March 2012 Update

Uptown to Downtown – Moving Forward

BC Transit was requested to make a presentation at the second joint council meeting of Victoria and Saanich. The presentation was focused on the Douglas Street corridor, with the theme of transit on the corridor and linkage to the long term rapid transit project. Discussion around transit priority and interim plans were discussed to ensure that the Douglas Street corridor is established as the primary transit corridor in the region. Click here to view the presentation.

September 2011 Update

Project Phase Chart

Process Chart includes the breakdown of the project into three phases: Business Report, Detailed Business Case and Engineering & Construction.

August 2011 Update

Release of Technical Reports

The Technical Reports provide detailed information on the Victoria Regional Rapid Transit summary report. The Technical Reports include the six following volumes.

Volume 1: Regional Data and Traffic Information

• Forecast population and employment growth
• Settlement patterns and trends
• Regional travel demand patterns and forecast increases in travel demand
• Victoria Regional Transit System operational performance and trends

Volume 2: Corridor Evaluation

• Identification, analysis and evaluation of transportation corridors to identify the optimal corridor within which to provide a rapid transit service

Volume 3: Development and Evaluation of Alignment Configuration

• Identification, analysis and evaluation of various options for placement of the rapid transit running way within the optimal corridor identified in Volume 2

Volume 4: Functional Alignment Report

• Development of conceptual plans for the recommended rapid transit alignment configuration identified in Volume 3 to confirm fit, identify operational characteristics

Volume 5: Technology and Option Evaluation (Updated September 26, 2011)

• Identification of rapid transit vehicle technologies; development of ridership estimates for the rapid transit service; development of conceptual cost estimates; completion of a multiple account evaluation of the various options
  

Volume 6: Communication and Consultation
Volume 6: Communication and Consultation Appendix 1 & 2
Volume 6: Communication and Consultation Appendix 3 & 4
Volume 6: Communication and Consultation Appendix 5 & 6

• Stakeholder and public engagement and feedback collected at all stages of the project development

In addition, the frequently asked questions have been updated to address the most common questions being raised by the public over the last few months.

June 2011 Update

BC Transit Board Approval

At the BC Transit Board of Directors meeting held on May 26, 2011, a motion was passed to support moving the Victoria Regional Rapid Transit project forward to the next stage, specifically:

ON A MOTION duly made and seconded, IT WAS RESOLVED that the Board of Directors approve:

• The Victoria Regional Rapid Transit Report for submission to the Province;
• The following endorsement from the Victoria Regional Transit Commission:
  • Approve the Victoria Regional Rapid Transit Project recommendation of Light Rail technology
  • Support moving the project forward to the next stage to seek and secure federal and provincial funding required to develop a capital and operating funding plan. This plan will identify the secured funding sources for the project, including the required local share.
  • As per the CRD resolution, BC Transit and the Capital Regional District will establish a task force to investigate alternative funding and transit incentive options for the local share.
  • Direct staff to prepare a plan for consideration by the VRTC in September 2011, identifying interim improvements to transit services and infrastructure in accordance with the direction of the LRT project.
• The development of a capital and operating funding plan and a finalized business case to be submitted to the Board of Directors for approval.

Next Steps

April 2011 Light Rail Recommendation

Based on extensive public consultation and detailed analysis, on April 26th, 2011 Light Rail Transit (LRT) was recommended as the preferred technology to connect Victoria to the West Shore.
Click here for the full announcement.
Click here to give us your feedback.

Project History

Click on the boxes below for details on each stage of the process. For additional project information, just follow the links on the left side of the page.