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BC Transit (Victoria Regional Transit System) news and issues


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#8061 Mike K.

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Posted 27 September 2021 - 07:15 AM

Transit is free if you carry a bike helmet on board, or use the bicycle rack at the front of each bus, throughout Go By Bike Week starting today and extending through October 3rd.


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#8062 Mike K.

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Posted 08 October 2021 - 10:15 AM

🔹BREAKING: BC Transit rolling out mandatory employee vaccinations🔹

Bus drivers and other employees working for BC Transit will require full vaccination by November 29th, according to a statement issued by the organization to its workforce this morning.

The mandatory vaccination mandate extends to BC Transit’s Operating Companies and its contractors.

The move comes as provincial and national employers extend similar calls for vaccination status for their employees, with fall deadlines for full vaccination.
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#8063 Victoria Watcher

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Posted 25 October 2021 - 07:14 AM

On any given Thursday, even in mid-pandemic times, five flights leave from Victoria International Airport before 8am. The airport recommends arriving no later than an hour and a half before a plane takes off for a domestic flight, so anyone taking one of those flights should arrive at the airport before 6:30. 

 

The trouble is, without a car or $75 for a taxi, there is currently no way to arrive that early. 

 

The very first bus to arrive at the airport every morning pulls in 22 minutes after the first plane leaves, and too late to have a hope of catching the next two. Google Maps, for its part, suggests catching a bus from downtown at 11:51pm on Wednesday for a morning flight. 

 

https://www.capitald...ria-airport-bus

 

 

 

how do we manage to have terrible transit service to the ferries, to the airport, and to the naval base?  can this be run any worse?

 

look at these transit times from west shore:

 

 


Edited by Victoria Watcher, 25 October 2021 - 07:18 AM.

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#8064 Mike K.

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Posted 25 October 2021 - 07:18 AM

It’s not BC Transit’s role to connect every private transportation option.

Just book a later flight if you need transit to the terminal.
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#8065 Cats4Hire

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Posted 25 October 2021 - 07:19 AM

Are ferries bad? I thought the problem was more related to only taking cash than service. The 70 and 72 seem fairly well timed to the ferry schedule (during the summer the 70 will even wait if the ferry is late).

 

I've long agreed airport needs better service. I get the roads leading to it might not be able to handle double deckers but I don't see why there's no 73 Airport/Downtown or something. They recently did the survey for the peninsula and based on the map the airport having more (and direct to downtown service) was fairly request so maybe we'll get it soon.



#8066 Victoria Watcher

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Posted 25 October 2021 - 07:22 AM

Langford added almost 2,100 people between 2018 and 2019 as its population grew by 5.2 per cent to 42,653, according to new population estimates. Three of Langford’s neighbouring West Shore municipalities also recorded considerable growth. Colwood grew by three per cent to 18,867, View Royal grew by 2.5 per cent to 11,567, and Sooke grew by 2.5 per cent to 14,657.

 

42653 L

18867 C

11567 VR

14657 SK

2225 HG

5000 M

2000 ? unincorporated and beyond sooke

 

https://www.vicnews....mmunity-in-b-c/

 

that's 97,000 people.   that do not have a direct bus to the ferry.

 

we should have a direct bus from downtown and another from west shore to every odd-hour sailing.  surely that's not hard to do.  

 

the downtown bus should only stop at uptown and mt. newton.  the west shore bus should only stop at mckenzie/pat bay exchange.

 

another bus should go swartz bay, sidney and airport all day long.  back and forth between the airport and the ferry with a stop in sidney in between each, each way.

 


Edited by Victoria Watcher, 25 October 2021 - 07:39 AM.


#8067 Cats4Hire

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Posted 25 October 2021 - 07:24 AM

Even the transfers to the airport are bad. First 88 of the day toward airport leaves McTavish at 6:27. The nearest buses are a 72 at 6:16 (11 minute wait) and 70 at 6:29 (better hope 88 is late). Next is 6:57 with a 6:46 72. The 7:27 trip is a little better with a 72 at 7:21 and a 70 at 7:25 (with how far the 70 Swartz Bay and 88 Airport stops are idk if I'd risk that though).



#8068 Mike K.

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Posted 25 October 2021 - 07:29 AM

You can catch a taxi from McTavish to the airport, too.

