Greater Victoria to see new vehicles, better bus stops with PTIS funding

Transit in the Greater Victoria region of British Columbia received financial commitments from the government of Canada, as well as the province to go toward new buses and improve bus stops.

The two projects, worth a total of C$11.3 million (US$9.02 million), are being funding through the Public Transit Infrastructure Stream (PTIS) of the Investing in Canada plan with the government of Canada investing more than C$4.9 million (US$3.91 million) and the government of British Columbia more than C$4.5 million (US$3.59 million). The recipients are contributing a combined total of more than C$1.9 million (US$1.52 million).

Victoria Regional Transit System, part of BC Transit, will acquire approximately 15 medium-duty buses fueled with Compressed Natural Gas or Renewable Natural Gas to replace diesel-fueled buses at the end of their useful life. The new buses will help maintain current transit levels and avoid gaps in service when existing buses are retired as well as improve the capacity of the transit system for Greater Victoria residents.

The second project will see the rehabilitation of the north side of the existing University of Victoria (UVic) Exchange and bus stops along Ring Road, including refurbishment and enhancement of approximately nine bus bays, six bus shelters and two layover bays, as well as the redevelopment of surrounding pedestrian and bicycle storage infrastructure.

University of Victoria students, faculty and staff, as well as residents of the area, will benefit from better access to public transit, higher quality pathways and increased access to active transportation infrastructure in the Oak Bay and Saanich areas.

“It is encouraging to see our federal and provincial partners continuing to invest in public transit. The introduction of more medium duty CNG buses is an important step in our low carbon fleet program as we transition to a greener fleet. The new buses, as well as an improved transit exchange for UVic students, provide customers in the Victoria Regional Transit System with even more reasons to feel confident in choosing public transit,” said BC Transit President and CEO Erinn Pinkerton.

Mayor of the District of Saanich Fred Haynes, on behalf of the Victoria Regional Transit Commission, added, “More than 25 percent of all trips to and from UVic are made using transit, so these on campus transit exchange upgrades are well deserved. Both before and during the pandemic, public transit remains a critical component of our community that helps people get to the places they need to go, so continuing to make these investments is as important today as they’ve ever been as we focus on building back our ridership.”