Shelve Busway and build Light Rail Transit system in Victoria, British Columbia

Edited by John Stokes

	City of Victoria Bus.

VICTORIA -- New Democrats are urging the Victoria Transit Commission to shelve plans for a Douglas Street busway and instead work with the Capital Regional District to develop a comprehensive transit plan for the south island.

"Building a busway without a comprehensive regional plan doesn't make sense," said MLA Rob Fleming, whose Victoria-Hillside constituency is where most of the proposed busway will run.

"Our region is plagued by traffic congestion that won't be solved by a stand-alone busway," he said. "We're legally required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by one-third by 2020. We're not going to get there with a piecemeal approach that isn't integrated with a broader vision."

Fleming said that expanded transit is the fastest, most cost-effective way to reduce traffic congestion and emissions. He also noted that vehicles account for more than half of all emissions in the south island region, not counting ferries, the harbour or the airport.

"If we're serious about reducing traffic congestion and achieving our emission targets, we need to triple transit ridership," Fleming said. "That requires a fully integrated regional plan that includes Light Rail Transit, commuter rail, HOV lanes, and more bus routes."

The proposed busway would eventually run through MLA David Cubberley's Saanich South constituency. Cubberley said the busway plan is outdated.

"In response to climate change, we should be planning a different transit future than the busway's plan," he said. "Zero-emission light rail transit would better shape future growth, draw higher ridership and attract provincial and federal investment."

New Democrat leader Carole James and all of the south island NDP MLAs are calling on the Campbell government to establish a regional transportation authority as a first step in developing an integrated plan for the region.

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