But where’s everybody flying in a climate emergency?
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#8069 Cats4Hire

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Posted 25 October 2021 - 07:54 AM

I think BC Transit should do a big overhaul of the system honestly. Why are 11s running empty through Uplands because Gorge needs 10 minute service when we have the 9 that could cover that instead. Why did they interline the 21 and 7 when the 21 seems to need much more frequent service (why was the 7's service so high even when interlined with 2, every time I've taken it it basically empties out by Oak Bay avenue and there's like 5 people on it until downtown when 21 riders start getting on). Why is McKenzie so poorly served between Saanich and the TCH? Why does the 26 serve Saanich anyway, it barely stops and isn't that far from Quadra (Douglas that runs beside the Pat Bay by Mckenzie is further from any other service and all it gets is the 17 which only runs twice a day and is intended for Cedar Hill school). Why is the 15 only half express, why are they proposing a third direct route from Dockyard to Uvic, why is the 76 the only direct connection between the Peninsula and UVic but Westshore gets 39 and 51. So many things that could be fixed but just aren't because I guess can't cut service to Fairfield to add new service or the two people that 7 would have taken will have to leave slightly earlier.



#8070 North Shore

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Posted 25 October 2021 - 09:42 AM

^ Because there's a parking lot at BC Transit headquarters, that's why.  If the decision-makers at BCT had to actually *use* their own system to get to work, then they'd see these problems...


Say, what's that mountain goat doing up here in the mist?

#8071 Mike K.

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Posted 27 October 2021 - 10:19 AM

West Shore transit plan consultations start today: https://engage.bctra...2c-xtPlBDnMg6tI


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#8072 Cats4Hire

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Posted 27 October 2021 - 02:06 PM

West Shore transit plan consultations start today: https://engage.bctra...2c-xtPlBDnMg6tI

Questions:

  • Rapid bus to Westshore in the next 1-2 years
  • Immediate removal of some 50 stops along Goldstream and Jacklin to make it an express route until rapid bus is brought in. Stops will still be served by local routes
  • Chose if you would prefer 50 and Rapid Route to terminate at Westhills or Bellmont Market
  • short term goals
  • 43 proposed to serve Fort Rod Hill (no mention of service boost)
  • upgrades to 52 (more direct service, increase in service
  • introduces 44, peak service only, to replace some cut 52 service and serve other parts of Bear Mountain that currently have none
  • 54/55 more direct
  • combining 56/57 into 1 route, option on where it loops back
  • 59/60 will terminate at a new exchange in Royal Bay making them unique routes rather than the same route in different directions
  • 60 replaces 52's cut Royal Bay service
  • Question if 39 should keep current routing or be more direct (turn directly to Lanford Parkway from VMP instead of going to Goldstream and Jacklin
  • 3 proposed lines for 61 (would no longer be interlined with 50 and directly service downtown all day)
  • via Jacklin and Kelly, via VMP similarly to how 65 currently goes, via Jacklin and Goldstream)
  • Medium term goals
  • 52 becomes frequent service and even more direct, 45 new route to replace cut service
  • 46 extended service to Goldstream Meadows (seems to turn around at roundabout on Langford Parkway)
  • Retire 55 (basically same route as 54) to cut down duplication when 64 extension is brought in
  • Options for Bear Mountain terminus, City Gate by Costco or Millstream by Western Speedway
  • Some infrastructure stuff such as bus lanes between McKenzie and Six Mile and Sooke road between Royal Roads and Colwood Corners. Transit priority queue jumps at lights, the usual more shelters, more park and rides, etc


#8073 Mike K.

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Posted 27 October 2021 - 08:54 PM

This is why we pay you the big bucks.

Thanks, Cats!

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#8074 Matt R.

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Posted 27 October 2021 - 09:51 PM

You can catch a taxi from McTavish to the airport, too.

But where’s everybody flying in a climate emergency?


We fly to Nfld. in the morning, departing from Vancouver of course. It’s cold there, no climate emergency.

Matt.

#8075 Mike K.

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Posted 28 October 2021 - 06:40 AM

Don’t forget your passport.

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#8076 Cats4Hire

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Posted 02 November 2021 - 02:25 PM

Something interesting, buses now play a message (I'm guessing driver has to do it) saying "this bus will wait a few moments in order to keep the schedule" when waiting at a timing point. Weirdly that doesn't even start scrolling on the screen until the voice is completely done. I guess when they started doing the "face covers are mandatory on BC Transit vehicles" and "Please exit by the rear door, unless you require assistance" they realized they could do ones that are useful at all times like this one and the "Please move towards the back of the bus" (although people still don't seem to believe in standing past the back door).


