Save Transit – Write to your MP today!

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Our transit system in Greater Victoria is threatened like never before. Revenues from gas taxes and transit fares have evaporated, and the federal government is bailing out private yacht clubs and luxury car dealerships while refusing to provide emergency operating funding for public transit. There have been significant cuts to transit service in Greater Victoria already, and much deeper cuts could be on the way.

In the past, bail out funds have often gone to urban highway expansion boondoggles that make traffic and pollution worse, instead of to badly needed transit improvements.

The Better Transit Alliance has joined the Save Transit in BC Coalition, which is calling on the federal government to provide emergency operating funding. You can help by using their letter writing tool to tell your MP why you want emergency funding for public transit NOW.

Some points you might want to include in your letter include:

Continue reading “Save Transit – Write to your MP today!”

Transit riders group calls Greater Victoria bus cancellations a ‘crisis’

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’”

[BTA News] Green New Deal Town Hall Thurs – Support Youth Transit Passes – Good News, Bad News

In this Newsletter:
1) Green New Deal Town Hall Thurs
2) Support universal youth transit passes in Greater Victoria
3) Good News – Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities supports funding shift for transit
4) Bad News – Provincial Government funds highway expansion & delays bus lane completion

Continue reading “[BTA News] Green New Deal Town Hall Thurs – Support Youth Transit Passes – Good News, Bad News”

Victorians for Transportation Choice letter to CRD re climate emergency

Dear members of the Capital Regional District Transportation Committee

April 23, 2019

Re April 24 agenda Item 5.1 – Motion with Notice: Transportation Improvements on Highway 1 and Highway 14 Corridors

Victorians for Transportation Choice (VTC) is very concerned about the direction of the Southern Vancouver Island Transportation Strategy (SVITS) and related provincial government plans to spend many millions of dollars on road and highway projects in our region. We urge you to support this motion and provide a strong regional voice.

Continue reading “Victorians for Transportation Choice letter to CRD re climate emergency”

BTA Letter to Victoria Transit Commission

Dear members of the Victoria Transit Commission,

re. Priorities and upcoming Victoria Transit Commission workshop

The Better Transit Alliance (BTA) understands that the Victoria Transit Commission will soon be holding an internal workshop to discuss setting priorities for BC Transit. We would like you to consider these points in your workshop and other actions.

Climate Emergency

Our region needs transportation solutions that address the needs of local residents while rapidly reducing greenhouse gas pollution as called for in the Climate Emergency declaration unanimously passed by the CRD. Every investment and decision must be examined to determine if it is going to be effective in reducing climate pollution over the next eleven years.

Continue reading “BTA Letter to Victoria Transit Commission”

Great letter to editor by Better Transit Alliance member

Letters to the editor are crucial for getting better transit. Please consider writing a letter to the editor today!

Times Colonist

March 17, 2019

Re: “$16M OK’d to complete key bus lane,” March 7.

It’s great to see that another small portion of the Trans-Canada Highway will see completed bus lanes in the near future. However, these small pieces of the larger whole are not coming fast enough to address the congestion issues that still exist out to the Six Mile Road area. Continue reading “Great letter to editor by Better Transit Alliance member”

Media Release – South Vancouver Island Transportation Strategy Undermines BC’s Climate Goals

March 7, 2019                      Media Release – For Immediate Release

Victoria, BC – Victorians for Transportation Choice (VTC) challenges the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to align its southern Vancouver Island transportation strategy with BC’s climate action goals, including legislated GHG reduction targets.

Continue reading “Media Release – South Vancouver Island Transportation Strategy Undermines BC’s Climate Goals”

[BTA News] No highway through Sooke Hills Park, Yes to bus lanes! CRD Meeting Feb 27

In this newsletter:
• Invest in transit, and protect the Sooke Hills Park!
• Province foot dragging on filling Hwy 1 bus lane gap
• CRD needs to hear from you – in person or by email
• Electric bus article
• Breaking – Victoria to fund youth transit passes!

Invest in transit, and protect the Sooke Hills Park!

The Sooke Hills Wilderness Regional Park is part of the Sea to Sea Green Blue Belt, the Capital Regional District’s (CRD) green belt linking Saanich Inlet in the east to Juan de Fuca Strait in the west.

The provincial government wants to build an “alternative emergency” Malahat route through the CRD’s Sooke Hills Park. Continue reading “[BTA News] No highway through Sooke Hills Park, Yes to bus lanes! CRD Meeting Feb 27”

[BTA News] Action Needed: BC Government’s climate plans need a push, from you (Deadline Aug 24)

In this newsletter:
• BC Government’s climate plans need a push, from you
• Help get the Highway 1 Bus Lanes Completed – Write to your MLA

BC Government’s climate plans need a push, from you
The BC Government recently outlined some of their high-level ideas on climate action in a set of discussion papers. The transportation proposal is weak, and incomplete – with more ideas promised later. There are some very good things in these discussions papers, including a vague commitment to increase transit funding. But the government needs a push from you to show there is strong public support for prioritizing transit over urban highway expansion. Continue reading “[BTA News] Action Needed: BC Government’s climate plans need a push, from you (Deadline Aug 24)”

Better Transit Alliance Makes Car Free Day News

Dads find Car Free YYJ tailor-made for Father’s Day
Jeff Bell / Times Colonist
June 17, 2018

BTA Members Sue & Robin take a break at Car Free Day

The World’s Coolest Dad — at least, that’s what his T-shirt said — spent part of his Father’s Day at the annual Car Free YYJ celebration on Douglas Street.
Jason Rolstone and 14-year-old daughter Katie strolled through the growing throng just before noon to get to a lunch date with his parents. Rolstone said he is a fan of the car-free gathering.
“It’s a wonderful event.” Continue reading “Better Transit Alliance Makes Car Free Day News”