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CENTRAL SAANICH ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN

Discussion Paper no.1

Background Conditions Report February 2020

Prepared for:

District of Central Saanich

1903 Mount Newton Cross Road

Saanichton BC V8M 2A9

February 2020

Prepared by:

Urban Systems Ltd

312, 645 Fort Street

Victoria BC V8W 1G2

This report is prepared for the sole use of the District of Central

Saanich. No representations of any kind are made by Urban

Systems Ltd. or its employees to any party with whom Urban

Systems Ltd. does not have a contract. Copyright © 2019.

Central Saanich Active Transportation Plan DISCUSSION PAPER NO.1 | BACKGROUND CONDITIONS ASSESSMENT

Executive Summary

Central Saanich’s first Active Transportation

Plan will include extensive research and

community feedback, identify priority projects

actions and policies that support and encourage

walking, cycling, rolling and transit integration,

consider traffic safety, identify potential transit

service improvements and be financially

reasonable for a small, rural community.

This document is the Background Conditions

Assessment (i.e., “What We Know”). It is the

first of three Discussion Papers that will be

developed, and is intended to summarize

existing active transportation conditions and

serve as a foundational document for the Active

Transportation Plan process. It includes an

overview of existing policies, plans and

standards, land use and community trip

generators, existing active transportation

facilities, and pertinent findings from technical

data gathered by the District.

Established directions from relevant policies,

plans and studies all generally support the

community desire and need to invest in active

transportation facilities in Central Saanich. This

need is identified in municipal documents such

as the Official Community Plan (OCP), as well as

in regional documents such as the CRD

Pedestrian + Cycling Master Plan (PCMP) and

Regional Transportation Plan (RTP).

Transportation conditions are influenced by

local conditions specific to Central Saanich. The

Saanichton and Brentwood Bay Villages, as well

as the Keating Business District, represent the

concentration of business and civic activities.

Although travel between these activity hubs is

beyond walking distance for most, the presence

of safe, comfortable cycling facilities would

make cycling an attractive travel option. These

village areas are surrounded by considerable

agricultural lands, which contain development

and focus travel origins and destinations. The

six schools and numerous local and regional

parks, including the Lochside Trail, are also key

community destinations.

The in-depth investigations contained in this

Discussion Paper are generally focused into the

following topic areas - Engrained Habits,

Building Blocks, Network Connectivity,

Infrastructure Gaps, Road Safety, and Multi-

Modal Integration.

Engrained Habits

Like many communities, Central Saanich was

largely built out during a time when vehicles

were the primary travel option. As a result, both

land use and transportation infrastructure were

designed to prioritize automobiles. The result

are areas, such as the Keating Business District,

where only basic pedestrian facilities and no

cycling facilities are provided. This limited

facility provision is reflected in a low proportion

of trips made by active modes - Central Saanich

lags behind other Peninsula communities such

as Sidney and Saanich.


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Building Blocks

There are a number of great existing active

transportation facilities that Central Saanich

residents currently enjoy that are “building

blocks” for the creation of a complete active

transportation network. The following are

foundational facilities:

• The Lochside Trail is a key recreational

and north-south regional cycling facility,

although disconnected from much of

Central Saanich (more on this below);

• Roadside trails have been constructed on

Stelly’s Cross Road and Mount Newton

Cross Road in recent years;

• Sidewalk facilities in key activity hubs (i.e.,

Saanichton, Brentwood Bay, Keating)

generally provide good coverage; and

• Revitalization efforts from the early 2000s

resulted in high-quality pedestrian

facilities in Brentwood Bay.

Network Connectivity

The most prominent network connectivity

challenge is the Lochside Trail, which is located

east of the Pat Bay Highway with formal

crossings in only two locations (Mount Newton

Cross Road, Island View Road). As a result, this

regionally important cycling facility is

disconnected from much of Central Saanich.

A lack of direct, comfortable cycling routes

between Saanichton, Brentwood Bay, and the

Keating Business District is another key network

connectivity challenge. Also important is

connecting across municipal borders, facilitating

access to destinations such as the Panorama

Recreation Centre and downtown Sidney.

Infrastructure Gaps

At a more localized level, gaps in existing

sidewalks, trails and cycling facilities prevent

safe, continuous trips, and often results in

pedestrians or cyclists sharing the road with

vehicles. The following are some of the most

prominent infrastructure gaps:

• Bike lanes extend along much of East

Saanich Road, except through Saanichton

where cyclists and vehicles share the lane;

• Mount Newton Cross Road includes only

narrow roadside shoulders between

Saanichton and the Lochside Trail; and

• Discontinuous sidewalks present

challenges throughout Central Saanich,

most notably on Wallace Drive south of

Saanichton and West Saanich Road in the

vicinity of Brentwood Bay.

Road Safety

Road safety is a key community concern, as

expressed in community plans, public feedback

and technical study. Addressing locations of

road safety concern is important both in

ensuring the safety of the travelling public, but

also if we are to encourage active travel modes.

Collision incidence is high at intersections such

as West Saanich Road / Keating Cross Road,

Central Saanich Road / Keating Cross Road,

West Saanich Road / Wallace Drive and Stelly’s

Cross Road / Veyaness Road. Other problematic

locations identified by the community and

through Central Saanich’s Traffic Safety

Committee include the Mount Newton Cross

Road / Central Saanich Road and the Mount

Newton Cross Road intersection in Saanichton.


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Vehicle speeding was found to be an issue most

prominently on major roads surrounded by low

density or agricultural uses, including portions

of West Saanich Road, East Saanich Road and –

in particular – Central Saanich Road.

Initiatives like the CRD’s Active School Travel

Plans, as well as targeted investment in

transportation infrastructure is critical to

addressing road safety issues.

Multi-Modal Integration

Effective multi-modal integration provides the

opportunity for Central Saanich residents to

travel within and beyond the community by

means other than a private automobile. This

can be achieved by prioritizing connections to

public transit by way of continuous and safe

sidewalk facilities to/from bus stops, as well as

the planned bicycle parking facilities at the

Saanich Exchange and other key bus stop

locations. Modal integration is particularly

important in facilitating non-vehicle commute

travel among Central Saanich residents, as

travel distances to regional commute

destinations are generally further than most are

willing to walk or cycle.

This Discussion Paper is intended as a

foundational document that is to be referenced

throughout the development of the Active

Transportation Plan. Conversations with Central

Saanich residents and stakeholder organizations

will help to further understand current issues

and to develop plan directions that reflect

community aspirations for active

transportation.


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Contents

1. Overview .......................................................................................................................................1 1.1 Discussion Paper Series ....................................................................................................................... 1

2. Community Overview .....................................................................................................................2 2.1 Context ................................................................................................................................................ 2

2.2 Key Statistics ....................................................................................................................................... 2

2.3 Land Use + Trip Generators ................................................................................................................ 7

2.4 Neighbouring Communities .............................................................................................................. 12

2.5 Jurisdiction ........................................................................................................................................ 13

3. Policies, Plans + Studies ................................................................................................................ 14 3.1 Local Plans ......................................................................................................................................... 14

3.2 Neighbouring Communities .............................................................................................................. 19

3.3 Regional Plans ................................................................................................................................... 20

4. Walking Conditions ...................................................................................................................... 26 4.1 Overview ........................................................................................................................................... 26

4.2 Sidewalk Network ............................................................................................................................. 28

4.3 Trail Network .................................................................................................................................... 31

4.4 Walking Distances ............................................................................................................................. 32

5. Cycling Conditions ........................................................................................................................ 34 5.1 Overview ........................................................................................................................................... 34

5.2 Cycling Facilities ................................................................................................................................ 35

5.3 Cyclist Counts .................................................................................................................................... 40

5.4 Network Analysis .............................................................................................................................. 42

6. Streets + Traffic ............................................................................................................................ 43 6.1 Street Network .................................................................................................................................. 43

6.2 Street Design .................................................................................................................................... 45

6.3 Traffic Volumes ................................................................................................................................. 47

6.4 Collision Data ................................................................................................................................... 49

6.5 Vehicle Speeds .................................................................................................................................. 53

7. Public Transit ............................................................................................................................... 55 7.1 Routes + Service ................................................................................................................................ 56

7.2 Infrastructure .................................................................................................................................... 58

8. Feedback / Input .......................................................................................................................... 60


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1. Overview

The District of Central Saanich is developing its

first-ever Active Transportation Plan. The Plan

will provide a vision to guide the

implementation and promotion of safe,

attractive and convenient active transportation

choices in Central Saanich. The Active

Transportation Plan will address pedestrian and

cycling networks, transit integration,

environmental and health considerations,

regional connectivity, policies and include a

financial strategy to successfully deliver an

implementable active transportation programs

and infrastructure in Central Saanich.

1.1 DISCUSSION PAPER SERIES

Discussion Paper no.1 (this document) is the

first of three discussion papers that are being

produced as part of the Active Transportation

Plan process. The discussion paper series

includes the following:


Background Conditions Assessment


“What We Heard” Engagement Summary


Active Transportation Plan Framework

The purpose of this first discussion paper is to

understand current active transportation

conditions in Central Saanich, including existing

active transportation infrastructure and

supporting facilities, factors that shape travel

behavior, and the local and regional policy

framework that influences growth and travel

mode choice. The focus of this document is on

understanding existing conditions based on

research, preliminary data collection and

analysis, and observation. A community

engagement process and detailed action plan

are part of the Active Transportation Plan

process, and will be described in subsequent

documents.


