Extensive planning and public engagement occurred from 2019-2021. Construction started in late 2021 and is expected to be completed in early 2025.
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.
How does this improve handyDART service?
The new handyDART centre will allow for the expansion from 56 buses to 63 buses in 2025 and in January an additional 7500 service hours will be added. This will help improve reliability and with increased buses and service we can improve our peak time trip requests for customers. Our goal is to reduce booking wait times with increased service hours and more buses.
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.
Project Design
Who led the project design?
A local inter-disciplinary team consisting of Morrison Hershfield, DAmbrosio architecture + urbanism, and MDI landscape architects will lead the design. Stantec is the Qualified Environmental Professional on the project and Aqua-Tex Scientific is advising on stream restoration initiatives.
What is planned for the site?
The site design, renderings and project overview are available here
Where will the building located?
A number of important features are located on this property, specifically, Craigflower Creek, the Galloping Goose Regional Trail, a CRD water main and the BC Hydro Transmission Tower. As a result, there were only two suitable building locations. Responsive to public input, the building will be located adjacent to the highway, the furthest possible distance from neighbouring properties. The main entrance and exit is off of West Burnside Road.
What will be built on the site?
The main one-storey building includes offices, operator dispatch and maintenance facilities. Other elements include parking, an enclosed wash bay, electric charging infrastructure and a temporary gas fueling station. The building is 2,380 square metres in size and is built to a LEED Gold/Step Code 3 standard.
What are LEED and Step Code 3 standards?
This centre will be the first BC Transit facility built to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold requirements. LEED principles outline site requirements that employ best management practices to reduce chemical use, energy use, water, air pollution, solid waste, and/or runoff associated with the building site. LEED buildings use less energy and water, utilize renewable energy and fewer resources, create less waste, and preserve land and habitat.
This will also be the first transit facility to have administrative areas built to Step Code 3. BC Energy Step Code is a voluntary provincial standard for energy efficiency in building construction. It sets a series of increasingly stringent performance levels to meet when constructing new buildings.
What is Salmon Safe certification?
The site is the first Salmon Safe certified development on Vancouver Island, and the fist for BC Transit in the province. The Fraser Basin Council recognized the contributions of the local community for setting high standards for water conservation, storm water management and restoration of the stream that runs into Craigflower Creek.
What are the guiding principles for the design and sustainability of the site?
Indigenous consultation: Consult with Indigenous groups in the spirit of reconciliation and include Indigenous knowledge, persepctives, and participation in the project.
Sustainable design: Use the redevelopment of this site as an opportunity to repair and restore the ecological function of this part of the Craigflower Creek watershed, and design a site and building that can achieve LEED Gold.
Improved pedestrian and cycling experience: Introduce new or improved accessible connections for people who walk and cycle, including new sidewalks and potential realignment of the Galloping Goose Trail.
Neighbourhood integration: Respect the qualities of the host neighbourhood by designing a site, building and landscaping that integrate well and enhance the neighbourhood. Consider and mitigate potential visual, safety and other impacts of the development on the surrounding area.
Good neighbour: Build responsive relationships within the local community and First Nations to inform various elements of the redevelopment and on-going communications.
Effective and reliable service: Design a site that supports expansion of a sustainable, fully electric handyDART service that improves access to transit for people with permanent or temporary disabilities that prevent them from using fixed-route transit without assistance from another person.
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 60 drivers (to match our opening day number of 60 buses). Drivers and buses are largely not on-site during the day as they are serving customers across the region.
How will Craigflower Creek be protected?
Stantec Consulting is providing Qualified Environmental Professional services to meet the requirements of the Town of View Royal Environmental Development Permit application. Their assessment determines Craigflower Creek setbacks and environmental mitigation requirements.
All development was setback 30 metres from Craigflower Creek.
To restore the ecological health of the site, the plan included moving an onsite seasonal stream to the western, and southern edge of the property, creating over an acre of restored and protected streamside habitat. The stream now connects to Craigflower Creek, through a gentle transition area to allow the new stream to access its floodplain during periods of high rainfall and provide new amphibian habitat and rearing habitat for Coho salmon and other juvenile fish. In the first two years since the stream was constructed, 150 cutthroat trout and coho salmon have been counted.
Environmental monitoring will occur before, during and after construction. An environmental monitor, independent of the construction contractor will oversee construction activities.
Where will employees park?
Employees park in the spaces vacated by handyDART vehicles that are actively out providing service to the region.
The building will open in April 2025 and will be operated by the regional handyDART operator, Transdev.
