Business leaders in Victoria are calling for a freeze on the expansion of dedicated bus lanes in the downtown core. The Downtown Victoria Business Association and the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce argue that current transit strategies do not reflect modern commuting patterns or the needs of local commerce.
The 2011 transportation plan's outdated assumptions
The Downtown Victoria Business Association is challenging the Victoria Regional Transit Commission to pause its current lane expansion project. According to the report, business leaders argue that the regional transportation plan currently being reviewed was developed in 2011 and no longer reflects the reality of how residents live and work in Greater Victoria.
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered commuting habits and office occupancy rates, creating a gap between old transit models and current needs. Furthermore, employment growth is increasingly occurring outside the downtown Victoria area, making the 2011 assumptions potentially obsolete in a decentralized economy.
A 50% capacity reduction for a 1% bus increase
Jeff Bray, the CEO of the Downtown Victoria Business Association, expressed concern over the disproportionate impact of the proposed changes.. As reported by CTV News, Bray noted that reducing road capacity by 50 percent might only result in a 1 percent increase in bus traffic.
This reduction would leave Douglas Street with only one general traffic lane in each direction. John Wilson, CEO of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, stated that this loss of vehicle lanes could negatively impact the ability of employees, customers, and commercial traffic to access the downtown area. The business groups also highlighted that emergency responders, delivery drivers, and tradespeople rely on this road capacity to function effectively, and they fear congestion will deter people from visiting areas like View Royal or Central Saanich.
The Discovery Street to Colwood HOV alternative
The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce has proposed a middle-ground solution to address congestion while still supporting transit. Instead of a strictly dedicated bus lane,the group suggests converting the newly created lane between Discovery Street and Colwood into a high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane.
This alternative would allow carpools to utilize the lane while ensuring that buses continue to receive priority.. To further preserve road space, the business groups suggested that bus stop insets could be implemented where necessary to maintain transit efficiency without completely removing general traffic lanes.
The missing data on projected bus traffic increases
Several critical pieces of information remain unverified in the current debate. It is unclear if the 1 percent increase in bus traffic cited by Jeff Bray is an official projection from the Victoria Regional Transit Commission or an estimate provided by the business associations. Currently, the reporting only reflects the perspective of the business groups, as the Transit Commission has not issued a formal rebuttal to these specific concerns.
Additionally, the impact of thousands of new workers expected at CFB Esquimalt on the regional road network remains a significant,unaddressed variable. Whether the commission will integrate this projected employment growth into its review of the 2011 plan remains a central unanswered question for the region.
Comments 0