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2. Community Overview

2.1 CONTEXT

Central Saanich

Central Saanich is located on the

traditional territory of the W̱SÁNEĆ people

which includes W̱JOȽEȽP (Tsartlip) and SȾÁUTW̱

(Tsawout) First Nations. It is located within

Greater Victoria and at the centre of the

Saanich Peninsula. The Tsartlip, Tsawout,

Saanich and North Saanich communities

surround Central Saanich. Refer to Map 1.

The District of Central Saanich has an extensive

road and trail network. Historically,

transportation infrastructure within Central

Saanich has focused primarily on roadway

networks and infrastructure for the automobile.

Recently, however, residents have called for

expanding both the walking and cycling

networks, especially in residential areas, and

near schools and community centres. Speeding

vehicles is also a concern and there have been

suggestions for traffic calming in various

neighbourhoods.

With relatively low traffic volumes and a

favourable climate and topography, there is

significant potential to build upon the existing

network and enhance active transportation

facilities and increase community safety in

Central Saanich.

The community is bisected by Highway 17 which

plays a critical role to the regional

transportation system connecting Central

Saanich to neighboring municipalities and the

rest of the Capital Region and is under the

jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transportation

and Infrastructure (MoTI).

The District shares its municipal boundaries

with the District of Saanich to the south, and

North Saanich to the north, as shown on Map 1,

with coastal boundaries to the east and west

where it meets the Haro Straight and Saanich

Inlet.

The Victoria International Airport and Swartz

Bay Ferry Terminal, both regionally significant

transportation hubs, are on the Saanich

Peninsula and 10- to 15-km from Central

Saanich. See Table 2. Other key regional

destinations such as downtown Victoria,

Saanich and the West Shore are located much

further away.

Table 1. Distance to Regional Destinations

Victoria International Airport 7 km

Sidney 9 km

Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal 13 km

Saanich Core 17 km

Downtown Victoria 21 km

West Shore 27 km

2.2 KEY STATISTICS

The following key statistics offer understanding

of Central Saanich and its population, and how

these characteristics influence transportation.


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Land Area

The District’s total land area is 4,608 hectares.

This ranks as the fourth largest municipality in

the Capital Region1 with a population density of

406.8 persons per square kilometre.

Approximately two-thirds of this land area is

within the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) and

will remain agricultural land. The remaining

one-third of the community’s land base is

where any future development may occur and

helps guide where future transportation

infrastructure may be focused.

Population / Demographics

The total population of Central Saanich is

16,814 per the 2016 Census, a 5.5% increase

over the 2011 Census. Other Saanich Peninsula

communities had increases over this census

period, however Central Saanich had the

highest rate of growth compared to its

immediate neighbors, as shown in Table 2, but

is still lower than the regional average of 6.5%.

Table 2. Population + Growth Comparison

2016 Population

Growth, 2011-2016

Central Saanich 16,814 5.5%

North Saanich 11,249 1.4%

Sidney 11,612 4.4%

First Nations Reserves 2,937 -0.9%

Saanich 114,148 4.0%

Capital Region 383,360 6.5%

1 Land Area and Municipal Incorporation Dates, Capital Region

The Regional Growth Strategy, indicates that

the population on the Saanich Peninsula is

expected to continue to grow at an average rate

of 13% over the next twenty years

(approximately 5,600 new residents within

Central Saanich, North Saanich and Sidney by

2038). Continued population growth presents

both challenges for the transportation system in

meeting increasing travel demand, but also

opportunity to influence how future residents

travel to align with community objectives.

The average age of Central Saanich residents is

46.7. This is higher than the Provincial average

of 42.3, suggesting a larger portion of the local

population are seniors. Seniors generally utilize

public transit and walking or mobility aids to

meet their mobility needs at a higher rate than

the rest of the population, highlighting the need

to provide supportive infrastructure.

Figure 1. Age Characteristics, Central Saanich

(Census, 2016)


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Mode Share

According to the 2016 Census, driving is the

main form of transportation for residents of

Central Saanich with 81% of the employed

labour force traveling by private vehicle for

commute trips and another 5% travelling as

vehicle passengers. The remaining 14% of trips

are completed by sustainable travel modes

(transit, walking, cycling, or other methods).

Central Saanich’s mode share aligns closely with

neighboring North Saanich (14% sustainable

mode share), but is significantly lower than

Sidney where 21% of all trips are by sustainable

modes (including 14% walking mode share). See

Figure 2. 27% of trips in neighboring Saanich are

completed by sustainable means, with a 12%

transit mode share.

While these mode share statistics relate to

commuter travel behaviors, the CRD’s Regional

District’s Household Travel Survey shares

information related to trips by travel mode for

all persons over the age of 5 years. According to

this travel survey, 63% of trips are fulfilled by

people driving, 16% fulfilled as vehicle

passengers, 2% by transit, 14% by walking, 3%

by cycling, and 2% by other means. This

indicates a higher portion of trips being fulfilled

by sustainable means, however the general

trends of high vehicle use remain.

Based on the 2016 Statistics Canada Census

Profile 71% of residents commute to a different

census subdivision within the census division of

residence, with 27% commuting within the

census subdivision. The distance to many of

these other destinations, such as Victoria or the

Region’s West Shore communities makes it

extremely unlikely that residents are walking

and cycling for commuting purposes. This

results in increased value in the provision of

high-quality multi-modal connections such as

“hubs” servicing transit and high quality, secure,

park and ride facilities that accommodate active

transportation needs.


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0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Sidney

Saanich

Sooke

Comox

CentralSaanich

Parksville

NorthSaanich

NorthCowichan

PortAlberni

Metchosin

Vehicle - Driver

Vehicle - Passenger

Public Transit

Walking

Bicycle

Other Method

Figure 2. Mode Split Comparison in Representative Communities (Census, 2016)


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2.3 LAND USE + TRIP GENERATORS

This section outlines Central Saanich’s

demographic and land use profile which are

important considerations for the development

of the Active Transportation Plan.

Activity Hubs

Saanichton Village

Saanichton Village offers a mix of land uses with

a core commercial/mixed use area surrounded

by residential neighborhoods. This village core is

at the intersection of several critical

transportation corridors including Wallace

Drive, Mount Newton Cross Road, and East

Saanich Road. Saanich Peninsula Hospital is also

in proximity and is an important employment

hub for the peninsula. Several commercial

complexes and the District’s Municipal Hall and

Police Services are also located within

Saanichton.

Brentwood Bay Village

Brentwood Bay is another activity hub in

Central Saanich, centred on West Saanich Road

between Wallace Drive and Verdier Avenue.

Commercial/mixed use land uses are centred at

this core. In addition, the Brentwood Bay

Community Hall, Brentwood Elementary,

Bayside Middle School, the Greater Victoria

Public Library, ball fields, and the Centre for

Active Living resides within this village area. In

addition to the village’s core, Brentwood Bay

offers regional connections via the Brentwood

Bay Ferry (BC Ferries) and the Butchart

Gardens, a venue that draws a considerable

number of visitors and associated traffic.

Keating Business District

The Keating Business District if focused on

Keating Cross Road and is the largest

employment area in Central Saanich. It is

comprised predominantly of industrial lands

with a core commercial area.

The identified activity hubs generate walking

and cycling activity, and should be a priority for

investments in safe, comfortable active

transportation infrastructure.


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Roads

The municipal and provincial road network

shape the community. The Patricia Bay Highway

(Highway 17) is the primary north-south

roadway, connecting Central Saanich to other

areas of the Saanich Peninsula and the rest of

the Capital Region. The Patricia Bay Highway is

under the Ministry of Transportation and

Infrastructure’s jurisdiction and the District’s

influence on the highway is therefore limited.

All other roads in Central Saanich are under the

District’s jurisdiction. Most are limited to two

lanes (one in either direction), with the

exception of Keating Cross Road. While the

District has worked in recent years to expand

the sidewalk and cycling networks, many roads

in Central Saanich lack dedicated active

transportation facilities.

The Lochside Regional Trail runs parallel to the

Patricia Bay Highway and is an important north-

south cycling and walking route, connecting

Central Saanich to other communities on the

Saanich Peninsula and to the rest of the Capital

Region. With only two crossings of the Patricia

Bay Highway between the Lochside Trail and

Central Saanich (at Mount Newton Cross Road

and Island View Road), the Lochside Trail

difficult to access from many parts of Central

Saanich.

Transportation infrastructure is described in

further detail throughout this document.

Land Use Profile

Central Saanich’s land use reflects the

community’s more recent agricultural history

(since 1855). Between agricultural and rural

lands are residential areas, commercial uses and

civic and institutional lands. While the District

offers a variety of land uses, several of these

various uses are isolated from one another by

large parcels of agricultural zones and are

contained within distinct Urban Settlement

Boundary. This presents challenges to complete

a well-connected active transportation network

as dense and diverse land use areas typically

encourages higher active transportation mode

share. It also, however, offers unique

opportunities to build on numerous District

right-of-ways and existing pathways. These

have the potential to create a well-connected

off- street network while still improving the

multi-modal nature of existing roads and

celebrating the community’s agricultural

identity.

Land uses including the District’s 740-hectare

Urban Settlement Boundary areas are shown on

Map 2.


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Schools

Schools are spread throughout the community

and have large catchment areas presenting

challenges for students to access school by

walking or cycling. Refer to Map 3. They are

however important trip generators and will be

prioritized in ensuring they may be accessed by

safe, direct active transportation facilities. The

following schools are located in Central Saanich:

• Keating Elementary School

• Brentwood Elementary School

• Bayside Middle School

• Stelly’s Secondary School

• Saanich Learning Centre (Individual

Learning Centre)

• ȽÁU, WELṈEW̱ Tribal School

The District has been participating as part of the

CRD’s Active School Travel Planning, as

described in Section 3.3.

