57 replies to this topic

[FogPub]

I wouldn't mind the idea of a regional transportation planning board-service-whatever if I had the least little shred of faith that they'd actually get it right.

 

From all I can tell, these guys are hell-bent on following the Victoria - and then Saanich - example, and thus getting it wrong.

[Blair M.]

The issue with any CRD committee, board, or undertaking is that whatever the project might be, the CRD is comprised of unelected politicians and independent bureaucrats with authority to spend public tax dollars wildly, and make endless important decisions which affect residents that live miles away from where they might have been elected.

The CRD will tell you, of course, that you elected a mayor or councillor in your municipality, and thus they have authority on a CRD committee, or have the authority to hire an expensive consultant to make decisions for the entire region.

False.

 

You're out of luck if you feel the Mayor of Metchosin shouldn't be making million dollar decisions for a project taking place in downtown Victoria, or outlying Saanich. 

 

There's always a need for some form of regional government, the issue with the CRD is the sheer amount of power they've grabbed, and the massive amount of money they tax residents for, with no accountability, and presented as a single line item on your taxes.

 

In short, the CRD should be mandated with shrinking itself, not expanding itself!

[Victoria Watcher]

Correct.

[splashflash]

May 16th deadline of the AAP for overturning it if 10% of voters object to the regional transportation planning service. Anyone think that may have happened?

[Mike K.]

Oh gosh, I don’t know. I doubt it. That’s the problem with the AAP, is it’s by-design anti-democratic and can pass by unseen. There should be limits placed on how much money can be associated to an AAP pursuit. In the case of the RTS it’ll be a $20 million annual expense initially, I think?

[splashflash]

Sounds like $20M. I think they already have project manager planners hird or ready to be hired.

[Mike K.]

Now the whole region will be thrust into what Esquimalt, Saanich and Victoria are doing.

[Mike K.]

Passed alternative approval process.

June 11, 2025:

The Capital Regional District (CRD) Board has approved Bylaw No. 4630 to establish a new Regional Transportation Service (RTS). The bylaw has been adopted after receiving elector assent through a regional Alternative Approval Process (AAP). With a growing population and more residents travelling across municipal boundaries to access work and leisure, a transportation service is needed to support a more connected and efficient regional transportation system.

“A regional approach will improve connectivity across municipalities, strengthen coordination, and ensure our transportation system can meet future needs. A more coordinated system also means better and more accessible travel experiences, whether by walking, bike, bus, or car” said Cliff McNeil-Smith, CRD Board Chair. Dean Murdock, Chair of the CRD Transportation Committee added “one cohesive voice on transportation will better attract provincial and federal investments, ensuring our communities receive the infrastructure they need.”
The new service will create a unified regional transportation vision, develop new programs, expand data and analysis, coordinate regional policies, and manage regional trails and infrastructure. The first step following the service establishment is to integrate existing transportation functions under one umbrella, including transportation planning functions and regional trails management. The new service will develop a new long-term Regional Transportation Plan to identify regional transportation priorities.

The CRD will continue to work with residents, First Nations, local governments, and transportation providers on the management and planning of regional trails and transportation networks, ensuring they continue to serve as vital, well-maintained connections as the region continues to grow.

[LJ]

Passed the process, failed the democracy.

[Victoria Watcher]

I wouldn't mind the idea of a regional transportation planning board-service-whatever if I had the least little shred of faith that they'd actually get it right.

 

From all I can tell, these guys are hell-bent on following the Victoria - and then Saanich - example, and thus getting it wrong.

 

 

With major employers ­expanding, commuters ­travelling further and little room left to build new roads, regional politicians are looking for ways to ease Greater Victoria’s traffic headaches by making better use of existing streets.

 

A Victoria city councillor is urging the Capital Regional District to take a larger role in co-ordinating traffic flow across municipal boundaries, including synchronizing traffic signals and improving transit priority at intersections.

 

Dave Thompson, who serves as a CRD director, said the region needs a more unified approach to transportation ­planning as population growth puts increasing pressure on roads that have limited capacity for expansion.

 

“There’s no more space in the urban core for more roads,” Thompson said, arguing that improving transit and making traffic signals more responsive can help move more people ­without adding lanes.

 

 

https://www.timescol...c-flow-12384673

[Victoria Watcher]

There used to be wider roads, but you narrowed them.

 

 

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 08 June 2026 - 05:01 AM.

[Mike K.]

He’s not wrong about traffic light timing. But then we were also told traffic light timing is used as traffic control to slow down traffic.

[Victoria Watcher]

That could include tweaks to intersection lights for more efficient transit service, and generally giving higher priority to public transit, which is a more efficient way to move people than private vehicles, he said.

 

 

The only efficiency of public transit is people per vehicle length, or fuel consumed/cost per mile.   In every other way, it is less desirable than car travel.

 

Ross Kenny, Victoria’s assistant director of transportation, said part of building a transport system that can move people safely and reliably as the capital region grows is having more homes downtown, where people don’t have to drive their cars to work or shop.

 

 

What percantage of City staff take transit, or walk or ride?

 

Esquimalt Coun. Duncan Cavens said there’s no simple solution to the traffic woes, but he, too, agrees that improved traffic signalling could help.

He said he sits in rush-hour traffic almost every day to get to Commonwealth Pool for his daughter’s swimming, driving the Lampson-Tillicum route that gets bogged down by thousands of commuters leaving CFB Esquimalt when the workday ends.

 

 

Why doesn't he take her on the bus?

“We have [CFB Esquimalt], the second-largest employer dumping out a huge number of people in a very short period,” he said.

An estimated 5,000 to 6,000 vehicles leave the base from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

 

 

Why don't they ride bikes to work?

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 08 June 2026 - 05:13 AM.

[Mike K.]

I’m not sure it is more efficient.

It takes there being perhaps ~10 passengers on every single bus, on every single route, all day, to achieve the fuel mileage of an efficient sedan driven by just one person without a passenger. Add a passenger and now the fuel use of the bus is so high that it requires 20 passengers to break even with the sedan.

I was on a bus yesterday, with four other people. It guzzled diesel at 4-5mpg at best, and hardly transported any people. That trip will have been made about ~42x back and forth just on Sunday. There are more than 50 routes throughout the system.

[Mike K.]

I suspect, that if we averaged it out the fuel consumption to operate the GVTS on a per passenger basis will be quite profound.

[dasmo]

Maybe don’t rezone built out areas for 4X the people and expect no impact on the the built out infrastructure. Duh.
The lack of coordination is irritating for sure. It’s ruined the bike lanes idea for many. Living in Rotterdam for a year and the bike lanes there made it a livable city. I used them every day. They looked nice with that terracotta paving. Easy to see and distinguish. They were the same everywhere. They were not filled with concrete and strange bells and whistles. They are the same there across the country. There is even a design manual already published. Here the design changes every block. The random -no cars tuning on red- introduction is also irritating and uncoordinated. It’s made me doubt turning right on a red in general now.

Edited by dasmo, 08 June 2026 - 06:29 AM.

[LJ]

He’s not wrong about traffic light timing. But then we were also told traffic light timing is used as traffic control to slow down traffic.

It can do both, synchronize the lights to the desired speed. I was surprised that each traffic light costs about $1M though.

[LJ]

 

“We have [CFB Esquimalt], the second-largest employer dumping out a huge number of people in a very short period,” he said.

An estimated 5,000 to 6,000 vehicles leave the base from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

 

 

 

 

Why don't they ride bikes to work?

Why don't they bring back the blue boats?