Victoria Regional Transit Commission Chair and Members November 9, 2021 #7 Page 1 of 8 SUBJECT: RapidBus, Planning and Infastructure Update PURPOSE To provide the Victoria Regional Transit Commission with an update on transit service and infrastructure planning activities in the Victoria Region. This report is presented to the Commission for INFORMATION. SERVICE CHANGES Holiday 2021 Seasonal Service Change (Effective December 6, 2021) In December, service is reduced on a variety of routes to better align with the lower ridership demand from Post-Secondary Education institutions. Seasonally reduced service levels in December allows for higher service levels in periods of higher ridership demand. Winter 2021 Seasonal Service Change (Effective January 3, 2022) There are multiple service and routing changes planned for the January 2022 service change: In alignment with the Sooke Local Area Transit Plan, introductory service to Beecher Bay will be implemented on Route 64 East Sooke, Route 2 James Bay/South Oak Bay/Willows will be split in two separate routes to improve customer understanding. Both routes share the same common corridor, but with Route 5 James Bay/Willows serving the Willows Beach terminus and the new Route 2 James Bay / South Oak Bay serving the South Oak Bay terminus. Minor routing changes on Routes 1 and 22 to align with City of Victoria traffic calming and cycling infrastructure projects on Haultain and Richardson. There is planned service optimization on several underperforming routes to add additional service to key UVIC and Camosun routes to accommodate increased post-secondary student demand. Service reliability improvements are planned to address challenges associated with congestion on several key corridors, including significant increased congestion on McKenzie in the AM peak.
Transcript
Victoria Regional Transit Commission Chair and Members
November 9, 2021
#7
Page 1 of 8
SUBJECT: RapidBus, Planning and Infastructure Update
PURPOSE
To provide the Victoria Regional Transit Commission with an update on transit service and infrastructure planning activities in the Victoria Region. This report is presented to the Commission for INFORMATION.
SERVICE CHANGES
Holiday 2021 Seasonal Service Change (Effective December 6, 2021)
In December, service is reduced on a variety of routes to better align with the lower ridership
demand from Post-Secondary Education institutions. Seasonally reduced service levels in
December allows for higher service levels in periods of higher ridership demand.
Winter 2021 Seasonal Service Change (Effective January 3, 2022)
There are multiple service and routing changes planned for the January 2022 service change:
In alignment with the Sooke Local Area Transit Plan, introductory service to Beecher Bay will be implemented on Route 64 East Sooke,
Route 2 James Bay/South Oak Bay/Willows will be split in two separate routes to improve customer understanding. Both routes share the same common corridor, but with Route 5 James Bay/Willows serving the Willows Beach terminus and the new Route 2 James Bay / South Oak Bay serving the South Oak Bay terminus.
Minor routing changes on Routes 1 and 22 to align with City of Victoria traffic calming and cycling infrastructure projects on Haultain and Richardson.
There is planned service optimization on several underperforming routes to add additional service to key UVIC and Camosun routes to accommodate increased post-secondary student demand.
Service reliability improvements are planned to address challenges associated with congestion on several key corridors, including significant increased congestion on McKenzie in the AM peak.
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SERVICE INITIATIVES Work undertaken or proposed since the last Commission meeting includes:
RapidBus Implementation Strategy
The Victoria Regional RapidBus Implementation Strategy was completed in summer 2021. RapidBus is transit service that outperforms the personal automobile in speed, comfort and reliability. Over time, the RapidBus system will be implemented across several corridors to create a high capacity transit system. There are a number of transit service planning and infrastructure activities that support advancing the RapidBus strategy. These include the following:
West Shore-Downtown RapidBus Line
o The West Shore-Downtown RapidBus Line is proposed to launch in September 2022. The launch will include the conversion of the Route 50 West Shore-Downtown to a uniquely branded RapidBus service. The launch will also include expanded service frequency (using deferred expansion resources), streamlined bus stops and improved station amenities at targeted locations.
Further implementation details will be provided to the VRTC in 2022. The proposed routing and stop locations for the initial West Shore-Downtown RapidBus Line are identified in Figure 1 on page 6.
o Public engagement on the proposed alignment and bus stop locations is ongoing as part of the West Shore Local Area Transit Plan.
o The unique RapidBus branding is in final development.
Active Infrastructure Projects
o Island Highway Transit Priority Upgrades: A full tender ready design has been completed for the Island Highway Transit Priority Project to construct transit priority improvements along the Island Highway between the interchange with Highway in the Town of View Royal, and at the Wale Road intersection in the City of Colwood. BC Transit in the process of securing financial approvals for construction, which if successful will permit the project to move forward with the RFP and into the construction phase in 2022. BC Transit is developing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to progress planning for the construction phase of the project to allow for an issuance to potential construction vendors.
Infrastructure Studies
o RapidBus Stations: Infrastructure exploration agreements has been approved by the City of Victoria and City of Langford to advance plans for RapidBus Stations for the West Shore Line. A similar agreement is being developed with the City of Colwood. Procurement of planning and design services is underway and the study is expected to be complete by the end of 2022.
o West Shore Transit Priority Study: Phase 2 detail design planning will begin later this year for advancement of transit priority concepts approved in principle for Sooke Rd. and Goldstream Ave. A plan will be developed to complete the detailed design process that includes retaining an engineering consultant and working with local government staff to further develop a design that is agreeable to all stakeholders, and is ready for tendering and construction.
