Completed Questionnaire: District of Central Saanich
The District of Central Saanich's specific responses to the transportation governance workbook questionnaire.
Capital Regional District - Transportation Governance Engagement Workbook
Considering trade-offs
The purpose of this question is to gather information on which transportation network aspects could benefit from a greater degree of regional decision-making. This information is important as it provides an indication of the types of trade-offs that partners are willing to make. This helps CRD staff scope the scale of governance change being contemplated. The need to explicitly consider trade-offs early in the process is a lesson-learned from previous transportation governance attempts.
- In each category below, which focus would have the greatest impact on improving mobility for your residents? Please consider the trade-offs and select only one statement from each category using the radio buttons.
A. Funding
- Given a limited pool of funding, prioritize investments in local transportation projects and infrastructure improvements.
- Given a limited pool of funding, prioritize investments in regional transportation projects and infrastructure improvements.
B. Connectivity
- Your residents' ability to travel intra-municipally (within their municipality).
- Your residents' ability to travel intra-regionally (between municipalities).
C. Transit
- Allocate transit resources toward local transit routes in neighbourhoods.
- Allocate transit resources toward frequent regional transit routes connecting high usage areas along transit oriented corridors.
D. Active transportation (includes regional trails)
- Invest in active transportation infrastructure that meets the local needs of your residents (e.g., local sidewalks, cycling lanes and trails).
- Invest in active transportation infrastructure that meets the regional needs of residents (e.g., continuous pedestrian and cycling network, regional trail network expansion, widening and lighting).
E. Traffic flow and congestion
- Invest in local road improvements not on the Regional Multi-modal Network.
- Invest in corridor improvements on the Regional Multi-modal Network (see Figure 1).
F. Transportation planning
- Municipal transportation plans inform the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP).
- The RTP takes precedence and directs municipal transportation plans.
G. Behaviour change
- Local responsibility for delivering initiatives and programs to influence behaviour change.
- Regional responsibility for delivering initiatives and programs to influence behaviour change.
H. New mobility services (e.g., ride hailing)
- Local responsibility for policy and regulations (i.e., business licensing and curb side regulation).
- Regional responsibility for policy and regulations (i.e., business licensing and curb side regulation).
I. Grants
- Individually pursue grant funding for local transportation projects.
- Collaboratively pursue grant funding for priority projects identified on the Regional Multi-modal Network.
Understanding expectations
Local governments and partner agencies use a number of actions – or levers – to improve mobility for residents. The purpose of this question is to gather information on the types of actions a regional decision-making body could take. This information is important as it provides direction about the type of service authorities a regional body would need to deliver on expectations. This helps CRD staff understand the level of change that is needed.
- With a change in transportation governance, it is important to acknowledge that some regional transportation projects may not have a direct local impact/benefit but will significantly improve regional mobility for residents. Please select whether you agree, neither agree nor disagree, or disagree with each statement using the radio buttons.
| Statement | Agree | Neither agree nor disagree | Disagree |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. A new governance structure should strike a balance between regional and local priorities. | [x] | [ ] | [ ] |
| B. A new governance structure should focus on projects that have the greatest impact on improving regional mobility, even if it means fewer local projects in your jurisdiction. | [ ] | [ ] | [x] |
| C. A new governance structure should require decision-makers to consider the regional impacts of local decisions when making policy, funding and service-level decisions. | [x] | [ ] | [ ] |
| D. Some transportation services could be more efficiently delivered at a regional level by a new governance structure. If you agree, and have examples, please list up to three services for consideration. | [x] | [ ] | [ ] |
Examples:
- Ride hailing
- Active transportation infrastructure design and linkage
- Transit
Identifying opportunities
Governance changes create new opportunities and challenges. The next series of questions gather information about the benefits and concerns that matter most to municipalities, electoral areas and partner agencies. This helps CRD staff understand areas of agreement and disagreement across the region and provides the information needed to scope governance options.
- Using a local government lens, please identify your concerns about a change in regional transportation governance by selecting all that apply using the checkboxes.
- Loss of local control and decision-making power in balancing the diverse transportation needs of different jurisdictions (i.e., priority areas for new infrastructure would be established by a regional service and improvements would be directed toward the Regional Multi-modal Network or be required to reach a certain standard of design)
- Financial implications and resource allocation among jurisdictions (i.e., resources being invested in jurisdictions other than our own, according to regional priorities)
- Navigating jurisdictional complexities and legal considerations (i.e., amending or updating bylaws, local transportation plans, and dealing with the impacts of transferring authority)
- May result in a lower level of service for our local government (i.e., concern that services may be concentrated in areas with higher population density when analysing trade-offs)
- 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.
