Why is a new location for handyDART needed?
The demand for handyDART service exceeds BC Transit’s current ability to provide additional service. The existing Glanford Avenue location does not allow for expansion, as the limited space restricts the ability to add and maintain extra buses to increase service. A new facility allows BC Transit to provide quality handyDART services to increasingly more customers.
What role does handyDART play in the community?
handyDART is an accessible, door-to-door shared transit service for people with permanent or temporary disabilities that prevent them from using fixed-route transit without assistance from another person. For those with disabilities that prevent them from driving, handyDART provides independence and ability to attend appointments, complete errands and socialize.
In Greater Victoria, over 40,000 people use the service and 50% are over the age of 65.
Why was this location selected?
The new location is centrally located and near main roadways that connect all corners of the Greater Victoria area, including growing demand in the western communities. Service is growing in all Greater Victoria municipalities; therefore, this location will help us to serve customers efficiently over the long term.
This site utilizes provincially owned land that avoids significant land purchase costs making it more cost-effective than locating in other areas of the Region. This contributes to maintaining affordability of transit services for Greater Victoria residents. There is high demand across Greater Victoria for increased transit service, and this new location facilitates the expansion of handyDART and the conventional transit system.
This project allows us to better meet the needs of people that have no or limited transportation options and will be designed to accommodate what is needed to provide improved service for the next 25 years.
What will be built on the site?
The main two-storey building will include offices, operator dispatch and maintenance facilities. Other elements include parking, an enclosed wash bay, electric charging infrastructure and a temporary gas fueling station.
How will the site be configured?
In 2018, a site concept was developed that located the main two-storey building on the eastern portion of the property. Based on public, Town and technical considerations, new site concepts are being explored. Due to numerous encumbrances on the site, there are limited areas where a building can be located. Access of the site will be off West Burnside Road.
How many employees will be on-site?
There will approximately 19 employees working on site during the day to support dispatch, customer service and vehicle servicing. On opening day, there will be about 50 drivers. Drivers are largely not on-site during the day as they are serving customers across the region.
Where will employees park?
Employees park in the spaces vacated by handyDART vehicles that are actively providing service to the region.
What are the hours of operation?
Operations take place at the following times
Dispatch: 4:30 a.m. – 12:30 a.m.
Maintenance: 5 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Administration/Office: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
What is the project timeline?
A detailed timeline will be determined once the design team is confirmed in April 2020. Overall, the project phases include planning, design and permitting, and procurement and construction. The building will open in the summer of 2023. Public engagement and communications efforts will occur throughout all phases.
What is the Town of View Royal’s role in this project?
BC Transit has a memorandum of understanding with the Town of View Royal, committing to follow the spirit and intent of all of the Town of View Royal’s environmental development processes, permitting and bylaws for 2401 Burnside Road. In addition to a number of public realm improvements, such as sidewalks and landscaping, BC Transit will also provide $150,000 to the Town of View Royal for local community amenities.
What permits are required and what bylaws must be followed?
The project will adhere to Town of View Royal environmental development permit process. The environmental development permit requires inclusion of detailed plans including site servicing, landscape plans, a tree inventory and tree protection plans. The Town of View Royal Environmental Development Permit is available on their website. (https://www.viewroyal.ca/assets/Town~Hall/Documents~and~Forms/Planning~and~Development~Documents~and~Forms/Development%20Permit%20Application%20Form.pdf)
In addition, the project will adhere to Provincial and Federal project requirements and approvals.
What is the cost of this project?
The overall project budget is $32.5 million.
How is the project being funded?
The Government of Canada is investing $12.60 million for this project through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The Government of British Columbia is contributing $12.96 million and the Victoria Regional Transit Commission is contributing $6.94 million.
What type of building will be built?
BC Transit is committed to designing a state-of-the-art building and site that minimizes impacts to neighbours and the environment. The building will apply sustainable building design and construction techniques aligned with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold rating. The main building is envisioned to be a two-story building that includes West Coast design elements to respond to the neighbourhood character and context.
How will noise be mitigated?
BC Transit commissioned an initial noise study completed in April 2018 that anticipated diesel vehicles for the site. BC Transit has confirmed the fleet will be only gasoline and electric, which are quieter overall than diesel vehicles and do not require stationary idling as part of maintenance activities. In response to community feedback, BC Transit is exploring an alternative backup beeper for the handyDART vehicles, evaluating options for site placement of the facility and considering the mitigations offered by a landscaped berm around the site. BC Transit has commissioned a new noise study to incorporate these elements.
How will lighting impacts be minimized?
A robust and detailed site lighting plan will be completed which incorporates dark skies principles to ensure achieve both light pollution mitigation and site operational safety objectives.
How will this property affect traffic in the area?
BC Transit commissioned a traffic study completed in April 2018. This was prior to the installation of signalization at the Burnside Road W and Watkiss Way intersection in 2018. To ensure an accurate assessment of traffic impacts, BC Transit has commissioned a new traffic study for completion this spring. In addition, a traffic management study will be completed to determine the most efficient and safe options for the accessing and exiting the property and minimize any impacts to the travelling public. Informed by the traffic study, and consistent with other how traffic impacts are evaluated for other developments, the traffic management plan will be reviewed and informed by the Engineering Department at the Town of View Royal.
Will the Galloping Goose be impacted?
The development of the property offers opportunity to improve the Capital Regional District’s (CRD) Galloping Goose Regional Trail. Details have yet to be determined.
How will the property be screened visually from neighbouring properties?
There are a number of options for how to best screen the property and create an aesthetically pleasing streetscape within the neighbourhood. Landscaping, berms, and fencing all play a role in what the development will look like. Many considerations will be explored by the design team and there will be opportunities for public feedback on these elements.
How will Craigflower Creek be protected?
Craigflower Creek is an important regional asset and BC Transit is committed to its protection. The project will meet all municipal, provincial and federal environmental and community standards, and will exceed these standards wherever reasonable. The Town of View Royal environmental development permit process outlines clear expectations for riparian access, stormwater management and habitat protection.
BC Transit will work closely with local First Nations and streamkeepers to understand the history and work underway to protect the creek and will work closely with qualified environmental professionals (QEP) who will oversee and advise on the best approach to design of measures to ensure environmental protection, mitigation and restoration.
How will stormwater be managed?
A comprehensive stormwater management plan will be developed and submitted for approval to the Town of View Royal.
What should residents expect during construction?
Residents and the traveling public may experience some traffic delays and noise associated with earth-moving equipment and trucks during the course of the project. Dust control measures will be maintained at all times. Construction will generally occur Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
BC Transit will distribute information on construction activities to the community through the media, a monthly electronic newsletter you can subscribe to and the BC Transit website.
When will construction occur?
It is anticipated site clearing, landscaping and general construction will commence in the fall of 2020.
Will construction occur during daytime hours?
Construction will occur primarily during weekday, daytime hours.
The project webpage at www.bctransit.com/viewroyal/handydart will be updated often.
In February, BC Transit established a neighbourhood working group to work closely with the project team and inform broader public engagement opportunities once a design team is in place.
