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1. Do you support re-aligning municipal and regional transportation plans and investments to meet the provincial government’s CleanBC target to “reduce distances travelled in light-duty vehicles by 2030 compared to 2020?
Yes
2. Do you support making the default speed limit 30 km/h for streets without centrelines, as Saanich has already committed to doing?
Yes
3. Do you commit to budgeting sufficient funds to accelerate the Saanich 2018 Active Transportation Plan?
Yes
4. Do you support using neighbourhood-wide traffic calming to create low traffic neighbourhoods with much lower traffic volume with quick build materials?
Saanich has used different traffic calming methods already. The area around Dean Ave and Lansdowne was out first neighbourhood traffic calmed area. Since then, we have done road diets, mini traffic circles in areas in the Gorge, raised platform xwalks on Finnerty and more. You cannot just reduce speed, you must have traffic calming devices as well. Rat running in neighbourhoods would not be as “easy or comfortable or should I say, fast” it’s about creating community.
5. How would you support making walking safer and more enjoyable in Saanich?
Again, through the work we did with the WHO on Age-Friendly Communities, Saanich has new corner ramp standards, tactile design, bulges to make it a shorter distance to cross, count down pedestrian crossing lights are longer, especially in areas of high seniors’ population. We have new lights for our crosswalks (LED bright), we have new sidewalk widths, new driveway drop design. The enjoyable part is with trees, benches and ways to have relief from heat under nice shade trees, and more. Our new Plans like Uptown have more new features, like fruit and nut boulevard trees, to be created. Work in progress and more to come.
6. Do you support building a network of all ages and abilities (“AAA”) bike and roll routes throughout Saanich?
Yes, sometimes a bike lane could go in with the buffer, only because we do not have enough right of way. We have been trying for years to get bike lanes on Quadra and a better walking area, but a couple of property owners will not sell to us, so Engineering is looking at that. My biggest fear is with the onset of electric bikes our Regional Trails are getting a little unsafe for walkers, or pedal powered riders. How do we create safety there, passing lane??? Now scooters … lots of power but safety, for all ages and abilities, is key.
7. Do you support welcoming people who use wheelchairs and mobility scooters to use all ages and abilities (AAA) bike and roll routes?
Again, it is about safety, width, respect of all users … design will need to be enhanced.
8. Do you support rapidly completing 24/7 bus lanes along McKenzie to UVic for BC Transit’s proposed RapidBus route, as well as similar measures along all proposed RapidBus routes in Saanich?
yes
9. With the court-imposed deadline of March 14, 2023 to keep the Island Rail Corridor intact, how would you support modern rail service for Vancouver Island?
Difficult to answer. Rail service needs industrial use to transport products, if no business users, which help subsidize like Westcoast Express, how? I always thought we could have both commuter/goods transport rail with cycling/pedestrian trail in the same corridor.
10. Do you support making transit fares more affordable, both by reducing the cost of passes and individual fares and free or discounted passes for youth, seniors, and people living on low incomes?
Yes
11. Do you support removing the requirements for off-street vehicle parking from new and infill developments while adding requirements for car share, EV charging, bike and other micromobilty parking, .as well as expanding accessible parking?
Yes, we have been doing this for years. I cannot remember when we asked UVIC to put in parking with a new building. With UVIC they also have a TDM program that they can show progress on less vehicles going to campus. In Saanich we also allow street parking for car share vehicles even if no parking allowed.
12. How would you activate and bring more people into public spaces within Saanich, including sidewalks, public squares, streets and parks?
By creating more people spaces, pocket parks, commercial activity like coffee shops on street. It’s about design and captured in new plans.
13. Do you support adding substantively more accessible public bathrooms across Saanich?
We have done a washroom study, implemented it and Council has approved capital budget. Again, this work was part of the Age-Friendly Communities and our, Active Transportation Plan. Looking at our corridors, centres, villages this and other features will be captured in designs.
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