9623 replies to this topic

[malahatdrive]

 

The remaining portion of the Douglas Street bus lane project north of Tolmie Avenue has been cancelled due budget overruns. Bids for the project came in at 30% above the budgeted amount of $6.45-million, according to the local transit commission.

 

Bus lane work would have yielded dedicated bus lanes for buses between Tolmie Avenue and Saanich Road and connect downtown Victoria with BC Transit's planned Uptown bus interchange near Uptown Shopping Centre at HWY 1 and Carey Road.

 

This is just pathetic. Years ago the BC Liberals announced huge investment in Transit promising rapid bus lanes between West Shore and Downtown. Years later we have a couple of small segments of unconnected and incomplete bus lanes while billions are spent on the mainland. It's fine to spend billions on the mainland - they need it - but for the 2nd most populated area outside the lower mainland to be so short changed for so long... Its neglect

Edited by malahatdrive, 19 June 2017 - 11:56 AM.

[Mike K.]

...and there are still those folks who think we're going to get commuter rail, lol.

[Kungsberg]

 

VibrantVictoria, on 19 Jun 2017 - 11:42 AM, said:

 

 

The remaining portion of the Douglas Street bus lane project north of Tolmie Avenue has been cancelled due budget overruns. Bids for the project came in at 30% above the budgeted amount of $6.45-million, according to the local transit commission.

 

Bus lane work would have yielded dedicated bus lanes for buses between Tolmie Avenue and Saanich Road and connect downtown Victoria with BC Transit's planned Uptown bus interchange near Uptown Shopping Centre at HWY 1 and Carey Road.

 

jessief  - on 19 June 2017  -  11:54 AM

 

Quote

 

This is disappointing. As a transit commuter, I really believe that dedicated bus lanes from downtown to Mackenzie would encourage people to use transit. If I know I can get from downtown to past Mackenzie in my own lane, thus cutting that portion of my commute in half, I'm getting on that bus! Maybe that's not enough for some people but it would sure entice me.

 

I agree, it's disappointing. We need those dedicated bus lanes.  

 

It seems from the Victoria Regional Transit Commission update https://bctransit.co...s/1403647765629  (dated tomorrow, June 20),  that 

"the high costs were due to the unusually high level of construction work occurring in the region at this time. This has impacted the availability of workers and also materials such as concrete and asphalt."

 

 

This sounds a lot like what happened with the 2 pedestrian bridges for the David Foster Harbour Pathway that were put on 'hold' -  

http://www.timescolo...hold-1.19527636

 

"Fraser Work, the city’s director of engineering, told councillors that the amount of construction underway in the city is likely to blame for the lack of bids."

 

"This is the second time in as many years the building boom has been blamed for a delay in a city project."

 

 

So whilst it is great that there is a booming building and renovation scene happening in Victoria, it does seem to have negative repercussions on projects and budgets.

Attached Images

• 

[Bingo]

Don't tell me the only quote to have the bus lanes built was from a company building them in China.

[Mike K.]

So the provincial government will put the brakes on cost overruns, but our municipal government in Victoria saw no obstacles when a sole bike lane bid came in well above budget. And they're moving on to a second lane along Fort Street now.

[Bingo]

So the provincial government will put the brakes on cost overruns, but our municipal government in Victoria saw no obstacles when a sole bike lane bid came in well above budget.

And they're moving on to a second lane along Fort Street now.

 

So when they sent out the tenders for the bus lanes did they only tender the part that is already done?

That would be like sending out tenders for half of the bridge and then once you are past the point of no return the company tenders the other half and charges whatever they want, eh!*

*Jack Knox wants us to use this more

[sdwright.vic]

^^ well the did decide not to do the Fisherman's Wharf bridge thingy.

Edited by sdwright.vic, 19 June 2017 - 03:04 PM.

[Bingo]

^ well the did decide not to do the Fisherman's Wharf bridge thingy.

 

The bus lane was canceled 

[sdwright.vic]

Sprry should of been ^^ not ^

[Citified.ca]

 

Real-time BC Transit bus tracking technology coming to Victoria in 2018

http://victoria.citi...ctoria-in-2018/

[Nparker]

Real-time BC Transit bus tracking technology coming to Victoria in 2018

Does this mean the buses will finally run on time? 

[LJ]

^No no, don't be silly. You will just know when it's coming so you can wave as it passes you by.

[VicHockeyFan]

New bus route will run between Westhills and UVic in the fall.

 

New bus service planned for Sooke, West Shore - Sooke News Mirror

 

 

http://www.sookenews...oke-west-shore/

 

Some bits in that article are awful hard to read, very odd.

[talldude123]

 

New bus route will run between Westhills and UVic in the fall.

 

 

 

http://www.sookenews...oke-west-shore/

 

Some bits in that article are awful hard to read, very odd.

 

 

I also *heard* that Route 25 would be extended to Westhills beyond Colwood Exchange. Although it's not official yet. 

[sdwright.vic]

Why don't they redraw the entire bus system to make it work with todays population centres? This system was set up how many years ago? An entire rework is due.

[VicHockeyFan]

I agree. 27/28 has been a thing since the 70's.

[Nparker]

I agree. 27/28 has been a thing since the 70's.

Back when they were the "927" & "928". What was that all about anyway?

[Coreyburger]

Why don't they redraw the entire bus system to make it work with todays population centres? This system was set up how many years ago? An entire rework is due.

 

This has always been the long-term plan with rapid transit on Douglas as the catalyst. It is a huge project and is thus would likely succeed more when that happens

[UrbanRail]

Back when they were the "927" & "928". What was that all about anyway?

My understanding back then, was that any suburban buses were numbered in the 900s?

[UrbanRail]

I agree. 27/28 has been a thing since the 70's.

They are well used routes. i cant see them changing them, as Shelbourne is a major thoroughfare.