Parks

Central Saanich offers numerous recreational

opportunities throughout the community with

playgrounds, shoreline seating, camping, indoor

climbing, water-based activities, and field

sports. Parks are found throughout the

community and are important destinations for

people of all ages and abilities, with the

potential to offer important trail corridors.

Municipal Parks

• Centennial Park

• Saanichton Bay Park Beach

• Saanichton Green Park

• Blossom Park

• Gore Park

• Pioneer Park

• Rom Knott Park

• Verdier Park

• Hardy Park

• Chatterton Park

• Old Haven Park

• Adam Kerr Park

• Rodolph Park

Regional Parks

• Island View Regional Park

• Lochside Trail

Provincial Parks

• John Dean Provincial Park

• Gowlland Tod Provincial Park

Beach Access + Viewpoints

• Newman Farm Boathouse + Beach Access

• Arthur Drive Beach Access

• James Island Wharf

• Henderson Point Beach Access

• Hagan Bight – Kennes Viewpoint

• Stelly’s Cross Road Beach Access

• Saunders Lane Beach Access

• Clark Road Beach Access

• Marchant Beach Access

• Brentwood Wharf

• Brentwood Walkway – Ravine Park Access

• Brentwood Walkway – Delamere Access

• Edwyn Road Beach Access

• Verdier Park


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2.4 NEIGHBOURING COMMUNITIES

Central Saanich shares a border with five

distinct communities. Identifying existing

facilities in each and creating connectivity as

part of long-range plans in all communities is

important in creating a continuous, intuitive

active transportation experience.

Tsartlip First Nation

The Tsartlip community is located at the west of

Central Saanich, bisected by West Saanich Road

and immediately north of Stelly’s Cross Road.

Connection between the communities is via

West Saanich Road and Stelly’s Cross Road, as

well as Tsartlip Drive / Peden Lane and Latess

Road / Brentview Road.

Tsawout First Nation

The Tsawout community is located at the east

of Central Saanich, immediately east of Highway

17 and south of Mount Newton Cross Road. Key

corridors between the two communities Include

Jus Kun Road and Mount Newton Cross Road /

Stautw Road.

District of Saanich

The southern border of Central Saanich abuts

the District of Saanich. Key corridors between

the two municipalities include Highway 17,

Wallace Drive, West Saanich Road, Old West

Saanich Road, Lochside Trail, and Oldfield Road.

District of North Saanich

The northern border of Central Saanich abuts

the District of North Saanich. Key corridors

between the two include Highway 17, West

Saanich Road, East Saanich Road, Wallace Drive

and Central Saanich Road, as well as the

Lochside Regional Trail.

JDF Electoral Area (Willis Point)

A short segment of the Central Saanich border

abuts the Juan De Fuca Electoral Area (Willis

Point) nearby the Butchart Gardens, in the

southwest corner of Central Saanich.


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2.5 JURISDICTION

An understanding of the organizations that

influence the provision of active transportation

services and infrastructure is important in

identifying strategies for Central Saanich. The

following is a summary of the organizations

with influence over transportation in Central

Saanich and their respective responsibilities.

District of Central Saanich

The District is responsible for planning, design

and maintenance of infrastructure in road

rights-of-way within the municipality (with

exceptions, see below), including sidewalks and

cycling facilities. The District is also responsible

for local trails (excluding the Lochside Trail), as

well as trails and walkways on municipal

properties such as parks and the municipal hall

site.

Ministry of Transportation + Infrastructure

The Ministry of Transportation + Infrastructure

(MoTI) has jurisdiction over the Patricia Bay

Highway (Highway 17) corridor, as well as

Verdier Avenue between West Saanich Road

and the Brentwood Bay ferry terminal, and

West Saanich Road north of Verdier Avenue.

Capital Regional District

Planning, maintenance and operations of

regional parks and trails is undertaken by the

Capital Regional District (CRD), which includes

the Lochside Regional Trail, as well as trails

within regional parks.

The CRD also undertakes regional planning and

policy initiatives that relate to transportation

and active transportation. These initiatives are

described further in this document.

BC Transit

Transit service is provided as part of the Victoria

Regional Transit System and governed by the

Victoria Regional Transit Commission. Decisions

on transit routes, service levels, fares and local

taxation are made by the Transit Commission.

BC Transit engages local government partners

and community members in service planning

and long-range planning initiatives.

The Victoria Region Transit Future Plan and

associated local area transit planning is also

undertaken by BC Transit, as described in this

document.


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3. Policies, Plans + Studies

The Active Transportation Plan will be closely

linked to, and will be informed by, many of the

District’s key planning documents that contain

pedestrian and cycling-related policies, plans,

and goals. It is also influenced by resolutions

and commitments made by District Council.

Many of these documents and resolutions

include broader aspirations for growth and

transportation and provide specific directions

on how walking and cycling can become an

integral part of the District’s transportation

system. The Active Transportation Plan can

reinforce and help further the goals and policies

found in other documents.

This section outlines some of the key shaping

policies both locally and for neighboring

communities.

3.1 LOCAL PLANS

The following is a summary of the District’s

relevant policies, plans and regulations.

Official Community Plan (OCP)

The Official Community Plan (OCP) guides

decision making on land use planning. The topic

of transportation is connected to several key

principles of this OCP as set out in the District

“Vision”. The principles of:

• Maintain Rural Character;

• Create Walkable Neighbourhoods;

• Address the Causes and Impacts of Climate Change; and

• Ensure Transportation Systems for All are all particularly relevant to transportation.

The OCP identifies that a safe, convenient,

accessible, and low-impact transportation

system is essential for a strong economy, a

healthy environment, and a healthy, vibrant and

livable community.

The OCP also identifies other benefits of

encouraging active transportation including:

Compact, mixed-use neighbourhoods with a

high quality of design emphasize walking,

cycling, and transit uses over car use. This

fosters greater physical health by encouraging

physical activity and greater social health by

creating opportunities for informal community

interaction.


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Non-automobile travel also fosters greater

environmental health by reducing GHG

emissions which improves local air quality and

reduces the causes and impacts of climate

change. Transportation choice also allows

people with a range of income levels, ages and

abilities to live, work, and recreate within the

community. All relevant land use policy and

development permit area guidelines can be

found within the OCP. Development Permit

Areas and Guidelines are important to ensure

walking and cycling is considered throughout

the planning process. Specifically, Light

Industrial/Arterial Commercial, Residential

Multi-Family and Commercial/Mixed Use,

Brentwood Bay Village and Moodyville

development permit areas.

Recommendations for the OCP related to active

transportation could include:

• Incorporate goals and objectives from the

Active Transportation Plan into the next

OCP Update

• Consider stronger language to support

walking and cycling, including a hierarchy

of travel modes that prioritizes alternative

modes of transportation (walking, cycling,

transit, carpooling, etc.)

• Continue to monitor GHG emissions and

measure successes when targets are

reached or progress is made.

Climate Leadership Plan (2018)

Through this plan, the District of Central Saanich

is renewing its commitment to substantially

reduce GHG emissions in community-scale and

municipal operations by 2050. This plan also

highlights the importance of preparing the

District and community members for changes to

our climate.

The climate action goals identified in the 2018

Climate Leadership Plan were recently updated

to reflect a more aggressive climate action

response, consistent with the climate

emergency declaration made by both the

District and the CRD. The update climate action

targets are as follows:

• Reduce community emission by 45% by

2030; and

• Become a carbon neutral community by

2050.

A range of bold actions have been identified to

reach Central Saanich’s climate action goals,

which includes a target of 50% of trips made by

active transportation by 2050. Actions identified

to work toward this active transportation target

include support for carsharing, land use policies

that encourage walkable communities, and the

creation of the Active Transportation Plan. The

outcomes of the Active Transportation Plan are

intended to include further policies, programs

and infrastructure investment to help the

District achieve a greater number of active

transportation trips.


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Transportation Study (2002)

The Transportation Study consisted of five

components, namely Bicycle Routes,

Pedestrian/Sidewalk Facilities, Truck Routes,

Design Review of East Saanich Road, and

Guidelines for Maintenance and Construction of

a Heritage Road.

The study recommends Transportation

Association of Canada (TAC) standards for

bicycle facilities as well as other

recommendations (curb lane widths, bicycle

protection from parked vehicles, signage, road

upgrades, etc.) General road classifications,

heritage roads, a sidewalk network, and

prioritization considerations for pedestrian

infrastructure are also identified. While helpful

in understanding long-standing transportation

challenges, active transportation infrastructure

design best practices have evolved significantly

since when this report was developed.

Central Saanich Traffic and Highways

Regulation Bylaw No. 1535 (2006)

This bylaw provides general regulations for

traffic and use of highways within the District. In

relation to active transportation the bylaw

defines several pedestrian facilities such as

crosswalks and pedestrian crossings as well as

driver behavior in school zones or in relation to

active travel such as entering crosswalks when

pedestrians are present or traffic patrol

indicates that vehicles are required to stop.

Much of this bylaw reflects the Province’s

Motor Vehicle Act.

Financial Plan (2018)

The 2018 Financial Plan recognizes the District’s

weaknesses including transportation and

mobility and housing and affordability.

The five-year financial plan includes budget

allocated to road reconstruction (amount vary

year over year), with a set amount established

for sidewalk and bus shelter maintenance.