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) Studies
o Highway 1: MoTI is advancing planning work along the Douglas Street/Hwy 1 Corridor to support existing BC Transit initiatives. This work includes exploring transit priority treatments that align with the BC Transit priorities identified through the Victoria Transit Future Plan and the South Island Transportation Strategy.
o Uptown Transit Priority - MoTI is advancing planning work to develop transit and active transportation priorities and improvements to serve near-term goals that will align with the future development of the Uptown site and do not preclude the long-term plan. The plan includes a proposal for bus only lanes on Ravine Rd & Vernon Ave, a Rapid Bus station on Highway 1 and expanded bus zone capacity on Carey Rd. This plan will support BC Transit advancing long-term plans for the Uptown Transit Hub and Transit Oriented Development (TOD) opportunities.
o Six Mile Mobility Hub - MoTI is advancing planning work for a Mobility Hub in View Royal along the RapidBus corridor on the Island Hwy to support existing BC Transit initiatives and active transportation. This work includes exploring transit park & ride options that align BC Transit priorities identified through the Victoria Transit Future Plan and the South Island Transportation Strategy.
Peninsula RapidBus
o The Peninsula Local Area Transit Plan is ongoing with completion expected in early 2022.
MoTI Infrastructure Studies
o Highway 17: MOTI is advancing planning work along the Highway 17 corridor to explore transit priority treatments to support BC Transit Initiatives also identified through the Victoria Transit Future Plan and the South Island Transportation Plan.
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McKenzie RapidBus
Active Infrastructure Projects
UVic Exchange: The University of Victoria (UVIC) Transit Exchange project will bring the outstanding portions of the transit exchange to a similar standard as implemented in Phase 1 on the opposite side of Finnerty Road. The project includes replacing bus pads, curbing and paving, new shelters, addressing pedestrian concerns, and adding designated layover bays. The project also enhances three bus stops on campus located on Ring Road. UVIC and BC Transit collaboratively received and evaluated Request for Proposal (RFP) responses from vendors for the Exchange Refurbishment Project design phase and a preferred proponent has been selected. A Project Agreement has been completed and is ready for final execution between UVIC and BC Transit. A contract will be executed for the design to commence in October with plans to complete the design by early 2022 and proceed with construction in summer of 2022. A post project completion operating agreement will be executed between UVIC and BC Transit prior to the in-service date in September 2022Infrastructure Studies
o McKenzie Corridor Study: An infrastructure exploration agreement has been executed with Saanich to partner in advancing plans for Rapid Bus Corridor Study on McKenzie Ave. The preferred consultant to develop Transit Priority and RapidBus Station concepts is expected to be selected by early November. The study is expected to conclude in early 2023.
Local Area Transit Plans
Peninsula Local Area Transit Plan
Work on the Peninsula Local Area Transit Plan continues. Final changes to transit service and infrastructure priorities are being incorporated based on public feedback, and the plan is currently being drafted.
The final report is on track for completion in early 2022, with plans to present it to the VRTC for endorsement in February 2022.
West Shore Local Area Transit Plan
Work continues on the West Shore Local Area Transit Plan Update.
Public engagement started on October 27th, and will finish on November 17, 2021. Engagement was seeking feedback from the public on a number of elements including the following:
The future West Shore RapidBus Line and possible station locations in both the immediate-term (within 12 months; Figure 1) and medium-term (3-5 years; Figure 2).
Routing changes and frequency improvements for the next 1-2 years to better serve existing higher ridership and population areas, including the development of a new routing alignment intended to eventually transition into a Frequent Transit Route in the West Shore (Figure 3)
Further improvements for the next 3-5 years to serve future planned development.
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The final report is on track for completion in early 2022, with plans to present it to the VRTC for endorsement in February 2022.
Figure 1: West Shore RapidBus Line – Immediate-Term Routing and Station Proposal
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Figure 2: West Shore RapidBus Line – Medium-Term Routing and Station Options
BC Transit participated in a number of local initiatives on behalf of the Commission over the last few months, including the following:
Bus Stop Improvements – BC Transit continues to work closely with local government partners within the Victoria Region to coordinate improvements to stop configurations and layout to improve accessibility and customer experience.
Development Referral Process – BC Transit receives and responds to development referrals from local governments considering rezoning and large-scale development proposals. BC Transit provides comment on opportunities for transit supportive development, improvements to transit supportive infrastructure such as bus stops and sidewalks, and provides comments on the feasibility of future transit service to the proposed development. Planning staff have received approximately 27 development referrals since the last Commission Meeting between August and October and provided comment to three local governments.
SERVICE MONITORING Ridership Performance Report
The attached Ridership Performance Report (#8a) provides information on ridership performance. It summarizes ridership over the summer 2021 service period from June 28 to September 5, 2021 and provides some evaluation of ridership trends through the period impacted by the COVID pandemic to September 5, 2021.
RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the Victoria Regional Transit Commission receive this report for INFORMATION.
Prepared by: Levi Megenbir / James Wadsworth Phone:
Position: Senior Transit Planner Work Lead / Manager, Project Development