- Improved transportation connectivity within the municipality or electoral area
- Improved transportation connectivity within the region
- Collaborative decision making regarding the implementation of transportation priorities and service delivery
- Unified voice to pursue funding and/or policy changes for the regional multi-modal priorities and work with transportation service providers on service delivery
- Harmonizing design standards and bylaws across the region
- 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.
- 2 Connecting residential areas and employment centers
- 1 Improving access to essential amenities (i.e., schools, healthcare facilities, shopping, recreational facilities and parks)
- 3 Enhancing connectivity between neighboring municipalities
- 4 Connecting to BC Ferries and Victoria International Airport (YYJ)
- Please rank which factors should be 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.
- 1 Maintenance, improvements and replacement of infrastructure
- 3 Supporting anticipated future population growth
- 2 Balancing investments between different modes of transportation based on regionally established targets and priorities (i.e., active transportation, transit and general purpose travel lanes)
- 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?
The CRD requested that to DCS Council endorse a completed a questionnaire exploring three potential levels of change in transportation governance. Council are endorsing Level 1 – the development of a new CRD service consolidating the current transportation functions with the anticipated outcome of Increased planning, coordination, and stakeholder engagement is required to manage the current trail system effectively. The scope included in the service establishment bylaw align with Level 1 with the consolidation of the current regional transportation planning and regional trail functions.
Also, to ensure appropriate service levels and resourcing is achieved for the District of Central Saanich, changes must be made to the categorizations of Brentwood Bay, Saanichton Village, Turgoose Node and the Panorama Recreation Centre.
A goal of the District of Central Saanich 2024-2027 Strategic Plan is to strengthen relationships with the First Nations based on the recognition of rights, respect and partnership, as such, consultation of First Nations in the development of this service is recommended.
As part of the CRD's Transportation Governance Survey, the District of Central Saanich requests that:
- A managed plan to upgrade all regional trails to the advertised levels be put in place and include appropriate requisitions. When evaluating priorities of trail upgrades a proper risk assessment is carried out to prioritize, and that requisitions reflect the need to address the identified needs, this should be completed for all trails, with condition assessments as part of the risk assessment. It is anticipated that trails like the Lochside Trail will be high on the priority list based on its usage, condition, vehicle/cyclist/pedestrian conflicts, and impact to the surrounding community.
- When developing priorities and projects, that the need for collaboration with all stakeholders, including employers in employment centers is included. Due to differing needs of trail users and road users where the trails are on-road the need to be collaborative to find the appropriate uses is required to ensure funding is distributed. A function of active transportation is to support multi-modal use for regular travel, such as commuting to work, so shareholders like employers should be consulted during the process to ensure that regular travel can be incorporated.
Additionally, the District of Central Saanich requests that modifications be made to Figure 1: Regional Multi-modal Network Reference Map (2023) in the Transportation Governance Workbook. There are four changes requested:
Change Brentwood Bay from a Rural Mobility Hub to a Complete Mobility Hub. Brentwood Bay is a Complete Community. The CRD Regional Growth Strategy Map 3a includes Brentwood Bay in the Urban Containment Boundary, and Map 3b identifies Brentwood Bay as a Node. The District's OCP identifies Brentwood Bay as a significant Village Centre in the community and on the Saanich Peninsula, with a mix of housing types, a vibrant commercial core, and three schools which serve the broader Peninsula. Brentwood Bay is also immediately adjacent to the Keating Business District, which further strengthens its role as a Complete Mobility Hub.
Change Saanichton Village from a Rural Mobility Hub to a Complete Mobility Hub. Just as Brentwood Bay above, Saanichton Village is a Complete Community. The CRD Regional Growth Strategy Map 3a includes Saanichton Village in the Urban Containment Boundary, and May 3b identifies it as a Node. The Central Saanich OCP also identifies Saanichton as a Village Centre. The Village has a vibrant commercial centre, is experiencing housing growth, contains the Saanich Peninsula Hospital, and already has the Saanich Transit Exchange, which is a significant transportation hub on the Saanich Peninsula.
Identify the Turgoose Node as a Destination. Turgoose is a growing Node on the Saanich Peninsula. There is an established commercial node already existing, on both Tsartlip First Nation lands and in Central Saanich, and there is a growing