Upgrading and expansion projects are also

identified including crosswalks, activated

crosswalks, multi-use pathway expansions, and

trail extensions. Each of these investments

improves active transportation facilities for the

District. Funding sources for the 2018 financial

period included reserve funds, taxation, and

grants.

Financial Plan (2019)

Identifies funding for road reconstruction and

sidewalk and bus shelter maintenance and

general transportation upgrades. The Financial

Plan identifies additional upgrades and

expansions for the active transportation

network including an activated crossing, bike

lanes on Wallace Drive, and budget allocated in

2023 for a new multi-use pathway segment on

Mount Newton Cross Road between the Pat Bay

Highway and Saanichton Village. One of the

goals within the Active Transportation Plan

process is to identify a sustainable funding

approach for investments in active

transportation facilities and programs.


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2019 Strategic Plan

The 2019 Strategic Plan has five themes areas

including environment, economy, social, good

governance, and infrastructure. The active

transportation plan will build upon the social

priority by working to ensure mobility for all

(OCP 9.0) and infrastructure by encouraging and

providing guidance on well maintained

infrastructure and facilities that meet

community needs and allow growth and

development for prosperity. In addition, the

Active Transportation Plan was identified as an

action in the Climate Leadership Plan which fits

under OCP 7.0, Environment: Preserving

Abundant Ecosystems.

In addition, there are fifteen strategic directions

one of which is active transportation planning/

traffic safety.

Community Amenity Contributions Policy

Community Amenity Contributions (CACs) are

in-kind or cash contributions provided by

property developers when District Council

grants development rights through rezoning.

The demand on community facilities increases

with rezoning, because of new residents and

employees in the area.

The District’s CAC policy assists in the provision

of active and alternate transportation including:

Pedestrian, bicycling, Level 2 or 3 electrical

charging stations, car shares and transit

infrastructure.

Engineering Specifications

(Works and Services General Provisions)

This bylaw provides details for service

connections to municipal systems as well as

specifications for sewers and drains,

watermains, roads, street lighting, integrated

survey monuments, and West Saanich /

Brentwood Village Streetscapes are included.

Specifications related to roads and

transportation infrastructure include sidewalk

widths, bicycle lanes, and cul-de-sacs, especially

where connections to trails exist. Within these

standards are typical sections for local urban

and rural roads, minor and major collector

roads, curb, gutter, and sidewalk, curb drops

and sidewalks crossings, and handrails and

pavement restoration.

The Active Transportation Plan process will

identify updated design guidance specific to

active transportation facilities, which may

necessitate an update to the road standards

over time to ensure they reflect best practices.


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Development Cost Charges Bylaw

The Transportation DCC program includes

variety of capital works including intersection

improvements, multi-modal (pedestrian and

cycling) upgrades, and trail facilities. In addition,

the Parks DCC program is comprised of park

land acquisition and park land development

projects, including playgrounds and trails. These

are important funding sources for the

implementation of a complete active

transportation network.

Land Use Bylaw

The District’s Land Use Bylaw identifies

permitted uses for each land use zone and

associated regulations such as building height,

setback and off-street parking. One area where

the Land Use Bylaw directly impacts active

transportation is bicycle parking. The Bylaw

includes requirements for Class A (long-term)

and Class B (short-term) bicycle parking for

multi-family residential, commercial and

institutional uses.

Municipal Ticket Utilization Bylaw

This bylaw identifies fines for infractions against

municipal bylaws including those for walking,

cycling, driving violations including stopping in

dedicated pedestrian and cycling areas. In

relation to active transportation, these fines

include:

• Failure to remove snow or other

impediments to sidewalks or pathways

• Stopping in a bus stop

• Stopping near crosswalks

• Driving on sidewalks or boulevards

• Stop, stand or park vehicle where

restricted, including crosswalk, cycle lanes

The current level of fines may not reflect the

level of risk or potential harm if violated.


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3.2 NEIGHBOURING COMMUNITIES

Tsawout First Nation

The Tsawout First Nation’s Comprehensive

Community Plan aims to achieve the

community’s vision and objectives by pursuing

diverse opportunities including “protecting

access to and circulation within the Tsawout

Village from outside traffic (including on-reserve

mobile home traffic) by creating restriction

points around the village and alternate points of

access”. Under Roads and Servicing the CCP also

mentioned the road system and pedestrian

walkway system on Tsawout land will be

developed in a matter which supports the use

of public transportation and the safe movement

of vehicles and pedestrians and includes a

policy that states: A new development must

demonstrate how it can be tied in with the

current BC Transit system. In addition, securing

highway access improvements has been

identified with several other “next steps” and

states that these improvements are “an

essential pre-condition” to accomplishing the

plan. The Tsawout Nation recognizes that

maintaining a partnership with MOTI and the

District of Central Saanich is “vital to achieve

these improvements.”

Tsartlip First Nation

The Tsartlip First Nation do not have plans or

policies readily available to the public. The

process of developing the Active Transportation

Plan will include coordination with the Tsartlip

First Nation to understanding future

development plans and opportunities to

connect active transportation facilities.

District of Saanich

The District of Saanich completed an Active

Transportation Plan in 2018. The plan provides

a bicycle network which includes routes

reaching to the Central Saanich boundaries.

These include three “all ages and abilities”

network spines that reach Central Saanich

including Wallace Drive, Oldfield Road, and

Lochside Regional Trail. West Saanich Road is

also identified as part of the bicycle network.

No routes that intersect with Central Saanich

have been identified as pedestrian network

priorities however Lochside Regional Trail

remains an important pedestrian and cycling

connection between both communities.

The District of Saanich’s Official Community

Plan supports alternative transportation with

numerous policies supporting transportation

demand management, transit integration, and

encouraging walking and cycling including

policies related to traffic calming.

The District of Saanich is also updating Local

Area Plans throughout Saanich including an on-

going update to the Cordova Bay Local Area

Plan. This process will address specific issues

within this well-defined area such as street

and/or transportation corridors that could

connect at Central Saanich’s southeastern

boundary.


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District of North Saanich

The District of North Saanich’s Official

Community Plan includes a transportation and

cycling network and states that the road

network in North Saanich will be developed in a

manner which encourages the use of public

transportation systems along major routes,

where practical. Overall, the OCP policies on

transportation are intended to balance

transportation needs and recognize the

importance of walking as a form of

transportation and recreation, highlighting

connections to the Lochside Regional Trail. The

OCP is generally supportive of active and

alternative transportation.

Active transportation connections are identified

in Schedule D “Transportation and Cycling

Network” map that connect to Central Saanich,

including East Saanich Road as a future bicycle

lane, pathway or route, along with West

Saanich Road and Aldous Terrace / Wallace

Drive.

3.3 REGIONAL PLANS

Pedestrian + Cycling Master Plan

CRD, 2011

The Regional Pedestrian and Cycling Master

Plan (PCMP) was developed in 2011 and covers

topics including engineering, education,

enforcement, encouragement, and evaluation.

The PCMP includes a broad course of action for

achieving a significant shift in patterns and

modes of transportation throughout the region.

The inter-community cycling network and

pedestrian priority areas, including the Lochside

Regional Trail will be considered as part of the

District’s active transportation network.

The PCMP includes descriptions of bikeway

facilities ranging from Class III (wide curb lane)

to Class I (Cycle Track: protected with barrier).

These descriptions change depending on

presence of curb and gutter. The PCMP also

includes a network of on-street bikeways and

identifies village centres and major attractors

within Central Saanich. The on-street network

includes recommendations for facility types

including separated on-street bikeways, bicycle

lane/shoulder bikeways, and shared lanes.

Multi-use trails and conceptual alignments are

also included.

Several priority projects are identified in the

PCMP in Central Saanich, including the Douglas

Street Connector (multi-use trail, conceptual

alignment), Mount Newton Cross Road and

Wallace Drive (Bicycle Lane/ Shoulder Bikeway),

and West Saanich Road (Separated, On-Street).


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Pedestrian priority areas in the PCMP are those

with a high density of pedestrian-attracting

destinations such as regional growth / village

centres, transit exchanges, regional parks and

trails, and civic destinations and schools. The

pedestrian priority areas within Central Saanich

identified in the PCMP generally focus on the

Saanichton and Brentwood Bay village areas, as

shown in Figure 3, as well as highlighting the

Keating Business District and Tanner Ridge

areas.

Figure 3. Regionally Significant Pedestrian

Priority Areas (CRD, PCMP)

The PCMP recommends coordinated regional

bicycle wayfinding signage, which has been

implemented in communities throughout the

Capital Region including along key cycling routes

in Central Saanich. An example from Mount

Newton Cross Road in the Saanichton Village is

shown below.


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Active School Travel Plans

CRD, 2016-2019

The CRD’s Active School Travel Planning

program works collaboratively with multiple

stakeholders including parents, students, school

administration, school boards, transportation

planners and engineers, public health agencies

and law enforcement to examine infrastructure,

enforcement and educational needs both on

school grounds and surrounding

neighbourhoods while also tackling traffic

safety, air pollution and climate issues.

In 2018, this program was completed at

Brentwood Bay Elementary. Several actions

were identified including engineering

interventions and education and engagement

initiatives. Active transportation challenge areas

were located including school-site access, drop-

off and pick-up congestion, intersections along

Wallace Drive including Grieg Avenue, Marchant

Road, and West Saanich Road and connections

to Rom Knott Park and the park’s pathway and

Community Hall to the school site. Keating

Elementary is currently participating in this

program.

