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On 14 September 1995 the British Columbia government released
a plan for transit improvements in the province over the next
decade. A glossy 18 page brochure summarizing the plan was
produced, and ads were run announcing the plan and requesting
feedback. As it says on page 2 of the brochure, "BC Transit
staff look forward to consulting with you to make this Plan a
reality that works for you and for all British Columbians".
Excerpts from the plan
The situation today
BC
Transit is a provincial Crown corporation. ... It funds, plans,
markets and operates in Greater Vancouver and Greater Victoria
and funds, plans and markets transit systems in 37 other
communities in British Columbia.
The Vancouver Regional Transit System carried over 105
million people in 1993/94; the Victoria system carried over 16
million, and systems in other communities carried more than eight
million.
BC Transit ridership province-wide (in millions):
| 1988/89 |
127 |
| 1990/91 |
131 |
| 1991/92 |
133 |
| 1992/93 |
131 |
| 1993/94 |
134 |
Goals of the plan
BC Transit's Ten-Year Development Plan is based on three main
goals:
- to increase the number and proportion of people who use
public transit
- to shape urban growth and help reduce sprawl
- to ensure people are well-served by transit, especially
people who don't have cars or have difficulty getting
around
The plan for Victoria
- Strengthen regional networks
- Increase peak-hour focus
- New facilities
- On-road priority measures
- Increase accessibility
The plan for Vancouver
- Broadway-Lougheed RapidBus, then light rail transit
- RapidBus Vancouver to Richmond, New Westminster to
Lougheed Mall
- Surrey town centre connector (bus Surrey centre to Newton
and Guildford)
- New cross regional bus routes
The plan for other systems in the province
The plan for the small systems in the rest of the province
include "new community-oriented minibus services" and
"increased use of taxis and dial-a-ride (door-to-door)
services".
The brochure finishes with the warning that implementing the
plan "will require a new level of cooperation between
provincial and local governments."
James Strickland
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