of a renewed Vancouver Island rail service, hopefully to be combined, soon, with an added local commuter service to alleviate the Crawl.

I would ask that staff be directed to reframe the OCP to include the imminent service on the E&N line as well as the obviously-needed Regional Service that will use the former CN right-of-way (stops at Six Mile Exchange, Eagle Ridge, VGH, etc.).

There is also the plan, by BC Transit, to make the proposed Six Mile Interchange a park-and-ride facility. It is very important that this be planned as temporary use, compatible with conversion to a full transit exchange, as per attached TMP page.

If we are to truly look ahead and plan accordingly, there must be solid planning for rail facilities at Six Mile and at Thetis Cove. May I suggest that the plans should also include thoughts about future stops at Burnett and Helmcken.

From http://www.viewroyal.ca/EN/main/town/projects/OCP_Review.html - "The ... OCP ... is not only about the next 10 years, but the next 100 years."

I ask for your serious consideration of this matter.

Yours sincerely,

Dick Faulks 196 Werra Road Victoria BC V9B 1N4

Attachment: Page 6-10, Transportation Master Plan

Attachment: Page 6-10, Transportation Master Plan

A graphic representation of what this station could look like can be seen in the following Figure 7 which would serve as transfer point for rail commuters destined to and from the City of Victoria and the Westshore communities and beyond.

Figure 7 - Artist ~ KenFaulks.com Composition of what could be at the 6 mile exchange.

Lands adjacent transit stations locations are an ideal candidate for high density development. Consideration should be given to preserving lands adjacent to this and other potential transit station locations for this purpose.

Figure 8 - Potential Rail Station Locations