Regional Transportation Plan

CRD, 2014

The Regional Transportation Plan (2014) has a

vision of “a future where transportation is

sustainable, offers choice, enables smart

growth, and makes livable communities

possible” and includes a regional multi-modal

network and identifies mobility ‘hubs’ which

focus on pedestrian activity. Within Central

Saanich these ‘hubs’ are Saanichton and

Brentwood Bay (Rural Hubs) and Keating Cross

Road (Activity Hub). ‘Rural Hubs’ are defined as

not necessarily exhibiting high levels of

transportation activity and are outside the rapid

and frequent transit networks. However, these

areas serve as significant access points for those

living in rural areas. ‘Activity Hubs’ are locations

that serve as key regional destinations with

larger catchment areas and high trip volumes

due to large employers and/or institutional

centres such as the Keating Business District.

In addition, Keating Cross Road and Highway 17

are identified as primary routes for goods

movement, with Verdier Avenue and West

Saanich Road identified for “access to local

area” and East Saanich Road and Wallace Drive

as local access routes. See Figure 4.


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Figure 4. Regional Multi-Modal Network2

2 Adapted from CRD Regional Transportation Plan, Exhibit 4.3

Victoria Area Transit Future Plan

BC Transit, 2011

The Victoria Area Transit Future Plan’s vision

statement reads “To be a leader of integrated

transportation solutions connecting people and

communities to a more sustainable future.” The

Plan includes four levels of transit service: Rapid

Transit Network (RTN), Frequent Transit

Network (FTN), Local Transit Network (LTN) and

targeted services such as inter-regional services

providing connections between communities,

handyDART services, express services providing

direct, limited-stop routes, and rural “para-

transit” that provides flexible transit routing in

rural areas.

The RTN and FTN travel along Highway 17

through Central Saanich and identifies a Park

and Ride Facility and Transit Exchange at

Highway 17 and Keating Cross Road (as part of

the 25-year transit network).


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Regional Trails Management Plan

CRD, 2014

The Regional Trails Management Plan (RTMP)

guides development, operations, and

management decision making for regional trails.

Regional trails addressed specifically in the

RTMP are the Galloping Goose, E&N and

Lochside Regional Trails. Lochside Regional Trail

runs north-south through Central Saanich and is

a key active transportation connection

providing walking and particularly cycling

connectivity to the rest of the regional trail

network.

The “Mission of the Lochside Regional Trail”

includes providing access to key regional and

local destinations in Central Saanich for users of

all ages and abilities through connections with

other trails and active transportation routes.

Connections to the Lochside Regional Trail and

other regional destinations will be considered

throughout the Active Transportation Plan

process. A key and pertinent direction in the

RTMP is east-west connections to the Lochside

Regional Trail approximately aligned with Island

View Road, as shown in Figure 5. The RTMP also

recommends supporting continued equestrian

use on the Lochside Regional Trail between

Island View Road (an important connection to

Island View Regional Park) and Blenkinsop

Greenway (in Saanich), a characteristic that

should be considered when developing active

transportation connections in Central Saanich.

Figure 5. Areas of Interest for Linking to the

Lochside Regional Trail (CRD RTMP)

The RTMP also includes trail development

guidelines for bike and pedestrian trails

(skateboarding and roller blading are also

permitted) such as tread width (2m – 7m

depending on the context) and paved surface

treatment with some rural areas being gravel,

shoulder width (0.25 – 0.5m) and cleared tread

width (1m, both sides) and height (3m). Multi-

use trail guidelines are also provided and

include equestrian considerations

(skateboarding and roller blading are excluded)

with the primary difference being a gravel

surface treatment. The suggested trail

development guidelines are summarized in

Table 3.


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Table 3. General Trail Development Guidelines

for Regional Trails (PTMP)

Trail Type Intended Users Surface Widths

Bike + Pedestrian

Trail

People Walking,

People Cycling,

People Rolling

(skateboards, rollerblades)

Paved

(in rural areas

surface may be

gravel)

Standard Tread Width

4m (2m – 7m)

Shoulder Width 0.25m – 0.5m (both sides)

Cleared Width

1.0m (both sides)

Multi-Use

Trail

People Walking,

People Cycling, Equestrian

Use

Gravel Standard Tread Width

4m (2m – 6m)

Shoulder Width

0.25m – 0.5m (both sides)

Cleared Width

1.0m (both sides)


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4. Walking Conditions

4.1 OVERVIEW

Walking is the most common form of

transportation as every trip begins and ends on

foot. Where suitable conditions exist within a

community such as having a complete,

connected sidewalk network, safe crossings,

and major destinations nearby to where people

live, walking can be suitable for almost all short

trips throughout the year. A key objective of the

Active Transportation Plan is to identify

opportunities to improve pedestrian facilities

and create new network connections that

encourage more walking. This focus on

enhanced infrastructure, combined with

supportive land use policies that put more

people within walking distance of key

destinations such as shopping, employment and

schools, aims to increase the number of walking

trips in Central Saanich.

A wide range of pedestrian facility types exist in

Central Saanich. Some like the streetscape

improvements in Brentwood Bay were

constructed more recently and reflect more

current design practices, while numerous others

represent only a basic pedestrian provision,

such as a roadside shoulder. Facilities range

from pedestrian only off-street trails and

pathways and multi-use pathways that provide

people walking with physical separation from

moving vehicles. Key off-street multi-use

pathways in Central Saanich include the

Lochside Regional Trail, the Willow Way multi-

use connection between Wallace Drive and

Keating Cross Road, and roadside pathways

along Stelly’s Cross Road and Mount Newton

Cross Road.

A series of photos have been included in Figure

6 that show some of the existing conditions

including separated sidewalks, off-street

pathways, on-street shared shoulders, non-

separated sidewalks, and crosswalk treatments.


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Figure 6. Sample Pedestrian Facilities

West Saanich Road through Brentwood Bay includes wide sidewalks with landscape and street trees.

Example of a sidewalk on Keating Cross Road in the Keating Business District.

The roadside pathway on Mount Newton Cross Road.

Pathways provided at the end of certain cul-de-sacs offer a short-cut for pedestrians and create shorter walking distances.

Roadside pedestrian pathway connecting to a bus stop and informal seating on Tanner Road.

Pedestrian activated crosswalk connecting to Brentwood Elementary School on Wallace Drive.


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4.2 SIDEWALK NETWORK

The sidewalk network in Central Saanich

consists of approximately 33-km of sidewalk

facilities. As shown in Map 4 and Map 4a,

sidewalks are generally concentrated in the

Brentwood Bay and Saanichton Village areas, as

well as along major streets such as East Saanich

Road and Tanner Road. This provides walking

facilities in areas with generally the highest

concentration of walking, as well as along some

of the busiest streets in Central Saanich. A

number of other small sidewalk segments exist,

and almost all are within the Urban

Containment Area.

Where present, sidewalk facilities are generally

concrete and 1.5m to 1.8m in width. Certain

locations present issues with utility poles or

other impediments in the sidewalk, which

reduce the functional width.

Sidewalks abruptly ending is an issue in Central

Saanich. Noted locations include Wallace Drive

and Central Saanich Road south of the

Saanichton Village area, Verdier Avenue and

other more minor streets nearby the

Brentwood Bay Village area, side streets off

Keating Cross Road, and a few small sidewalk

segments in the Tanner Ridge neighbourhood.

The Active Transportation Plan process will

include consultation with Central Saanich

residents to identify other sidewalk gaps and

understand which should be addressed as a

priority.

Where sidewalks reach an intersection or where

they terminate, they should include a curb ramp

to allow safe, comfortable transition on / off the

sidewalk facility. This has been provided on

most sidewalks in Central Saanich, but not all.

Tactile indicators have been included in recent

sidewalk projects that give guidance to visually-

impaired pedestrians as the approach the

roadway. These features are something that

should be included in future sidewalk

installations and applied in a consistent manner.

Example tactile indicator pad at the crosswalk on East Saanich Road in Saanichton

Lighting on sidewalk and trail facilities has been

indicated as a priority by Central Saanich

residents. Priority locations for lighting

installation will be identified through the Active

Transportation Plan process.


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There are approximately 72 formal pedestrian

crossing locations in Central Saanich. These

include crosswalks on major streets in the

Brentwood Bay and Saanichton Village areas, as

well as Keating Cross Road, where pedestrian

activity is highest and high traffic volumes

require crosswalks to create gaps in traffic for

pedestrians to safely cross the street. All

crosswalks include pavement markings and

signs, and certain higher volume locations or

crossings nearby schools include pedestrian

activated flashers. Pedestrian crossing is also

facilitated at controlled intersections (i.e., traffic

signal, stop signs).

The crosswalk installed on East Saanich Road in 2017 includes pedestrian activated flashers

Suitable pedestrian access to bus stops is an

important consideration. While sidewalks

and/or trails are generally provided to bus stops

in the Brentwood Bay and Saanichton Village

areas, bus stops on portions of West Saanich

Road and Mount Newton Cross Road lack

sidewalk or trail connections making them

difficult to access.

4.3 TRAIL NETWORK

Central Saanich consists of a broad network of

local and regional trails. The Lochside Regional

Trail is oriented north-south along a former

railway alignment. It is the primary regional trail

connect to other communities in the Capital

Region. Located to the immediate east of

Highway 17, which can be crossed by

pedestrians and cyclists in only two locations

(Mount Newton Cross Road, Island View Road),

the Lochside Regional Trail is difficult to access

for many Central Saanich residents.

Existing local trails are generally either

contained in parks or within road rights-of-way.

Trails along Stelly’s Cross Road (see photo) and

Mount Newton Cross Road are examples of

roadside trails built in recent years.

