BC Transit listened closely to feedback from the Town of View Royal and View Royal residents, and the community has influenced the site design and planning in a meaningful way over the past five years.
An open house was held in March 2025 offering an opportunity for the community to tour the building prior to the April 2025 opening to see how public input informed the planning and design.
Three phases of broad public engagement informed the planning and design of the handyDART Centre, and open houses and tours were routinely offered during construction.
Previous handyDART Open Houses
Spring 2020: Learn more about what was shared and what was heard here. All input collected was shared with the design team to inform the preliminary design.
Spring 2021: The second phase of public engagement focused on the preliminary design and watershed and neighborhood enhancement. All input was compiled in a What We Heard summary report available here. This input helped refine the site design and inform the permitting processes.
Summer 2021: The third and final phase of public engagement occurred in July 2021. You can view the display boards and read the engagement summary here.
Ongoing updates and opportunities to meet with staff were offered every few months during construction.
Summer 2022
The project team hosted a Saturday pop-up open house for neighbors to come by and learn more about construction progress and what’s happening next on the project. Sixty people attended, and 20 participated in the site tour. For those who couldn’t make the open house, display boards were posted on the fencing for the following weeks.
Fall 2022
The project team continued to host students, local governments, post-secondary institutions, and stewardship groups on-site. Students from Eagle View Elementary School, Craigflower Middle School, and Shoreline Middle School have helped plant 1,000 native shrubs on-site.
Fall 2023
On Saturday, October 1, the project team chatted with close to 60 people about the next phase of construction and the LEED Gold building being constructed.
Summer 2024 Open House
Thanks to the 89 people who came by the open house and tour on June 22, 2024.
The project team appreciated the interest, questions and feedback. Another open house will occur this fall.
Fall 2024
BC Transit and the Town of View Royal hosted a joint open house in the future park space on Sunday November 17, 2024. 68 people attended to learn more about BC Transit’s landscaping design for the new handyDART centre and the draft park concept for the future Watkiss Way Park.
A neighborhood working group was established in February 2020. The working group works closely with the project team to inform project planning and public engagement.
June 2023 NWG Minutes – June 2023 NWG Presentation – June 2023 December 2022 NWG Minutes – December 2022 NWG Presentation – December March 2022 handyDART NWG Meeting Minutes August 2021 Meeting Minutes – August 2021 July 2021 handyDART NWG Meeting Minutes April 2021 Meeting Minutes – April 2021 NWG Presentation – April 2021 March...
BACKGROUND The existing handyDART facility located on Glanford Avenue is beyond its capacity and can no longer support the expected need for future growth of the service. With an aging demographic, demand for handyDART services is increasing. The relocation of the handyDART facility is required to also facilitate expansion of the conventional transit system. The...
