Category: In The News

Kori Sidaway – CHEK
More snow than expected brought public transit in Victoria to a brief standstill.

That was much to the frustration of users, who questioned the region’s transportation system’s decision and challenged it to do better.

“When there’s only a little bit of snow, you don’t expect the whole transit system to shut down,” said Eric Doherty, a member of the Better Transit Alliance for Greater Victoria.

Five to 10 centimetres blanketed the region overnight, and Saanich Police told CHEK News they responded to five crashes between 6 and 7 a.m.

But with roads more slushy than snowy, walking appeared to be the more treacherous morning commute. However, it was even more trouble for those walking to a bus stop.

“I don’t think BC Transit takes reliability seriously enough,” said Doherty.

Despite the relatively small accumulation, BC Transit suspended service in Victoria temporarily, with many routes not fully serviced until 11 a.m.

Doherty is calling for better transit in the Capital Region, saying if the province is serious about its climate goals, transit should be more reliable than driving.

“The provincial government has committed to having 25 per cent less driving by 2030 as part of their Clean BC climate plan,” said Doherty.

“If transit isn’t reliable, there’s no way that we’re going to get the thousands and thousands of people to stop driving and take transit.”

In a statement to CHEK News, BC Transit said it was “not a decision the organization took lightly.”

Transportation contradictions popped up in Sooke and Nanaimo School Districts as well. Schools were open later than usual, but bus services were cancelled.

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The decision angered at least one parent, prompting them to take to Twitter and say parents shouldn’t be expected to drive to school if buses aren’t operating.

In contrast, Victoria School District remained open, and instead of stopping its bus services, it added more.

Source: www.cheknews.ca/transit-should-be-more-reliable-than-driving-during-snow-days-says-critic-1142710/

Pilot project to reduce speed limit on Saanich residential roads to 40 km/h to go ahead

Jeff Bell / Times Colonist October 28, 2020

A pilot project to lower the default speed limit on residential roads in Saanich to 40 km/h could begin next year.

Continue reading ““You can’t expect people to ride transit if they can’t get to the bus safely.””

Jennifer Saltman Jul 08, 2020

Municipal politicians say federal and provincial stimulus money should be spent on transportation projects that reduce pollution, not highway and airport expansions.

More than 250 local government leaders, who are members of a national network called the Climate Caucus, have penned an open letter calling for economic-recovery cash — and other infrastructure funding — to be used to improve transit service and create opportunities for walking and cycling.

Continue reading “BTA in News – Stimulus money should fund green transportation, not highways”

Bus every 9 minutes being considered for busy routes
Jeff Bell / Times Colonist
June 30, 2020

A “rapid-bus” system that could send buses along certain routes every nine minutes is being studied by B.C. Transit.
The system would be faster, more frequent and more reliable than what exists now, said Matthew Boyd, B.C. Transit’s director of corporate and strategic planning.

Continue reading “BTA in the News – “Very good thing, to focus on making the transit network faster and more frequent””

Watch video here: https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/transit-riders-group-calls-greater-victoria-bus-cancellations-a-crisis-1.4672762

VICTORIA – Frustrated commuters will continue to face travel woes for the remainder of the year until new equipment and busses arrive in Victoria.

Continue reading “Transit riders group calls Greater Victoria bus cancellations a ‘crisis’”