Opportunities to extend trails through parks, at

the roadside within road rights-of-way, or

through undeveloped road rights-of-way will be

explored further through the Active


Existing roadside trail on Stelly’s Cross Road adjacent to Stelly’s Secondary School


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4.4 WALKING DISTANCES

The Saanichton Village, Brentwood Bay Village,

and Keating Business District areas are the key

areas of pedestrian activity in Central Saanich.

Each area is 2- to 3-km from one another and

generally are not within reasonable walking

distance of one another for most.

The scale of each area itself is such that the

majority of the land uses and activities are

contained within a 400m or 800m radius. Refer

to Map 5. A five-minute walk is approximately

400m and a ten-minute walk is approximately

800m. As a general rule of thumb, a five-minute

walk (400m) is considered the distance most

able-bodied pedestrians are willing to walk to

access day-to-day destinations. A ten-minute

walk (800m) represents a greater walking

distance that some individuals may be willing to

walk where facilities are safe and comfortable.

The ability to reach a large number of land uses

and activities within each Village area within a

reasonable walking distance for most offers

potential to increase the number of walking

trips and establish walking as a choice travel

mode for both commute / purpose and

recreational travel.

Opportunities to enhance pedestrian conditions

and continue to build-out the sidewalk network

in village areas will be explored through the

Active Transportation Plan process. Land use

policies that concentrate residential growth and

mixed commercial activities in village areas will

further support growth of walking in these

areas.

Pedestrian activity in the Saanichton Village area


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5. Cycling Conditions

5.1 OVERVIEW

Cycling can be an attractive transportation

option, as it is convenient, low cost, and for

shorter trips can be a practical alternative to

driving. Central Saanich’s natural beauty and

abundance of off street trails and pathways

encourage residents to bicycle as a form of

exercise and as a leisure activity. Opportunities

to upgrade facilities or provide additional

connections exist that can encourage cycling as

a viable means of transportation as well.

A variety of factors influence an individuals’

decision to bicycle, such as neighbourhood

characteristics, the quality of the bicycle

facilities, distance between destinations, and

personal preference. The “bike-ability” of a

neighbourhood is influenced by a variety of

built environment features such as network

facilities, transportation infrastructure, land use

mix, connectivity, and traffic volumes.

The Lochside Regional Trail provides north-south cyclist travel throughout the region

Bike lanes are provided on select Central

Saanich streets, including this bike lane on East

Saanich Road in Saanichton


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5.2 CYCLING FACILITIES

Central Saanich’s cycling network consists of

approximately 40-km of on-street bikeways, in

addition to the off-street pathway network.

Refer to Map 6, Map 6a, and Map 6b. A variety

of cycling facility types are found in Central

Saanich that range in terms of user safety and

comfort, as well as in the cost and effort

involved in installation and maintenance.

Examples of cycling facilities in Central Saanich

are shown below:

Bike Lane – A marked lane within the roadway reserved exclusively for use by bicycles.

Multi-Use Trail – A trail / pathway suitable for bicycles and shared with other users.

Shoulder Bikeway – A dedicated space at the road edge typically found on rural roads.

Signed Bike Route – A designated route that includes bike signs, typically low traffic volumes, and generally no dedicated cycling facilities.


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The B.C. Active Transportation Design Guide is a resource recently published by the Province that will be referenced throughout the development of the Active Transportation Plan.

Bicycle Parking

Secure bicycle parking is important to address

the fear of bicycle theft, particularly as an

increasing number of cyclists invest in more

costly electric bicycles and cargo bicycles.

A bicycle parking inventory was developed that

accounts for the majority of publicly accessible

bicycle parking in Central Saanich. As shown on

Map 6, bicycle parking is concentrated in the

Brentwood Bay and Saanich Village areas, as

well as key destinations such as the Saanich

Peninsula Hospital and schools, where a large

number of cycling trips end. Despite the large

employment base, only a limited number of

bicycle parking opportunities were observed in

the Keating Business District.

Bicycle parking is typically supplied in one of

two ways. New developments must provide

long-term (Class A) and short-term (Class B) bike

parking at rates identified in the District’s Land

Use Bylaw. This ensures the provision of short-

and long-term bicycle parking facilities in new

multi-family residential, commercial and

institutional development. Bike parking may

also be provided by the District in public spaces,

such as within street rights-of-way or on public

properties such as schools and parks. A bicycle

parking station is planned for Saanichton Village

immediately adjacent the Saanichton Transit

Exchange, as an example.

Opportunities to address gaps in public bike

parking will be explored through the Active

Transportation Plan process, as well as ensuring

that bicycle parking facilities are designed

appropriately.

What is “All Ages + Abilities”?

All Ages + Abilities (also referred to as ‘AAA’) is the approach to active transportation planning and infrastructure design that aspires to create facilities that are comfortable, convenient, safe, and attractive for everyone, regardless of age or ability.

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/driving-and-transportation/funding-engagement-permits/grants-funding/cycling-infrastructure-funding/active-transportation-guide/2019-06-14_bcatdg_compiled_digital.pdf?forcedownload=true


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5.3 CYCLIST COUNTS

Cyclist count data was collected by the District

of Central Saanich throughout 2018 and 2019,

as well as by the CRD on an on-going basis.

Average weekday cyclist volumes at select

locations are presented on Map 7 and indicate

locations of highest cycling activity.

The count data indicates that the Lochside

Regional Trail is the busiest cycling route in

Central Saanich, with over 200 cyclists per day.

Other high-volume routes include West Saanich

Road, Wallace Drive, Mount Newton Cross

Road, Keating Cross Road, and Oldfield Road.

Cycling on Mount Newton Cross Road and

Keating Cross Road, for example, are assumed

to be local trips to nearby activity centres (i.e.,

Keating Industrial Area, Saanichton Village).

Other routes such as West Saanich Road,

Wallace Drive and Central Saanich Road are

known to be popular routes for recreational

touring cyclists. Central Saanich is popular

regionally as a recreational touring cyclist

destination due to the relatively gentle

topography and moderate vehicle traffic

compared to elsewhere in the region.

Touring cyclist on the Lochside Regional Trail

While distances within Central Saanich and to

some neighboring destinations are within

reasonable cycling distance. The time required

to cycle between Central Saanich’s main activity

hubs is approximately 15 minutes. Destinations

in neighboring communities may also be

considered within cycling distance such as

Panorama Recreation Centre in North Saanich

(12 minutes from Saanichton, 35 minutes from

Brentwood Bay, 30 minutes from Keating

Business District), or downtown Sidney (30

minutes from Saanichton, 40 minutes from

Brentwood Bay and Keating Business District).

Other destinations such as Saanich or

downtown Victoria may not be within

reasonable cycling distance for many people

travelling by bike (an hour or more). Travel

distance is a critical consideration, especially to

highlight the importance of integrating cycling

and transit. As previously mentioned, a bicycle

parking station is planned for Saanichton,

immediately adjacent the Saanichton Transit

Exchange.


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5.4 NETWORK ANALYSIS

While bicycle facilities appear between Village

Centres the treatments or facility types are

inconsistent and offer varying levels of comfort.

Retrofitting existing cycling routes to include

safer, higher-quality infrastructure will be

important as the Active Transportation Plan is

developed.

Another critical network issue is the disconnect

between the Lochside Regional Trail and the

bulk of Central Saanich to the west of Highway

17, as was identified in the CRD Regional Trails

Management Plan. This is largely a result of

Highway 17 acting as a barrier to active

transportation users and the limited number of

crossing points. Enhanced cycling facilities on

Mount Newton Cross Road between Saanichton

and the Lochside Regional Trail is an example of

how this connection may be improved.

Making connections to and through identified

Village areas will be important. For example,

the bike lanes on East Saanich Road currently

end on both approaches to the Saanichton

Village. Connecting facilities such as this will

allow for continuous cycling corridors and

improved connections to key destinations.

Connections to other local destinations such as

schools, parks, the hospital and ferry terminal

are important. Consideration should be given to

AAA on-road cycling facilities or pursuing

opportunities for roadside trails and/or

establishing new trail facilities in un-built road

dedications. These undeveloped municipal

assets present a significant opportunity to

extend the network of safe, comfortable active

transportation facilities.

If we were to consider only bike lanes and

shoulder bikeways the District would have

considerable gaps in the cycling network. Most

notable would be along Keating Cross Road, a

critical east-west connection with heavy duty

vehicles and high traffic volumes. Wallace Drive,

particularly between Saanichton and

Brentwood Bay is another network gap that

sees a reasonable volume of cyclists despite

limited facilities.

Identifying opportunities to connect to

neighbouring municipalities will also support

longer-distance cycling trips, including

commuting, and take pressure off of making

connections to the Lochside Regional Trail for

all long-distance cycling trips. Connections to

destinations to the north, such as Panorama

Recreation Centre and downtown Sidney, would

facilitate cycling trips to key destinations on the

Saanich Peninsula, while connections to the

south could increase the potential for bicycle

commuting to destinations in Saanich and

elsewhere in the core area.


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6. Streets + Traffic

6.1 STREET NETWORK

The District of Central Saanich operates and

maintains approximately 162-km of roads. This

includes all roads within the District’s

boundaries, with the exception of roads on First

Nations lands and corridors under provincial

jurisdiction (Pat Bay Highway, West Saanich

Road north of Verdier Avenue, and Verdier

Avenue west of West Saanich Road).

The District’s road network is made up of five

road classifications:

• Highway / Freeway

• Arterial

• Collector

• Proposed Heritage Road

• Local

The road network and road classifications are

shown on Map 8. In addition to the current

road network, the District has several unbuilt

road rights-of-way that present opportunities

for future active transportation facilities.

