Colwood BTA member’s letter to editor re bus lanes

Check out this great letter to the editor from Better Transit Alliance member Cathy Willander of Colwood. (How about writing your own letter to the editor today?)

Trans-Canada congestion is a climate crime
Times Colonist – November 18, 2017

I have just moved to Colwood from South Delta, and the Colwood Crawl is much worse than getting through the Massey Tunnel, commonly referred to as the worst traffic jam in B.C. Continue reading “Colwood BTA member’s letter to editor re bus lanes”

BTA gets Commitment for Emergency Meeting if Bus Lanes Over Budget

Bids solicited for extension of Douglas Street bus lanes
Lindsay Kines / Times Colonist
November 15, 2017

Bids for the next phase of the Douglas Street bus lanes — designed to speed bus travel along the busy Douglas corridor — have been reopened.

The B.C. government and City of Victoria have reopened bidding on construction contracts to lengthen the priority bus lanes on Douglas Street. The Ministry of Transportation issued a call for bids Tuesday to extend the northbound lane from Tolmie Avenue to the Burnside Bridge, where Burnside and Interurban roads cross under the Trans-Canada Highway. Continue reading “BTA gets Commitment for Emergency Meeting if Bus Lanes Over Budget”

Another Letter to Editor!

 

Letter to the editor by  Better Transit Alliance member Eric Doherty:

Bus lanes already under construction

Times Colonist, October 27, 2017

Re: “Run electric buses on E&N corridor: firm,” Oct. 24. Why is so much time being wasted talking about bus lanes on the E&N corridor when bus lanes on the Douglas Street/Trans-Canada Highway corridor are already under construction? Continue reading “Another Letter to Editor!”

Better Transit Alliance letter to editor in Times Colonist

More bus lanes should be a priority

Times Colonist – October 8, 2017

Re: “Residents call for more affordable transit,” Oct. 3.

The new Vital Signs report has a lot of good information on what people in Greater Victoria want, beyond lower transit fares. The report shows that people are tired of transit riders getting stuck in traffic, and think we should reduce our reliance on cars. It also says we should “take urgent action to combat climate change.” Continue reading “Better Transit Alliance letter to editor in Times Colonist”

Sign our open letter on climate-friendly transportation investments!

Prime Minister Trudeau, former Premier Clark and most of Canada’s premiers signed the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change in 2016. This Framework contains a policy shift that could fund much better transit in our region, and reduce climate pollution. But this likely won’t happen without local support!

The Framework commits the federal and provincial governments to “shift from higher to lower-emitting types of transportation, including through investing in infrastructure.” This means investing more in better transit and less on urban highways that just become congested again.

So if you want better transit, and effective climate action, read and sign the open letter today!

Bus lanes on the Douglas / Highway 1 corridor would be completed quicker if the Climate Framework was implemented

 

Better Transit Alliance in Saanich Voice on Line

A Look at Transit in the South Island

by Sue Stroud, citizen reporter

Last spring Saanich Peninsula Green Drinks hosted a presentation by Eric Doherty of the Better Transit Alliance of Greater Victoria around transit options for the region. The evening, hosted by Central Saanich Councillor Alicia Holman included a slide show followed by a lively discussion.

Doherty’s presentation held the position that a community can’t build its way out of traffic congestion – growth supersedes road building and road building facilitates further growth. He suggested that, in the Southern Vancouver Island region, this was demonstrated by the road ‘improvements’ that took place to eliminate what is lovingly referred to as the Colwood Crawl – the traffic stand-still/crawl that happens on Hwy #1 and roads parallel to it heading into Victoria in the morning, and out again in the late afternoon . . .

Read full article www.saanichvoiceonline.ca/2017/07/04/moving-into-the-future/

Better Transit Alliance breaks story about bus lane delay

The Better Transit Alliance tries to send an observer to every Victoria Transit Commission meeting. And the last meeting was more eventful than usual, with some bad news which we reported to the media. The basic story is that, like most construction projects in the region these days, the price for the bus lanes was higher than hoped as all the construction companies are very busy. Unfortunately there was not a big enough contingency fund in place, and bus lane construction has been delayed.

We are going to be pushing all levels of government to step up to the plate and fund the Douglas / Highway 1 bus lanes all the way to the 6 Mile Pub area as soon as possible (even if it costs significantly more than it would have a few years ago). And we are optimistic that it will happen quickly; we think this can be completed within 24 months of municipal and provincial governments deciding to proceed. Here is some of the media coverage of the issue: Continue reading “Better Transit Alliance breaks story about bus lane delay”

Better Transit Alliance featured in West Shore paper

The Better Transit Alliance was featured in the final of a three part series in the Goldstream News Gazette on transportation issues on Greater Victoria’s West Shore. The ‘West Shore on the Go’ series by Joel Tansey is a very worthwhile read, particularly Part 1 – Commuting transit riders want improved travel times 

Continue reading “Better Transit Alliance featured in West Shore paper”

Newsletter: Provincial & Federal Transit Funding – Want to get involved in the Better Transit Alliance?

Douglas Street Bus Lanes Update

Transit riders don’t cause traffic problems, so why should we have to endure them? The Better Transit Alliance is working to pressure decision-makers to move forward with their promise to install 24/7 bus lanes on Douglas Street & Highway 1 all the way to the 6-Mile Pub. The bus lanes could be completed within 24 months for a very reasonable cost, once our provincial government decides to get it done. See our blog post for an update on the progress of the project and help spread the word (including to your local provincial election candidates).

Province says “no” to better transit for Greater Victoria

We’re disappointed to report that our transit system will not be benefiting from an increase in gas tax. The Better Transit Alliance submitted a letter of support for the tax, along with many other local organizations. The CBC reports:

Continue reading “Newsletter: Provincial & Federal Transit Funding – Want to get involved in the Better Transit Alliance?”