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VICTORIA – BC Transit, the Victoria Regional Transit Commission and the City of Victoria are pleased to announce the completion of the northbound bus and bike lanes on Douglas Street from Hillside Avenue to Tolmie Street.
The priority lanes, an infrastructure project designed in partnership with the City of Victoria, were created to shorten travel times for passengers, increase the use of public transit and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by lowering the number of vehicles on the road. Bus stop locations were modified to best serve passengers who ride along this corridor.
Phase 1 of the project (north and southbound lanes between Fisgard Street and Hillside Avenue) was completed in June, 2014. Phase 2 will enable bus riders and cyclists heading northbound on Douglas to have efficient access to a speedier commute home with the lanes operating from 3 – 6 p.m., Monday to Friday, from Hillside Avenue to Tolmie Avenue.
“Efficient and convenient transportation is important to everyone in our region. The completion of Phase 2 shows our commitment to making transit the best choice for our communities,” said Susan Brice, Chair of the Victoria Regional Transit Commission. “These new lanes are a fantastic beginning to an integrated transit corridor connecting the downtown to the Western Communities.”
“It’s been a pleasure for the City of Victoria to work with BC Transit on this important project. The two organizations share a commitment to improving people’s quality of life and well-being,” said Mayor Lisa Helps. “Accessible, easy transit is a key aspect of this.”
“Customers have asked for more direct and efficient transit service to better connect and support our communities in the Capital region,” said Manuel Achadinha, President and CEO. “The completion of Phase 2 is another step to fulfilling the vision of the Douglas Street Priority Lanes.”
Media Contacts
Mike Russell
Media and Public Relations Advisor, BC Transit
media@bctransit.com
250-995-5720
Katie Hamilton
Director of Communications, City of Victoria
khamilton@victoria.ca
250-361-210
Frequently Asked Questions
Why invest on Douglas Street rather than Blanshard?
The Douglas Corridor has been identified in local land use and transportation plans as the future rapid transit corridor. Over 30 percent of the employment in the region is within 500 metres or just over a 5 minute walk to Douglas Street. Investments in priority lanes support the development of Douglas Street as the key rapid transit corridor creating the foundation for later service improvements to develop rapid bus service
What are priority transit lanes?
These are specially marked lanes for transit and cyclist use only, that help transit vehicles maintain an efficient and reliable schedule in congested areas during peak travel times.
What are the benefits of priority transit lanes?
The Douglas Street Priority Transit & Cycling Lanes project is designed to shorten travel times for passengers, increase the reliability of public transit, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by limiting idling. Encouraging more transit use will also lower the number of vehicles on the road. The Douglas Street corridor currently supports as many as 1,700 vehicles per hour during peak travel times.
Where are the new priority transit lanes located, and what are the plans for future phases?
The first phase of the Douglas Street Transit Priority Project was completed in the spring of 2014, with the provision of a one-kilometer segment of peak period bus lanes now operational on the Douglas Street corridor between Herald Street and Hillside Avenue.
Phase 2 includes an extension of the northbound bus lane from Hillside Avenue through to Tolmie Avenue, modifications to bus stops in both directions, the addition of a new stop north of Hillside, and full signalization of the intersection at Tolmie Avenue.
Planning and discussions are ongoing with Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) to ensure alignment, and to prioritize further enhancements on MoTI’s segment of the corridor from Tolmie Avenue to Uptown and beyond.
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Are there any changes to existing transit services?
Peninsula routes 32x Cordova Bay, 70x 71 & 72 Swartz Bay and 75 Saanichton will route to/from Cloverdale on Douglas effective June 29th to take advantage of the extension of the priority lane to Tolmie.
When are these lanes operating?
Priority lanes will operate Monday through Friday during peak travel times from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. southbound from Hillside to Fisgard and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. northbound from Fisgard to Tolmie.
During hours of operation, what changes for me in these lanes?
While bus lanes are in operation, you are not permitted to park, unload a vehicle or drive in the lane without the intention of turning right at the next block.
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What happens during off-peak hours?
Parking will be permitted while the priority transit lanes are not in operation in select locations south of Hillside.
What happens if I need to turn across a bus lane?
During bus lanes operational hours, general vehicles will be allowed to enter the shared bus and bicycle only lane if they are making a right hand turn within their current block.
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There will be signage at the start and end of each bus lane, as well as diamond-shape markings on the road. (see image on left)
What if I’m a cyclist?
Cyclists are allowed to use the bus lanes during operational hours. You’ll be sharing the lane with buses, so normal road safety awareness and courtesy apply. BC Transit has shared the road for many years with cyclists without designated cycling lanes. Transit operators are trained to focus on safety and watch for all other types of transportation modes.
How is this being enforced?
City of Victoria staff will monitor the lanes during hours of operation and ensure that buses and cyclists have unrestricted use.
The below images can be requested in High-Res through media@bctransit.com.
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