Intersection traffic control consists of five

signalized intersection - four on Keating Cross

Road, as well as the West Saanich Road /

Wallace Drive intersection. A roundabout was

installed at the West Saanich Road / Verdier

Avenue intersection as part of the Brentwood

Bay revitalization work in the early 2000s.

Two additional traffic signals are in-place on

Highway 17 (Island View Road, Mount Newton

Cross Road) that are under provincial

jurisdiction. Six intersections have stop signs on

all legs, including three intersections in

Saanichton that are often cited as key concerns

among residents.

Suitable routes for trucks and tour buses are

identified that facilitate access through the

community on suitable routes and to limit the

negative impacts on residential areas and

neighbourhood streets. Identified truck and

tour bus routes provide access between the Pat

Bay Highway and key areas within Central

Saanich such as the Keating Business District,

Butchart Gardens and the Brentwood Bay Ferry.

Per the Traffic and Highways Bylaw, trucks and

tour buses are prohibited at night time (6:00pm

– 6:00am) on Central Saanich Road between

Mount Newton Cross Road and Island View

Road.

A new flyover overpass is planned for the Pat

Bay Highway / Keating Cross Road location to

eliminate the left-turn across highway traffic

onto Keating Cross Road and realign the

southbound on-ramp to Victoria. This project

will include new sidewalks on Keating Cross

Road, as well as provide for enhanced truck and

tour bus access to the Keating Business District

area and Butchart Gardens.


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6.2 STREET DESIGN

Many of Central Saanich’s streets were

designed in a previous era when vehicle

accommodation was generally prioritized in

street design. Many streets were designed to a

rural standard and include roadside shoulders

of varying widths. Most shoulders were not laid

out with roadside walking and cycling in-mind,

with widths that are generally less than make

for comfortable conditions. Mount Newton

Cross Road between the Pat Bay Highway and

Saanichton Village is a specific road segment

where narrow shoulders lead to uncomfortable

walking and cycling conditions.

Many of the District’s Collector streets include

sidewalks on at least one side of the street.

Addressing gaps in sidewalks on major roads is a

key priority. Certain sidewalk segments are

narrow and/or have utility poles in the sidewalk

that impede pedestrian travel, and may also be

a priority for improvement.

Two-way centre left-turn lanes are in-place in

three locations in Central Saanich - Keating

Cross Road, East Saanich Road in Saanichton,

Wallace Drive in Saanichton (refer to the photo

on the following page). Two-way centre left-

turn lanes (also known as “suicide lanes”) were

previously a population design approach to

provide a dedicated turn lane so that vehicles

waiting to make left turns do not impede

through vehicles. However they present

challenges, particularly in a village context such

as Saanichton, as they allow for faster vehicle

speeds and increase pedestrian crossing

distances. These locations should be explored

for opportunities to re-purpose roadway space

to better facilitate active transportation, while

ensuring appropriate traffic conditions and

giving due consideration for truck movements

and loading/unloading in these areas.


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Figure 7. Sample Street Design

Conflicts between vehicles and cyclists on Central Saanich Road at Keating Cross Road.

The roundabout at the West Saanich Road / Verdier Avenue intersection in Brentwood Bay.

West Saanich Road approaching the Keating Cross Road intersection.

Recent street improvements on Wallace Drive in Saanichton as part of an adjacent development.

Veyaness Road near Keating Cross Road showing a common rural condition.

Two-way centre left turn lane on Wallace Drive in Saanichton.


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6.3 TRAFFIC VOLUMES

Traffic volumes data has been summarized for

key streets in Central Saanich. Traffic volumes

are expressed as the average daily two-way

traffic volume, considered for weekdays only. A

general summary of traffic count data is

provided on Map 9.

Not surprisingly, the Pat Bay Highway has by far

the highest traffic volumes in Central Saanich,

with approximately 35,000 – 40,000 vehicles

using the corridor each day. The highway is

under provincial jurisdiction and plays a key role

in serving regional and inter-regional travel

needs.

For roads under Central Saanich’s jurisdiction,

Keating Cross Road, West Saanich Road and

Mount Newton Cross Road carry the highest

daily traffic volumes. West Saanich Road plays a

regional role as the primary alternative to the

Pat Bay Highway on the Saanich Peninsula

(West Saanich Road was previously a provincial

highway), whereas Keating Cross Road is the

focus of a significant number of commute trips

to the Keating Business District and regional

destinations to the west (namely Butchart

Gardens).

Portions of Wallace Drive, East Saanich Road

and Central Saanich Road exceed 5,000 vehicles

per day. All other roads are less than 5,000

vehicles per day.

Vehicular traffic volumes are important not only

to understand travel demand patterns, but also

in prioritizing investment in active

transportation facilities, where a street with

higher traffic volumes should generally be

prioritized for a sidewalk or cycling facility over

a lower volume street.

Further, traffic volume information is used

when considering appropriate bicycle facility

types. A separated cycling facility is needed on a

busy street to provide a physical barrier

between cyclists and vehicles, where a

neighbourhood bikeway (i.e., a shared street)

may be appropriate on a street with low traffic

volumes.


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6.4 COLLISION DATA

Road safety is essential when planning for active

transportation, as unsafe conditions may deter

potential active transportation users. To assess

overall and location-specific road safety in

Central Saanich, ICBC collision data from the

municipality was analyzed for the five-year

period between 2013 and 2017. Collisions

included in this dataset are only those reported

to ICBC and would not account for near misses or

bicycle-pedestrian collisions. The main findings

are summarized below:

• 745 collisions were reported in Central

Saanich in the five-year period between

2013 and 2017.

• Approximately 25% (205 total) of collisions

resulted in casualties, either injury or

death. The remaining 75% resulted in

property damage only.

• The number of total collisions increased

between 2013 and 2017, as shown in

Figure 8.

Figure 8. Collisions by Type + Year

The over 700 collisions reported during the 2013-

2017 period are shown by location on Map 10.

The top-15 locations of collision frequency are

summarized in Table 4. The results support the

following conclusions:

• The West Saanich Road / Keating Cross

Road / Benvenuto Avenue intersection

experienced by far the most collisions (25%

more than the next highest collision

location).

• Other high collision locations include the

Highway 17 / Tanner Road, Central Saanich

Road / Keating Cross Road, West Saanich

Road / Wallace Drive, and Keating Cross

Road / Oldfield Road intersections.

• Locations with moderate traffic volumes

but a relatively high number of collisions

(an indication of a high rate of collisions)

include the Stelly’s Cross Road / Veyaness

Road and Mount Newton Cross Road /

Central Saanich Road intersections.

Although the data is more limited, reported

pedestrian and cyclist collisions can also help

guide and prioritize transportation

improvements. Refer to Map 11.

0

50

100

150

200

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Casualties Property Damage


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Table 4. Top-15 Collisions Locations in Central Saanich (2013- 2017)3

Collisions (2013-2017) Annual Average Prop. Damage Casualties Total

1 W Saanich Rd/Benvenuto Ave/Keating Cross Rd

28 13 41 8.2

2 Patricia Bay Hwy / Tanner Rd 16 17 33 6.6

3 Central Saanich Rd / Keating Cross Rd 16 16 32 6.4

4 Wallace Dr / West Saanich Rd

23 7 30 6.0

5 Keating Cross Rd / Oldfield Rd 18 10 28 5.6

6 East Saanich Rd / Mt Newton Cross Rd 15 6 21 4.2

7 Keating Cross Rd / Veyaness Rd

14 5 19 3.8

8 Stelly’s Cross Rd / Veyaness Rd 10 9 19 3.8

9 Stelly’s Cross Rd / Wallace Dr 9 10 19 3.8

10 Mt Newton Cross Rd / West Saanich Rd

12 4 16 3.2

11 Central Saanich Rd / Mt Newton Cross Rd 9 5 14 2.8

12 Mt Newton Cross Rd / Wallace Dr 9 5 14 2.8

13 Verdier Ave / West Saanich Rd 5 8 13 2.6

14 Benvenuto Ave / Wallace Dr 7 6 13 2.6

15 Stelly’s Cross Rd / West Saanich Rd 10 2 12 2.4

3 2013-2017 Collision Data received from ICBC, requested by the District of Central Saanich


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6.5 VEHICLE SPEEDS

Vehicle speed data is used to understand travel

speed and the level of compliance with posted

speed limits. Roads with higher speeds present

a safety issue for both motorists and active

transportation users. This issue is particularly

important on roads where pedestrians and

cyclists share the road with vehicles due to the

lack of a safe, dedicated sidewalk or cycling

facility.

Vehicle speed data was collected at 36 locations

in Central Saanich throughout 2019 as part of

the District’s on-going traffic count program.

Data was analyzed for each location, with those

locations where the average speed was

recorded at 5 km/h greater than the posted

speed limit included in Table 5.

The majority of locations with a recorded

speeding concern are major roads adjacent low

density or agricultural land uses, typically with

fewer driveways and turning vehicles interfering

with through travel. Central Saanich Road

stands out as particularly problematic, with

speeding recorded at the three count locations

along its length (including at both the south and

north ends of Central Saanich. Other examples

of major roads with speeding issues include:

• West Saanich Road between Keating

Cross Road and Wallace Drive;

• Keating Cross Road west of the Keating

Business District; and

• East Saanich Road nearby the North

Saanich border.

Brentwood Drive is the only example of a local

road where speeding was confirmed to be an

issue. There may be other local roads with

speeding issues that were not included in the 36

count locations. Further conversations with

Central Saanich residents and stakeholders may

help identify additional local roads with

speeding issues.

