Solving our regional transportation issues
Below is a letter to the editor I wrote that appeared in local papers on the Douglas Street Busway Project.
- Keith
Letter to the Editor:
The Victoria Transit Commission’s decision to put their Douglas Street busway project on hold in favour of a broader look at public transit is a wise move. The busway was only a stop-gap measure that could not meet the long-term transportation needs of our rapidly growing community. So where do we go from here to address the escalating gridlock on our roads?
We now have a wonderful opportunity to bite the bullet and build the integrated transportation system that will address our transportation needs for the next 50 years.
1. We must upgrade the E&N rail line from Victoria to Duncan and run the trains in the proper direction at the proper time. This would cost approximately $60-million. Municipalities would also have to make some relatively minor road changes to reduce the number of road crossings in Victoria.
2. We need a Light Rail Transit (LRT) system to connect the Westshore with Saanich and Victoria. LRT can be powered by electricity and carry far more passengers than an extra lane on the highway. Many people will not give up their car to take a bus, but they will do so for a train.
These solutions must be part of a broader plan to encourage people to live closer to where they work, walk or cycle when possible, and use public transportation where it is available.
This will provide our community with a comprehensive and functional system that works for everyone.
Dr. Keith Martin, MP
Esquimalt – Juan de Fuca
One Response to “Solving our regional transportation issues”
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February 21st, 2009 at 12:03 pm
HI Dr. Martin,
I really hope the E&N can be revitalized sooner than later. I believe it can be a real, viable commuter transportation option. I wonder why, in the interim, though, VIA Rail could not be asked by the government (its boss, right?) to switch the route around, and operate the line in the opposite direction until such time as the line gets its necessary repairs…? From a business standpoint, I think VIA would do more business carrying folks in the direction they want to go. I realize that the line can’t handle fast traffic of any kind, hence the slowness of the train, but nonetheless, if the train left at the time of morning from up-Island that car commuters left, to get to Vic for work in the morning, and left Vic at the time they leave work to get home, there would be so much more ridership. They could even nix the tourist run in the middle of the day if they want, and just leave the train in Vic station to wait for the evening run back up. Anyway, thanks for your time, Dr. Martin. i really wish you could simply ask VIA to change the direction and run time of the train right now, and help to prove that inter-city commuter rail is viable on the Island. I admit that it would take some marketing to make it popular, but, I do know that there are friends of mine who live in Duncan and Nanaimo who come to Vic and Colwood for work every day, and the cost of gas for their cars is about the same as the cost to take the train, and they would jump at the chance to park at a park-n-ride, and take the train in to work. One of their employers would even be interested in running a van back and forth to pick up their staff, they’re that supportive of it… It could happen right away too. I would like to think that that it really is that simple. if you could tell me why it isn’t, I could at least not keep thinking about it so much! lol :c) thanks again for your time.