Why Douglas Street?
Douglas Street has been the main travel corridor into downtown Victoria for many years. As the population of Greater Victoria grows, more and more cars, trucks and bicycles will use this street. We cannot expand the street, so we must make more efficient use of it. Giving priority to public transit makes it a more attractive and viable option for people who might otherwise take their own vehicles to work, which reduces congestion and improves traffic flow for everyone.
Why do we need to change things now?
Traffic congestion continues to grow and delaying improvements does not benefit the region. The Provincial Transit Plan announced in February 2008 supports these improvements to achieve environmental and transportation goals. Federal and Provincial infrastructure funding has also been acquired, contributing $5.1 million towards the cost of the busway. This provides an opportunity to act now to plan a transit system that will work better for all of us, well into the future.
