Context
Mobility and accessibility are important for residents and businesses in Central Saanich and play a fundamental role in the overall quality of life, safety, and physical and social well-being of residents. Encouraging active transportation also plays a significant role in our community’s environmental health, reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and working toward the District’s climate action goals.
Central Saanich contains an extensive road network made up of local, collector and arterial roads, and a Provincial Highway. The District’s network of pedestrian, cyclist, and equestrian trails, including Lochside Regional Trail, contributes greatly to our rural and small-town community character. While Central Saanich remains largely car dependent today, community members hope for efficient and safe transportation network planning to reduce traffic and dependence on private vehicles. This includes improved walking and cycling infrastructure, transit connectivity, regional coordination, and integration with growth and development.
A. More Walking, Rolling and Cycling
Create a community and local culture that supports walking, cycling and other forms of active transportation as preferred travel modes with a target of 50% of all trips occurring by active transportation by 2050.
B. Improved Transit
Pursue improved public transit services and infrastructure that support both local and regional transit trips.
C. Safer Streets
Improve road safety and minimize conflicts for all road users, with a focus on improvements that enhance conditions for active and accessible travel modes.
D. Local Character and Connection
Better utilize the existing road and trail networks by improving connectivity between the Village Centres and Keating Business District, and to other locations throughout the District; and encourage a development pattern to support a stronger connection between housing density and public transit and active transportation infrastructure in a manner that protects the rural landscape.
E. Climate Action
Acknowledge that transportation is within the District’s realm of responsibility and influence and strive for significant shifts toward active transportation to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to achieve our climate action goals.
1. Prioritize active transportation modes and work to implement the policies, long term network and design guidelines of the Active Transportation Plan.
2. Collaborate with other organizations including adjacent municipalities and W̱SÁNEĆ Nations, the Capital Regional District, the Victoria Regional Transit Commission, BC Transit and the Province, to further develop the safety, connectivity and quality of public transportation and the active transportation network, and to create regional connections to destinations on the Saanich Peninsula, including improved connections to Lochside Regional Trail.
3. To reduce dependence on private automobiles and encourage active transportation and the use of public transit, consider variances to reduce parking requirements when effective Transportation Demand Management (TDM) measures are provided, such as transit pass programs, car-share vehicles and memberships, and end-of-trip facilities.
4. To help meet the District’s climate action goals, support projects that:
- a. Make a significant shift toward active modes of transportation that support a healthy, safe and vibrant community;
- b. Transition toward electric vehicle and biofuel sources of energy for all vehicle transportation needs, making use of cleaner fossil fuels in the shorter-term to support the transition; and
- c. Transition the District’s vehicle fleet to electric and low emission vehicles and fuels.
5. Whenever road improvements are considered in the District, the proposed road should incorporate universal design principles and be accessible to all ages and abilities, incorporate active transportation infrastructure, and apply green street principles of integrating trees, urban habitat, and landscapebased storm water management.
6. Within the Village areas, incorporate tactile paving at intersections and crosswalks for pedestrians with visual challenges, while minimizing vibrations for those using mobility aids or strollers.
7. Any road improvements within Saanichton Village shall be consistent with the streetscape design and crosssections outlined in the Saanichton Village Design Plan.
8. The District supports continuance of the BC Ferries route between Brentwood Bay and Mill Bay in the current location and will work with BC Ferries to ensure appropriate services and facilities are available at the Brentwood Bay ferry terminal to serve the public travelling by all modes of transportation.
9. When undertaking road improvements, consider the inclusion of traffic calming measures, pedestrian refuge islands, or landscaped medians in areas of high pedestrian activity.
10. Consider establishing a program of shortterm, low-cost temporary streetscape and intersection pilot projects to improve pedestrian safety and activate the street, such as street painting, temporary bollards, planters, pop-up parklettes and seating areas.
11. Prioritize projects that advance active transportation improvements identified as priority projects in the Active Transportation Plan.
12. Explore strategies to increase active transportation and reduce conflicts between road users through innovate road network designs, pilot projects, safety awareness, and pursuing funding partnerships for major infrastructure improvement projects for both commuting and recreational purposes.
13. As a requirement of new development, acquire new pedestrian and cycling connections through land dedication, statutory rights-of-way, or other mechanisms to address gaps in the active transportation network wherever possible to improve neighbourhood connectivity and access to the Lochside Regional Trail.
14. Where an informal trail or pathway crosses over private land, work with property owners to formalize rightsof-way for public passage where they connect to the active transportation network. Where potentially located on farmlands, approval from the Agricultural Land Commission would be required and design should be consistent with Provincial guidelines.