Who is Transdev?
Transdev Canada (formerly known as First Canada) are the long-time operators of handyDART in Greater Victoria. They will operate the site and manage all employees. They are expected to move in in April 2025. Transdev employees will work on site in roles varying from dispatch and scheduling to mechanics and handyDART drivers.
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 several public realm improvements, such as sidewalks and landscaping, BC Transit provided $150,000 to the Town of View Royal for local community amenities.
What permits are required and what bylaws must be followed?
In addition, the project adheres to Provincial and Federal project requirements and approvals.
Cost and Budget
What is the cost of this project?
The overall project budget is $83.5 million.
How is the project being funded?
The Government of Canada is investing through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program along with the Government of British Columbia, and the Victoria Regional Transit Commission.
Neighbourhood Considerations
What type of building was 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 includes West Coast design elements to respond to the neighbourhood character and context.
Office areas will meet Step 3 of the BC Energy Step Code, which is up to 40% more energy efficient than base 2018 BC Building Code. The one-storey building is approximately 2,1300 square metres.
The site is also designed to meet SAFE (Safety Achieved Through Functional Environmental Design) principles.
How is noise 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 introducing a new 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 then commissioned a new noise study to incorporate these elements.
How are lighting impacts minimized?
A robust and detailed site lighting plan incorporates dark skies principles to ensure achieve both light pollution mitigation and site operational safety objectives.
How is traffic managed?
A traffic management study was completed and is available here. Upgrades to Burnside Road introduced dedicated northbound and southbound turn lanes into the property minimizing impact to traffic flow. Crosswalk improvements and intersection signal timing at the intersection of Burnside Road and Watkiss Way were made in 2023.
Informed by the traffic study, and consistent with other how traffic impacts are evaluated for other developments, the traffic management plan was reviewed and informed by the Engineering Department at the Town of View Royal.
Was the Galloping Goose Regional Trail impacted?
The development of the property offered opportunity to improve the Capital Regional District’s (CRD) Galloping Goose Regional Trail. The community noted in the first phase of public engagement that they would like to see the grade and visibility of the adjacent portion of the trail improved. As a result, the trail was straightened and the grade was reduced, making it safer and more accessible.
How will the property be screened visually from neighbouring properties?
Landscaping, grading and fencing will all play a role in screening the property and creating an aesthetically pleasing streetscape. The site is fully fenced. In the most public-facing areas, the fence is robust 8’ fence panels with a modern ornamental look. Fencing is designed for privacy, landscaping and softer neighbourhood aesthetic, while ensuring the security of the site. Hedging will be planted along Burnside Road, alongside new boulevard trees. Virginia creeper will grow along the fence on the Galloping Goose.
What is the landscaping design and timeline?
Any landscaping that could be advanced early in the project was completed in 2022/2023. The remaining landscaping along the trail, Burnside Road is underway and will be complete in March 2025. It couldn’t occur until BC Hydro had completed its work to bury the power lines on Burnside Road.
What is happening with the new park space?
The redevelopment of the handyDART site facilitated 1.5 acres along Watkiss Way being made available for the Town of View Royal to use for public space. BC Transit also provided $150,000 to the Town for improvements. The Town of View Royal consulted residents in November 2023 about what they would like to see in the park and in November 2024 shared a concept for the design. Construction is expected to occur in 2025.
Tell me about the birdhouses that are going into the park
BC Transit committed to recycling any trees removed from the site to create new habitat. Most of the trees were used in the new stream channel and some trees were saved to build birdhouses.
New Roads Therapeutic Recovery Community residents recently received new tools from Rona to build birdhouses for the new neighbourhood park along Watkiss Way. This initiative not only helps develop new skills but also a positive amenity and additional bird habitat to the neighbourhood. Residents at New Roads have built 40 birdhouses, which will then be painted by students from Eagle View Elementary School and installed in the new Watkiss Way Park.
Rocky Point Bird Observatory designed the birdhouses. Rona contributed the tools and Bird construction provided safety training to the men.
What happened with the BC Hydro transmission tower?
The tower was replaced with a modern monopole and was moved north about 70 metres. A compatibility agreement with BC Hydro outlines the activities and plantings that can occur in the BC Hydro right of way.
Will the powerlines on Burnside Road remain?
The power lines on Burnside were buried in summer 2024. Now buried, a new sidewalk, fencing and landscaping have been installed along Burnside Road.
