What is the purpose of these routing and service level changes?
To improve service reliability and implement ideas from Local Area Transit Plans
- The Peninsula Local Routes and Routes 39 Westhills/UVIC and 51 Langford/UVic are falling behind schedule due to changing road conditions. Buses are no longer showing up on time for customers.
- There are new opportunities and needs arising from bus stop and land use changes.
- The most recent Local Area Transit Plans identified priorities that have not yet been implemented
Why was Route 51 rerouted via Goldstream Ave?
Challenges
Schedule Reliability – This route has become unreliable due to major morning rush hour congestion on Sooke Rd between Kelly Rd and Goldstream Ave. This congestion changes from day to day (such as Monday vs Wednesday), making it challenging to develop a reliable schedule.
Mismatch between emerging demand and Route – The new Westshore campus location is not served by the Route 51 to UVic. Additionally, the current route misses newer high density residential areas along Goldstream Ave.
Benefits
- More reliable trips between Langford and UVic while serving more residents of the West Shore. Serves the new West Shore campus location.
- Will offer new round trips in the midday and early evening to maintain a one-seat ride between the West Shore and UVic and offset the impacts of Route 39 being split into two.
- Responds to feedback received through the West Shore Local Area Transit Plan Process.
Why was previously Route 39 being split into two new Routes 38 and 39?
Challenges
Route Length and Service Reliability
- At 30km, Route 39 is one of the longest routes in the region, passing through two major congestion points: Old Island Highway in Colwood and Interurban/Wilkinson/Hastings in Saanich.
- Delays in the western half of the route impact the entire route, disrupting service on the more used eastern half of the route and sometimes leading to Route 12 cancellations.
Inconsistent Demand and Service – The section between Camosun College Interurban Campus and UVic has higher ridership and so has more trips compared to the full route from the West Shore to UVic.
Service Efficiency – Route 39 is scheduled for UVic’s class times, forcing set departure and arrival times. This does not work efficiently with the route’s travel time, and buses spend up to 30 minutes of extra time per trip at Westhills Exchange and 10-15 minutes at UVic to meet class times.
Vulnerability to Future Disruptions – Major construction on Interurban Road in 2026/2027 will impact Route 39, worsening reliability and making transit less dependable
Benefits
Improved on-time performance by limiting impact of delays caused by key congestion areas.
Fewer cancellations and missed connections.
Preserves key connections used by Route 39 riders:
- West Shore to Victoria General Hospital and Camosun Interurban
- Camosun Interurban to and from UVic
- Victoria General Hospital to and from Royal Oak
Improves resilience to upcoming Interurban roadwork construction disruptions.
Improved efficiency – requires fewer additional resources than maintaining current service while delivering better reliability. Buses will not spend extra time at Westhills or UVic, but will be timed for both Camosun and UVic bell times
What are the reasons behind the Peninsula network changes (Routes 81, 82, 87, 88)
Changes to local routes on the Peninsula are complex and have constraints on schedules and route design because:
- Peninsula Local Transit Network is reliant on transfers to Routes 70 and 72 for regional travel needs.
- The Peninsula transit system is built around meeting ferry departures at the Swartz Bay Terminal. This creates additional constraints on route design and schedules to ensure key connections are maintained.
- Additionally, Peninsula local transit routes are not currently meeting ridership performance targets and many of these routes are already operating at minimum service levels. This limits the amount of investment we can make.
In order to fix schedules so routes can remain reliable while maintaining service levels and key connections, BC Transit will invest additional service hours and one additional bus into Routes 81, 82, 83, 87, and 88 to allow existing service levels to be maintained and improved service to the West Sidney Industrial Area.
Will all routes see improvements in service?
Not all routes will receive improved service. The restructure focuses on optimizing services where there is high demand, which may have implications for changes or reductions in areas with historically lower ridership. We understand this may be frustrating for some customers, but BC Transit must continue to balance the transit needs of specific areas with overall demands within the Victoria Regional Transit System. As we do with the rest of the Victoria Regional Transit System, our organization will continue to monitor ridership on these routes and will adjust service levels to changing demand, as necessary.
What will the service levels be in areas that no longer serviced by Route 51?
Customers may experience a reduction in peak-period service in areas previously served by Route 51. During peak times, customers are encouraged to take Route 38 or any other eastbound routes to Colwood Exchange and transfer to Route 95 or Route 51X.
Service levels on Route 38 will remain comparable to the former Route 39, with additional trips on Route 51X during the midday and early evening to compensate and help maintain overall connectivity.
How to get to UVic from Kelly/Sooke Rd?
Due to changes to Route 51X in this area, the following travel options are recommended:
- Route 38 or any other eastbound routes, then transfer to Route 51X at Colwood Exchange to continue to UVic.
- Route 38 or any other eastbound routes, then transfer to Route 39 at Camosun Interurban Campus or Royal Oak Exchange.
- Route 38 or any other eastbound routes, then transfer to Route 95 at Colwood Exchange, followed by a second transfer to new Route 40 at Admirals and Highway 1
Why doesn’t Route 95 serve the new bus stops on Douglas at Carey Rd?
Many customers make daily connections between Route 95 and Route 26. Locating a RapidBus stop at Douglas Street and Carey Road would require customers transferring to Route 26 to walk a longer distance and cross two busy roadways to reach Route 26 stops along Boleskine Road / Saanich Road. In addition, having RapidBus service stop at both Douglas at Saanich Road and Douglas at Carey Road, which are approximately 200 metres apart, would slow service and fall well below typical RapidBus station spacing guidelines (800 m–2 km).
Having RapidBus service at these two new stops would also require a broader restructuring of Route 26 in the Uptown area, which is outside the scope of the current service change. Any potential changes to Route 26 will be explored through a separate public engagement process later in 2026.
Did BC Transit have public engagement on these routing changes?
Yes. BC Transit conducted a public engagement campaign in April 2025, which included in-person open house events in Sooke, Langford, UVic, and the Peninsula, as well as an online survey to gather public feedback.
2025-2026 Service Changes Engagement Summary
How can I provide feedback or express concerns about the routing changes?
We welcome feedback from the community. You can express your concerns or suggestions through our online contact form, or by contacting our customer service hotline at 250-382-6161.
Will there be additional resources for learning the new routes and schedules?
Yes, we will provide comprehensive resources including new route maps, schedules, and updated routing information on all trip planner apps (Umo Mobility App, Transit App, Google Transit etc.) Customer service representatives will also be available to assist with any inquiries.