15. Prioritize projects that provide new pedestrian and cycling connections to community facilities such as parks and schools, and continue to pursue Ready Set Roll school travel planning initiatives where applicable.
16. Public bike parking facilities should include E-bike charging, repair stations, lighting and incorporate Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) design principles.
17. Support private initiatives to provide Bike Share programs in suitable locations.
18. Explore options to establish Central Saanich as a destination for a variety of regional bike touring routes and bicycle-based tourism supported by infrastructure improvements where needed.
19. As identified in BC Transit’s Peninsula Local Area Transit Plan, support the implementation of the Peninsula RapidBus Line and supporting Frequent and Local Transit Routes.
20. Strengthen the link between land use and public transportation planning within the Urban Containment Boundary by supporting increased density and a mix of land uses in proximity to the proposed Peninsula RapidBus Line, as well as Frequent Transit Routes as identified in the Peninsula Local Area Transit Plan.
21. Work with BC Transit to find suitable locations to support bus turnarounds in partnership with private property owners and developers, particularly:
- a. To simplify and improve routing through Brentwood Bay Village, allowing the provision of easy to understand, bi-directional service along transit corridors, and
- b. Improve local area connections to the Keating Business District, including Sean Heights Business Park.
22. Work with BC Transit to improve transit facilities at the Saanichton Exchange and ensure it remains a key point for transit service, including local route connections.
23. Continue to participate in BC Transit’s cost-share bus stop improvement program and improve accessibility, amenity provision and overall user experience.
24. Develop and maintain roads in Central Saanich in accordance with road categories shown on Schedule H: Road Network Plan and incorporate a “complete streets” approach for road improvement projects that better balance the use of public land within the road right-of-way to accommodate a range of travel modes.
25. Prioritize projects that advance the traffic safety improvements identified as priority projects in the Active Transportation Plan, and improvements to EV charging infrastructure.
26. Support the development of future Rapid Transit Network infrastructure, including park and ride facilities on Highway 17 at Mount Newton Cross Road and additional transit connections at the new Keating Cross Road flyover or other suitable highway locations, along with multimodal infrastructure to ensure safe connections within the District network.
27. Continue to pursue improvements that would facilitate commercial vehicles and goods movement on the designated truck routes to support key economic activities in Central Saanich, including commercial trucks accessing the Keating Business District, deliveries in Village Centres, and passenger buses visiting tourist commercial destinations.
28. Consider the unique conditions of specific roads and adhere to the following policies:
- a. Where road reconstruction is required in the Moodyville neighbourhood (comprising Peden Lane and roads further to the west), paved widths shall not exceed those which are presently in place.
- b. Do not support extending the road or opening Seabrook Road to Oldfield Road for vehicular traffic.
- c. Do not support the extension of roads into environmentally sensitive areas such as Maber Flats, or where geotechnical conditions create challenges to the long-term serviceability of the roadway.
29. To help meet the District’s climate action goals and promote electric vehicle and electric bike usage, implement the Actionable Items identified in the District’s Electric Vehicle and Electric Bike Strategy.
30. Undertake a technical study to consider improvement options for the two intersections on Mount Newton Cross Road at Wallace Drive and East Saanich Road in accordance with the Saanichton Village Design Plan. 31. Work with the SȾÁUTW̱ (Tsawout) First Nation to advance a safe pedestrian and cycling route between Saanichton Village and Highway 17, and along Central Saanich Road as identified in the Saanichton Village Design Plan and Active Transportation Plan.
32. Work with the W̱JOȽEȽP (Tsartlip) First Nation to advance improvements for pedestrian and cycling safety, including direct advocacy to the Province as the jurisdiction responsible for West Saanich Road.
33. Undertake a comprehensive review of parking regulations, including short-term parking for goods loading and delivery, HandyDART, taxis and other short-term users, and explore the feasibility of the District to own and manage parking facilities in the village centres or Keating Business District.
34. Consider establishing a parking fund to collect cash-in-lieu of providing onsite parking, with funds to be used to improve publicly accessible parking and alternative transit infrastructure.
35. Update the District’s road design standards and off-site servicing regulations in the Land Use Bylaw to better support active transportation, incorporate sustainable storm water management, consider other roadway uses such as on-street parking, landscaping and street trees, and reflect the unique ‘rural’ and ‘small-town’ character of the District.
36. Update the Transportation Master Plan to include the Active Transportation Plan and updated District’s road design standards.