VICTORIA – The City of Victoria, the Victoria Regional Transit Commission (VRTC) and BC Transit are pleased to announce Phase 1 of Douglas Street Priority Transit and Cycling Lanes will officially open on Monday June 9, 2014.
Transit and cycling priority lanes will run from Fisgard Street to Hillside Avenue Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. southbound and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. northbound. Parking will be permitted along Douglas Street during off-peak hours.
The priority lanes are designed to shorten travel times for transit customers, increase the reliability of public transit and reduce harmful greenhouse gases by limiting idling and reducing the number of vehicles on the road.
Recent improvements along the Douglas Street corridor to support the new priority lanes include upgraded transit zones with improved access for people getting on and off the bus, a new pedestrian signal at Douglas and Pembroke Streets and the addition of new accessible curb for pedestrians at intersections.
A second phase of the project will create a northbound priority lane from Hillside Avenue to Tolmie Avenue. Construction is expected to begin in early 2015. The VRTC and BC Transit are funding the $1.5 million dollars that is required to complete Phase 1 and Phase 2.
“This is a critical first step toward a more dynamic and efficient transit system,” said Susan Brice, Chair of the VRTC. “We thank our partners at the City of Victoria for their commitment to a more sustainable future for our customers and the region as a whole.”
“For the first time in the region we have added a lane exclusively for public transit and bikes,” said Victoria Mayor Dean Fortin. “We are shifting the way that we think about transportation by prioritizing the movement of people, over the movement of vehicles. These dedicated lanes will help transit riders and cyclists move faster during peak commute times, reduce congestion into the region’s main employment centre and reduce emissions.”
“The introduction of transit priority lanes on the Douglas Street corridor will make transit more efficient and effective for our customers and improve the reliability of our service,” said BC Transit President and CEO Manuel Achadinha. “This project would not have been possible without the support and leadership of the VRTC and the City of Victoria.”
For more information on the project please visit www.bctransit.com/transitfuture/vrptc_latestupdates.cfm
Media Contacts:
Katie Hamilton
City of Victoria
Director of Communications and Civic Engagement
250.361.0210
khamilton@victoria.ca
Meribeth Burton
BC Transit
Corporate Spokesperson
250.995.5720
media@bctransit.com
