Transit System: Cowichan Valley
COWICHAN VALLEY – A new transit operations and maintenance facility was officially opened today for the Cowichan Valley Regional Transit System. The new 4.5 acre site, located at 5271 Boal Road in Duncan, will accommodate a fleet of up to 50 buses that support local conventional and handyDART services, as well as the Cowichan Valley commuter routes, which provide service to Victoria.
The facility is part of the larger Cowichan Valley Transit Future Plan that aims to make transit a reliable alternative to personal vehicles, to reduce the community’s impact on the environment, and to improve transit efficiency.
The new site includes an administrative/maintenance building, three maintenance bays, parts storage, and shipping/receiving areas. A separate service island and an outdoor covered storage area are also on site. The building was designed with future expansion in mind, allowing for the addition of a fourth bay and a second story administration area should they be required.
The sustainable building design will support greenhouse gas reduction targets and other operational efficiencies. Additionally, the building has been constructed with the ability to accommodate compressed natural gas (CNG) buses in the future.
This $16.2 million project was first announced in 2016 as part of the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund (PTIF), from which approximately 83 per cent of construction costs were provided by the Federal Government and the Province of B.C. The remaining construction costs were covered by the Cowichan Valley Regional District, while land and other costs not eligible for PTIF funding were shared by the Province of B.C. and the Cowichan Valley Regional District.
QUOTES:
The Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
“Investing in modern and accessible public transit systems is essential to building healthy communities. The completion of the Cowichan Valley Transit Centre marks a great step forward in meeting Vancouver Island’s growing ridership needs. We are working with our partners to build better public transit that contributes to cleaner, healthier and more liveable communities for our children and grandchildren.”
Doug Routley, MLA Nanaimo-North Cowichan on behalf of Claire Trevena, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure
“Public transit is a key service that gets us out of gridlock and makes our neighbourhoods more affordable, accessible and inclusive. Alongside our federal and local government partners, our government is pleased to invest in this new, larger transit facility, so people who live and work in the Cowichan Valley can benefit from transit services for years to come.”
Sonia Furstenau, MLA Cowichan Valley
“Now, more than ever, governments need to invest in accessible, reliable, convenient public transit system. We welcome this addition to Cowichan and hope that it is just the beginning of improved services in our region.”
Aaron Stone, Chair of the Cowichan Valley Regional District
“It was a pleasure to work with BC Transit to complete this major infrastructure project that will serve the needs of our region for decades,” said Aaron Stone, Chair of the Cowichan Valley Regional District. “Every aspect was designed with the future in mind, enabling us to transition our fleet to cleaner fuels and scale up the facility as we expand service and ridership.”
Erinn Pinkerton, President and CEO, BC Transit
“It is so rewarding to see the completion of this significant project for the Cowichan Valley Regional Transit System. Thank you to our government partners for your continued support and commitment to promoting public transit as a reliable and sustainable transportation option.”
