This is Part 2 of a three-part series on transit issues facing West Shore residents. This week, we learn that some potential transit riders canB次元官网网址檛 make the existing public transportation network a part of their daily commute.

to read Part 1.

View Royal resident Sylvie Ghanem considers herself to be pro-transit.

Having lived in Vienna with her husband, Ghanem developed a strong appreciation for public transit and its wide-ranging benefits, including the social aspect that allows her to make connections with people in her community.

That continued when they had kids and eventually moved to Seattle, where she said a lot of parents would buy cars for their kids as soon as they could drive.

B次元官网网址淲e bought a bus pass (for) our kids,B次元官网网址� she said, laughing.

Now, two of her children have moved elsewhere and despite being in their mid-20s, donB次元官网网址檛 own a car.

Ghanem owns a home-based business, but work-related appointments often take her to Victoria or Oak Bay.

She takes transit whenever she can and praises the frequency and efficiency of the No. 50 route, but she has a hard time making use of the service when sheB次元官网网址檚 headed anywhere outside the downtown core.

Youngest daughter, Emma, is faced with a similar challenge as a University of Victoria student. She tried to make transit work, she said, but quickly realized it was too inconvenient to juggle commuting to the university and her job at Westshore Town Centre.

B次元官网网址淚 did try to not use (my car) because it is very expensive to drive out to UVic every day,B次元官网网址� Emma said. B次元官网网址淣ot only was it long, but it was extremely packed all the time.B次元官网网址�

Langford resident Marisa Wu is in a similar situation, in that the bus stops being a viable option on days where she has other appointments and isnB次元官网网址檛 simply commuting to and from work.

BC Transit route planner James Wadsworth noted that everybody has different travel needs and depending on the day, may choose different options.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 important when weB次元官网网址檙e planning transportation in the region that weB次元官网网址檙e giving people several good choices,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he reality is depending on what youB次元官网网址檙e doing that day, transit can work or other choices can work for you.B次元官网网址�

When Wu does take the bus, she drives to the park and ride at the Colwood Exchange near the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre and hops on the 50 bus headed downtown. She said sheB次元官网网址檇 like to take the No. 48 bus, which passes right by her home at Happy Valley and Latoria, but its limited schedule makes that impossible.

B次元官网网址淭he problem is thereB次元官网网址檚 only two buses in the afternoon, so one leaves downtown at 4:10 p.m. and one leaves at 4:40 p.m.,B次元官网网址� she said. If she has to work even 10 or 15 minutes extra, sheB次元官网网址檒l miss the last No. 48 bus.

Wadsworth says BC Transit tries to schedule its commuter routes with a typical work schedule in mind.

B次元官网网址淲e try to provide people with many choices. We have our regular routes like the 50 and the 61 and those are on major corridors that have higher population densities and mixed uses, so they have an all-day market for transit. Then in residential neighbourhoods with single-family homes, what we like to do is give them a couple of options to go downtown that work for an 8:00 or an 8:30 work start,B次元官网网址� he said.

Langford Coun. Lillian Szpak, the vice-chair of the CityB次元官网网址檚 transportation and public works committee, says there arenB次元官网网址檛 enough direct options for people heading into town.

B次元官网网址淲hy are we still treating people like they are trundling from the back country? This is a major urban centre B次元官网网址� its residents deserve to have a good express bus system.B次元官网网址�

Susan Brice, a Saanich councillor and chair of the Victoria Regional Transit Commission, acknowledges that the West Shore has some gaps in service.

B次元官网网址淲e know that both out in the western cities and out on the peninsula that the frequency and the penetration is not where we would like it, and it just comes down to dollars and cents,B次元官网网址� she said.

Following a recently announced $1.63-million influx of funds from the province, this September BC Transit will implement a plan to improve transit for students on the West Shore. That will include extending the No. 39 bus from the Colwood exchange to the Langford exchange, and possibly further to a Westhills exchange if the budget allows. The No. 25A route, which has limited commuter service from the Colwood Exchange to Dockyard, will receive a similar upgrade.

Wadsworth envisions the 25A route eventually having B次元官网网址渇requentB次元官网网址� service similar to that of the No. 50, which runs every 15 minutes.

Coming up: In the final instalment of our series, we take a look at what the future might hold for transportation on the West Shore.

joel.tansey@goldstreamgazette.com

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