The VRRTP has started with a ‘clean sheet’ approach where all options are considered and all concerns are addressed. Public input will help BC Transit refine, evaluate and eventually select transit improvements that serve many people and businesses. Input may be supplied throughout the planning process by attending public sessions, corresponding directly with the project team, and by contacting an appropriate member of the Community Liaison Committee.
A Community Liaison Committee (CLC) has been meeting monthly since December 2008 to work with the VRRTP team and communicate with the various interest groups represented on the committee. Acting as a “sounding board” for the project team, the CLC includes representatives from capital region communities, the business sector, transportation groups, schools, cycling and other groups.
Click for CLC Membership List (pdf - 16 kb)
Click for CLC Meeting Minutes
BC Transit is undertaking a survey to better understand the implications for businesses of establishing a rapid transit system connecting Victoria to the West Shore via Douglas Street. This survey, developed in cooperation with the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, Association of Douglas Street Businesses, Downtown Victoria Business Association and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, is being conducted this month by Victoria-based R.A. Malatest and Associates. The survey will interview businesses and their customers on Douglas Street between Uptown and Downtown, as well as those that might be affected by a Douglas/Blanshard or Douglas/Government couplet or loop arrangement.
The survey will obtain input from 350 businesses and 400 area customers. Information from the survey will help to identify issues and opportunities created by a rapid transit system providing high-frequency, all-day, every day service to help meet high travel demand between Victoria, Uptown and the West Shore.
The Rapid Transit Project team has been obtaining public input and working closely with municipalities to determine if the service on the Island Highway and Douglas Street would be better on the curbside or down the middle of the street (median). Later this year, BC Transit will choose between a curbside and median arrangement, and also determine if it will be a road-based (bus) or rail-based (tram) system.
If you missed our open houses in Victoria and the West Shore held on June 7 and 8, 2010, just click on the links below for new information about the Victoria Regional Rapid Transit Project and how it fits with the rest of the transit network. Then send us your comments by clicking on the link to the comment form.
WelcomeTransit and Our RegionTransit Future – the PlanTransit Future – Layers of ServiceTransit Future – Proposed Rapid and Frequent Transit NetworkTransit Future – Long Range Planning ObjectivesBuilding for Transit FutureActivities in 2009Moving Forward on the Approved AlignmentTransit Way Option Details – Segment A CurbsideTransit Way Option Details – Segment A MedianTransit Way Option Details – Segment B Galloping Goose/TCHTransit Way Option Details – Segment C Douglas CurbsideTransit Way Option Details – Segment C Douglas MedianTransit Way Option Details – Segment C Douglas/BlanshardTransit Way Option Details – Segment C Douglas/GovernmentMaking Enough Room for EverybodyViable Rapid Transit Options for the Capital RegionRapid Transit, Commuter Rail and the E&NSustainable Transportation SolutionsNext Steps
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The preferred rapid transit alignment was displayed as part of the progress update in public open houses held on October 15 in Colwood and October 20 in Victoria. New displays from these open houses are posted below.
Activities to Date – Data Collection Activities to Date – Identification & Confirmation of Transit Corridors Activities to Date – Developing Alignment Options Activities to Date – Preliminary Screening of Alignment Options West Shore to Colwood Interchange Alignment Options Colwood Interchange to Core Alignment Options Uptown to Downtown Alignment Options Preferred Alignment for Further Study – Detailed Screening Results The Concept of System Balance for Rapid Transit The Analysis – Results: Detailed Screening of Shortlisted Options Rapid Transit, Commuter Rail and the E&N Rapid Transit and the Rest of the System Creating Opportunities – Viable Transportation Choices, “Complete” Streets and the Liveable City What are the Next Steps?
Public open houses were held June 23 and 29 in Victoria and June 25 in Colwood to provide a progress update and opportunity to comment on alignments under consideration for Rapid Transit in Victoria. The displays from the open house are posted below.
Welcome What is the project and why are we here? What are the goals? Why Rapid Transit? What are we trying to achieve? Key Findings to Date Rapid Transit Technologies Evaluating the Alignment Options – Input Exercise #1 Evaluating the Alignment Options – Project Team Preliminary Weightings What are the West Shore Alignment Options? Evaluating the Alignment Options – West Shore to Colwood Interchange Evaluating the Alignment Options – Colwood Interchange to Core Area Evaluating the Alignment Options – Uptown to Downtown Evaluating the Alignment Options – Input Exercise #2 Evaluating the Alignment Options – Project Team Preliminary Rankings Rapid Transit and the Rest of the System What are the Next Steps?
Download the entire set. (9.1 mb)
Visitors to the June 2009 open houses were invited to participate in two input exercises as part of the process of evaluating the alignment options.
The first involved weighting the relative importance of the guiding principles. Decisions on alignments and rapid transit technology will be influenced by how well they perform with respect to the most important guiding principles.
The second exercise involved ranking the potential alignments in each of three segments (“A” - West Shore to Colwood Interchange, “B” – Colwood Interchange to Core Area, and “C” – Uptown to Downtown, all of which are at least somewhat capable of supporting an exclusive right-of-way for some form of rapid transit). These rankings should be based on the alignments’ ability to achieve the guiding principles.
The project team held a public open house in Victoria on March 31, 2009, and another in Langford on April 1, 2009 to share information about the project. Project staff and members of the Community Liaison Committee were on hand to discuss and receive input on travel patterns, transit corridors and linkages to the West Shore. This input will be considered during the rapid transit options development process.
The displays from the open house are posted below. A summary of public input received can be found here.
Displays – March 31 & April 1, 2009 Open Houses:
Welcome What is the project and why are we here? What are the goals? Why Rapid Transit? What are we trying to achieve? What is Rapid Transit? What is meant by “regional context”? Why are we linking the West Shore first? What is the process? Where do we live? Where do we work? (1) Where do we work? (2) Where do we go? Where are the Regional Transit Corridors? What are the West Shore alignment options? How do we evaluate the alignments? Who is involved? How can I participate? What are the Next Steps?
Download the entire set. (13.4 mb)