Joint funding for a new handyDART operations and maintenance facility in View Royal is coming to BC Transit according to an announcement from the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities Catherine McKenna and B.C. Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Claire Trevena.
"It's great to see the growth in ridership in Greater Victoria, but the region needs more buses and facility space to meet the demand that creates,” said Minister Trevena. “This new facility will allow BC Transit to provide better handyDART service with a more central location. It's also an essential step in ensuring the region has an efficient and reliable system for everyone who chooses transit."
The handyDART bus service provides accessible, door-to-door, shared transit for riders with reduced mobility, handling more than 390 thousand trips annually throughout Greater Victoria.
Once complete, this project will strengthen transit services for people with disabilities, helping ensure that all residents have access to the opportunities and services they need. It will also allow BC Transit to accommodate the expected increase in demand as Greater Victoria expands.
"The government of Canada is proud to work with partners to get projects built that improve the lives of Canadians,” said Minister McKenna. “This investment in BC's handyDART maintenance and storage facility will help keep residents in Greater Victoria connected to services. Together, we are making positive changes to strengthen our communities, support economic growth and build a greener future."
The new facility will accommodate approximately 110 handyDART buses, which is double the current fleet size. It will be the first Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) Gold standard BC Transit facility in British Columbia. LEED standards outline site requirements that employ best management practices to reduce chemical use, energy waste, water waste, air pollution, solid waste, and/or runoff associate with the building and site.
The BC Transit's existing handyDART facility located on Glanford Ave will be converted into a third operations and maintenance center for BC Transit's conventional fleet, allowing for more buses and more transit service of all types in Greater Victoria.
"Transit is about connecting people with their communities and getting them where they need to be in a safe, reliable manner,” said Erinn Pinkerton, president and CEO, BC Transit. “This investment demonstrates a commitment to public transit from our government partners at all levels and will enable BC Transit to respond to the growing needs for handyDART services in Greater Victoria."
The government of Canada is investing more than C$12.6 million (US$ 9.583 million) for this project through the Public Transit Infrastructure stream of the Investing in Canada plan. The government of British Columbia is contributing more than C$12.9 million (US$9.811 million) and the Victoria Regional Transit Commission is contributing C$6.9 million (US$5.248 million).
"This project is significant for our residents. I'd like to thank the government of Canada and the province of B.C. for their generous contributions, which will help us to better meet the needs of those whose transportation options are limited," said Susan Brice, chair, Victoria Regional Transit Commission.
