This is the final installment of a three-part series on transportation issues facing the West Shore.
When it comes to relief for the Colwood Crawl, Coun. Rob Martin has big ideas.
Be it rail, a ferry service or even a Barcelona-style cable car, he believes itB次元官网网址檚 high time the region started thinking outside the box to solve its transportation woes.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e in a problem where we are not going to build a second corridor. There isnB次元官网网址檛 going to be a parallel Trans-Canada (Highway) thatB次元官网网址檚 going to allow us to take vehicles into the downtown core,B次元官网网址� Martin said.
The Colwood councillor also doesnB次元官网网址檛 see simply adding lanes to the existing highway as relieving the existing commuter traffic congestion, citing studies that show building roads for higher density leads to those roads filling up quickly. B次元官网网址淵ou donB次元官网网址檛 actually solve the problem long-term, so we have to look at alternatives.B次元官网网址�
And while he admits a ferry or a gondola from Colwood to Victoria is merely a dream at this point, he doesnB次元官网网址檛 like to use the word B次元官网网址渋mpossible.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲e have to start looking creatively on how weB次元官网网址檙e going to start moving people.B次元官网网址�
On Mar. 9, the province announced it was conducting a study on the viability of a commuter rail service along the E&N corridor, with results expected this summer B次元官网网址� after the provincial election.
B次元官网网址淭he province is aware that Langford, Sooke and the western communities have been growing quickly and are projected to continue to grow significantly,B次元官网网址� said Transportation Minister Todd Stone at the announcement in Esquimalt.
B次元官网网址淲e think this idea has merit. We think that this idea could add transit capacity.B次元官网网址�
Prior to the announcement, Langford Mayor Stew Young told the Gazette heB次元官网网址檚 as optimistic as ever about the future of commuter rail here, but that the dollars and cents have to work. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e making some good progress. At the end of the day itB次元官网网址檒l be a financial decision. A common sense, business case decision,B次元官网网址� he said.
Young is convinced of the need to open up a badly needed second major route into Victoria. B次元官网网址淭he McKenzie interchange will help a bit, but we really canB次元官网网址檛 add any more to that corridor, so the only corridor thatB次元官网网址檚 left on southern Vancouver Island is the E&N. We need to make sure that we move some people B次元官网网址� or start to plan to move people on that corridor.B次元官网网址�
Susan Brice, Victoria Regional Transit Commission chair, says BC Transit has been a party to discussions regarding the potential for commuter rail.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not our project B次元官网网址� (but) they have certainly kept Transit apprised of their plans and our staff have attended meetings and have made all transit resources available,B次元官网网址� she said.
Meanwhile, Langford has partnered with Wilson Transportation on the Langtoria Greenline, a commuter bus that aims to make trips into town stress-free, with complimentary coffee and WiFi in a coach bus setting.
The service has seen modest growth since its maiden trip last fall, although riders that have used the service have touted the lineB次元官网网址檚 comfort and convenience as a reason they chose to sign up.
Wilson Transportation hopes the service can continue to grow, and has said it is prepared to run multiple buses if the demand is there.
Transit alliance advocates for improvements
Last year, a group of citizens in the Capital Region formed the Better Transit Alliance of Greater Victoria, a grassroots organization that seeks improved public transportation, no matter what form it may take.
Eric Doherty, one of the organizationB次元官网网址檚 founding members, moved to the region a year ago from the Lower Mainland and has already noticed some issues with transportation on southern Vancouver Island.
B次元官网网址淭he biggest thing IB次元官网网址檝e noticed is buses being stuck in traffic on the highway,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e gotten used to being on Highway 99 (in Vancouver) and having the shoulder bus lane and being able to be on the transit bus and whiz by a whole bunch of cars stuck in traffic. ThatB次元官网网址檚 what was really a bit shocking here.B次元官网网址�
In addition to the pursuit of bus lanes, the organization plans to advocate for a raised gas tax in the region and will look to approach and work with municipal governments to lobby provincial and federal governments to respect climate change initiatives.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 kind of our longer term goal,B次元官网网址� Doherty noted.
For more information about the organization, visit .
To access previous instalments in this series, visit goldstreamgazette.com and search for West Shore on the Go.