Environmental Protection
How is Craigflower Creek being 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 has been working with local Indigenous Groups and streamkeepers to understand the history and work underway to protect the creek and are working closely with qualified environmental professionals (QEP) and stream restoration experts to oversee and advise on the best approach to design of measures to ensure environmental protection, mitigation and restoration.
Stantec Consulting provided Qualified Environmental Professional services to meet the requirements of the Town of View Royal Environmental Development Permit application. Their assessment determined Craigflower Creek setbacks and environmental mitigation requirements.
All development was set back 30 metres from the Craigflower Creek.
To restore the ecological health of the site, an onsite seasonal stream was moved to the western, and southern edge of the property, creating over an acre of restored and protected streamside habitat. The stream connects to Craigflower Creek, through a gentle transition area to allow the new stream to access its floodplain during periods of high rainfall and provide new amphibian habitat and potential rearing habitat for Coho salmon and other juvenile fish.
Baseline assessment of site portion of Craigflower Creek was completed. The assessmentwas shared with streamkeepers and local agencies to inform future work and leverage grants. An environmental monitor, independent of the contractor was retained to oversee all construction activities and ongoing monitoring.
The handyDART project was the first urban development on Vancouver Island to be certified Salmon Safe. This relationship added valuable independent third-party verification of the stream restoration practices being implemented. Salmon-Safe recognizes and rewards responsible, eco-friendly management practices that protect Pacific salmon habitat and enhance water quality on agricultural and urban lands.
Onsite assessments determined how each site can incorporate Salmon Safe standards and support the biological needs of salmon.
How will stormwater be managed?
Rainwater historically flowed from the highway and through the disturbed site with no treatment or containment, into Craigflower Creek. Soon, rainwater will be managed by a system of rain gardens and traditional stormwater flow attenuation to manage a 200-year rain event.
Nine rain gardens (covering a third of an acre) will capture water on site. Designed with plants and organically rich soil to filter runoff, rain gardens will clean, cool and slow the flow of water. Water will flow into the new stream channel and restored riparian area, feeding into Craigflower Creek. A series of rock weirs and pools will slow and clean the water before it enters the Creek.
A comprehensive stormwater management plan was developed and approved by the Town of View Royal.
What setbacks are in place to protect watercourses?
Four watercourses were identified and corresponding streamside protection and enhancement areas (SPEA) were outlined by Stantec, the Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP).
Watercourse 1 – running adjacent to the highway exit – 0 setback required
Watercourse 2 in the centre of the property – 10 metres
Watercourse 3- a small watercourse adjacent to Watkiss Way- 2 meters
Were any trees be removed/added?
A tree survey was completed by a professional arborist to identify significant and protected trees. Several trees were removed and two trees will be planted for each tree removed. Trees removed will be recycled onsite as part of the new riparian habitat being created. 8,000 shrubs and trees were planted on site. Learn more from our landscape architect about the tree removal process:
Some perimeter landscaping occurred early in the project to allow more time for it mature and grow during construction of the building. Remaining trees were used to make birdhouses that will be installed near the stream and in the new Town park on Watkiss Way. Learn more about the birdhouses:
Construction
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.
On-going communications through a variety of channels will continue through construction. You can sign up to receive project emails below.
When will construction occur?
It is anticipated that site clearing, and general construction activities will last from late 2021 to early 2024.
Will construction occur during daytime hours?
Construction will occur primarily during weekday, daytime hours.
How have Indigenous perspectives been incorporated?
Indigenous consultation was one of six principles that guided the design and sustainability practices on site.
The project consulted with Indigenous groups in the spirit of reconciliation and include Indigenous knowledge, perspectives and participation in the project. Consultation with local Indigenous Groups was undertaken from the outset of the project to identify their interest and perspectives on the site, and to involve Indigenous groups in the development and implementation of the project. Several opportunities for design elements to highlight cultural and environmental knowledge were informed by Indigenous communities.
Collaboration and community engagement are fundamentals of this project. Streamkeepers, Indigenous groups, and neighbours have shaped the design and sustainability principles, building placement, environmental mitigation, and third-party certification.
Indigenous groups offer holistic perspectives on creek restoration and cultural recognition, including plantings, art, and signage. The Esquimalt Nation will give the stream a Lekwungen name. Reduced barriers and hands-on learning are possible through partnership and training for youth and participation funding and training for First Nations.
The project webpage is updated often and a subscriber-based newsletter has been in place throughout the project. Outdoor open houses and tours have been offered throughout the project. Learn more about the public engagement that has occurred.
In February 2020, BC Transit established a neighbourhood working group to work closely with the project team and inform broader public engagement opportunities. All minutes are available here.