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#8077 Cats4Hire

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Posted 03 November 2021 - 02:04 PM

Nov 9 meeting documents up https://www.bctransi...ings/nov-9-2021

 

  • Higher demand than was anticipated since about May with it being particularly bad in August. September was slightly improved
  • Ridership at about 65% of what it was pre-pandemic, major increase when Uvic/Camosun went back to in person
  • Any major service changes won't be happening until service levels have stabilized again (although they're going to add Beecher Bay service in Jan)
  • Rapidbus launch expected in September 2022 (as well as service stabilization) 
  • Not sure I really get this one, talking about projecting boardings on every route per hour but each set has 2 graphs that has some different routes https://www.bctransi...s/1529714265049
  • Uptown transit hub proposal expected to be submitted to Saanich for Spring
  • on time reliability decreased due to increase in ridership, traffic congestion, construction 

 

Looks like no early outline of the winter service change. I'm hoping they change the 26 Uptown only trips back to 16. The few amount of stops (and not having to travel Saanich road for the like 3 people that get on/off) is nice. I assume the only reason was they could cancel the "unscheduled" 26 half trips easier than a full route if UVic went back to online only but unless covid suddenly gets much worse again to the point I doubt anyone will care about them cancelling 16 I really doubt that will happen.


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#8078 North Shore

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Posted 03 November 2021 - 09:45 PM

I wonder if they'll bring back the UVic/Swartz Bay run that they ran on Friday and Sunday evenings about 2 years ago?


Say, what's that mountain goat doing up here in the mist?

#8079 Cats4Hire

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Posted 04 November 2021 - 06:16 AM

that would also be good, at the very least a shuttle before long weekends. The 39 was a mess the Friday before Thanksgiving, while I was waiting for the 26 one bus left full and there was about 2 buses worth of people left behind. I'm not sure if I would risk transferring to 70/72 at Royal Oak though, I'd personally probably use the 4.



#8080 Mike K.

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Posted 04 November 2021 - 09:29 AM

BC Transit supervisor recognized by West Shore RCMP


VICTORIA - West Shore RCMP recently presented Transit Supervisor (TS) Jeff Birtwistle with an Officer in Charge Certificate of Appreciation to thank him for his actions in finding a missing child on what was his first day as a TS.



“It’s definitely rewarding being recognized on behalf of everyone else at BC Transit that was involved,” said Jeff Birtwistle. “I believe everyone at BC Transit in Victoria works hard and does a good job in supporting our community and it’s definitely nice to be recognized.”



At 7 p.m. on May 1, 2021, West Shore RCMP received a call from a View Royal family saying their 10-year old daughter had uncharacteristically left their home without her phone or tablet. The girl has health challenges, and her parents were extremely concerned about her whereabouts.



West Shore RCMP officers attended the area and conducted extensive foot and vehicle patrols searching for the young girl. They also notified local taxi companies, BC Ferries and BC Transit, providing a description and a request to notify police if anyone saw her.



“The success of any investigation often relies on the cooperation between partnering organizations and local agencies,” said West Shore RCMP Superintendent Todd Preston. “It is the positive working relationships within our community that contributes to the safety and security of our residents. The actions of Jeffrey Birtwistle and BC Transit are prime examples of how a successful collaboration yields a positive outcome.”



Requests of this nature are common for BC Transit to receive, and there have been many instances where people in the organization have played a key role in locating missing persons. Once the information is received by BC Transit’s T-Comm team, the key details are communicated out to all employees on the road.



Jeff Birtwistle has been a Transit Operator since 2017, but this incident coincided with his first solo shift as an acting Transit Supervisor. He heard over the radio that a Transit Operator had a visual on someone matching the description of the child on the Old Island Highway in Colwood, and he headed to the area to see if he could help. A short time later, he caught up with the girl across from West Shore Recreation Centre.



Just 45 minutes after the initial call came in to West Shore RCMP, they were notified by BC Transit that TS Birtwistle had located the girl and would stay with her until police could arrive on the scene. It wasn’t long before she was returned to her worried family.



On November 1, an Officer in Charge Certificate of Appreciation was presented to Jeff Birtwistle by West Shore RCMP Superintendent Todd Preston at the Langford Transit Centre. The certificate commended Jeff for taking it upon himself to attend the area and complete further patrols to locate her. It states:



Mr. Birtwistle’s willingness to assist in the search and to take the time to follow up on a reported sighting by one of his BC Transit Drivers helped to locate this young girl. Mr. Birtwistle’s efforts are in keeping with the highest traditions of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and helped to bring this situation to a quick resolution and ensure this young girl’s safety.



BC Transit congratulates Jeff Birtwistle and the rest of the team for their tremendous impact on this View Royal family and their wider community. This is just another example of the work BC Transit employees and operating partners do across the province to support emergency services in many ways.
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