Count locations on Stelly’s Cross Road

immediately adjacent Stelly’s Secondary School

also revealed a number of vehicles exceeding

the 30 km/h posted speed limit between

8:00am and 5:00pm on school days.

A variety of solutions to speeding concerns will

be considered through the Active

Transportation Plan process. These may include

design interventions such as traffic calming that

to reduce vehicle speeds in targeted locations.

Other options may include targeted

enforcement in problematic locations or

revisiting posted speed limits to reflected

desired motorist behaviours, with potential

consideration of a harmonized speed limit in

neighbourhoods. Consideration may also be

given to prioritizing active transportation

improvements on roads with inherently high

vehicle speeds and/or identifying parallel routes

for walking and cycling that minimize the need

to walk or ride on streets with high vehicle

speeds.


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Table 5. Locations of Vehicle Speed Concern (2019 data)

Posted Speed Limit

Average Daily Traffic (weekday)

% Speeding

Recorded Speed

Average 85th

Percentile

East Saanich Rd (8400 blk, S of N Saanich border)

50 km/h 7,391 92% 58 km/h 64 km/h

West Saanich Rd (6800 blk, north of Keating X Rd)

40 km/h 12,873 92% 48 km/h 55 km/h

Keating Cross Road (1600 blk, west of Willow Way)

50 km/h 11,099 91% 58 km/h 64 km/h

Wallace Dr (7100 blk, west of Willow Way)

50 km/h 6,064 81% 56 km/h 63 km/h

Central Saanich Rd (8000 blk, N of Mt St Michael Rd)

50 km/h 732 81% 58 km/h 68 km/h

Brentwood Dr (7000 blk, NW of Sluggett Rd)

30 km/h 627 80% 35 km/h 41 km/h

Verdier Ave (900 blk, west of Hagan Rd)

40 km/h 1,670 79% 46 km/h 54 km/h

Central Saanich Rd (7100 blk, north of Ridgedown Pl)

50 km/h 1,176 74% 55 km/h 65 km/h

Central Saanich Rd (6400 blk, north of Tanner Rd)

50 km/h 2,189 74% 55 km/h 62 km/h

Wallace Dr (8000 blk, south of Newman Rd)

50 km/h 800 74% 55 km/h 64 km/h


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7. Public Transit

Public transit service in Central Saanich is

provided by BC Transit as is an important service

for meeting transportation demand within the

community. Transit integration is an important

component of active transportation and ensuring

that transit and cycling is well integrated is

important for promoting both walking and

cycling. In Central Saanich, bicycle racks are

available on all full-sized buses year-round.

Walking to bus stops and street design that

facilitates multi-modal transportation have been

described as a key objective for BC Transit. In

addition, BC Transit intends to undertake a Local

Area Transit Plan for the Saanich Peninsula as

well as a review of the Route 75, which passes

through Central Saanich.

Local Area Transit Plans consider route changes,

planned service level changes such as frequency

of service, improvements for transit stop

infrastructure, terminals, and exchanges, and

help to determine infrastructure and technology

improvements. Aligning Local Area Transit Plans

with the District’s Official Community Plan (OCP),

and any neighborhood and community plans for

Central Saanich, such as the District’s Active

Transportation Plan can provide great value and

improve multi-modal transportation integration.

Route 75 on West Saanich Road in Brentwood Bay


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7.1 ROUTES + SERVICE

The public transit system consists of seven

distinct routes connecting Central Saanich to the

rest of the Capital Region. Routes are shown on

Map 12 and described below.

Regional Route

A regional route provides longer distance service

throughout the region, generally with fewer

stops and a greater service frequency.

Route 70, Swartz Bay / Downtown

This regional route provides direct service

between the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal and

downtown Victoria, routing through Central

Saanich via Highway 17. This route does not pass

along municipal roads and does not actually stop

in Central Saanich (the nearest stop is at

McTavish Road). Service frequency is

approximately once per hour (each direction)

and aligns with ferry arrival times at the Swartz

Bay Ferry Terminal.

Local Routes

Local routes provide service within communities,

typically with a greater number of stops and

lower service frequency.

Route 72, Swartz Bay / Downtown

Service is provided every 20 – 30 minutes in peak

periods between about 6:00am and 12:30am.

Within Central Saanich the route primarily

follows East Saanich Road and Highway 17.

Route 75, Saanichton / Royal Oak / Downtown

Local route providing weekday service every 30

minutes throughout Central Saanich, primarily

following Keating Cross Road, Wallace Drive and

Stelly’s Cross Road.

Route 81, Brentwood / Butchart Gardens

Local service approximately every 60-70 minutes

(weekdays), connecting the Saanichton Exchange

to Brentwood Bay and the Butchart Gardens. The

route utilizes a community bus on certain trips,

limiting bicycle rack use to daylight hours only.

Route 82, Sidney / Saanichton via Stautw

This local route provides service between Sidney,

Stautw, and the Saanichton Exchange. Service to

certain stops along this route is infrequent with

some locations being served three times a day.

This service is only available on weekdays.

Route 83, Sidney / Brentwood Bay / Royal Oak

Provides service between Sidney, Brentwood Bay

and Royal Oak via West Saanich Road. Service

frequency is approximately every two hours on

weekdays, with limited service every three hours

on Saturdays and Sundays.

Route 87, Saanichton / Sidney via Dean Park

Local service connecting Sidney, Victoria

International Airport, McTavish Exchange, and

Saanichton Exchange. The service is offered only

during weekdays with two-hour frequency.


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7.2 INFRASTRUCTURE

Transit Exchange

The Saanichton Exchange is an important facility

for the Saanich Peninsula providing opportunities

to transfer between various transit routes,

including routes 71, 72, 75, 81, 82, and 87. The

exchange includes several bus stops focused on

the Mount Newton Cross Road / East Saanich

Road intersection. A bike parking facility has

been proposed nearby on Mount Newton Cross

Road to allow area residents to bike to the

exchange to access public transit.

Bus Stops

Central Saanich includes a total of 155 bus stops.

Approximately 20% (29 total) of the bus stops in

Central Saanich include a shelter to provide

passengers protection from weather. Shelters

and supporting amenities (benches, garbage

bins) have generally been located at bus stops

with higher utilization.

As highlighted in Section 4.2, a number of bus

stops lack sidewalks or other walking facilities to

allow them to be safely accessed, particularly on

portions of West Saanich Road and Mount

Newton Cross Road. This is particularly

problematic for any transit users requiring the

support of a mobility device (i.e., scooter,

wheelchair). Pedestrian network connections to

access public transit will be an important

consideration in the Active Transportation Plan.

Bus Stop Activity

Bus stop activity is measured by the number of

boardings and alightings per day (i.e., “on’s and

off’s”), as identified on Map 13. Bus stop

locations with the greatest number of boardings

/ alighting include:

• The Saanichton Exchange (Mount Newton

Cross Road / East Saanich Road)

• Stops on Stelly’s Cross Road and Wallace

Drive immediately adjacent Stelly’s

Secondary School

• Numerous locations along Keating Cross

Road in the Keating Industrial Area

The bus stop locations with greatest activity

should be prioritized when considering new

infrastructure and investing in pedestrian

facilities connecting to bus stops.


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8. Feedback / Input

The Central Saanich Traffic Safety Committee

(TSC) is composed of representatives from

Central Saanich Police Services and the

Engineering and Public Works departments. The

group meets bi-monthly to discuss

transportation issues and review resident

correspondence related to community traffic

safety.

Meeting minutes for the past three years (2017

to 2019) were reviewed for inclusion in this

discussion paper to ensure recent community

concerns remain top of mind throughout the

development of the Active Transportation Plan.

A record of pertinent correspondence received

for the one-year period leading up to the Active

Transportation Plan process commencement

was reviewed for consideration as part of this

Discussion Paper. Much of this correspondence

informed the Traffic Safety Committee meetings

and associated actions. For purposes of

summarization, general correspondence has

been included in the following summary.

Many safety related consideration were

brought to the attention of the TSC throughout

the three years of available meeting minutes.

• Pedestrian Facilities

• Cycling Facilities

• Public Transit

• Roads + Traffic Safety

Pedestrian Facilities

The lack of sidewalk infrastructure was brought

to the TSC’s attention on several occasions.

Uneven sidewalks or poorly marked crosswalks

were also mentioned as areas of concern with

specific locations identified for improvement

including crosswalk access to Keating

Elementary School, at Grieg Avenue at Wallace

Drive, and a mid-block crosswalk along Stelly’s

Cross Road. A suggestion for an elevated,

controlled crosswalk was also requested at the

Brentwood Bay Road / West Saanich Road

intersection. General concerns around lack of

sufficient infrastructure were also mentioned,

many of which relate to poor visibility

(vegetation and lighting) and excessive vehicle

travel speeds. All information related to

recommended pedestrian improvements are

being considered as part of the Active


Public Transit

Concerns broached by members of the pubic

and therefor discussed with the TSC include

specific locations for transit improvements,

especially those related to accessibility

requirements, lack of lighting along routes for

transit riders and passengers required to reach

transit stop during dark periods. In addition,

service requests have been received to improve

connections to the east side of Central Saanich.


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Cycling Facilities

Desirable locations for cycling facilities were

brought to the attention of the TSC. These

identified priority connections include Mount

Newton Cross Road between Highway 17 and

East Saanich Road (identifying existing facilities

as inadequate), connections from the Lochside

Regional Trail to Saanichton – Brentwood Bay –

and Keating Cross Road with a prime priority

being the Lochside Regional Trail to Butchart

Gardens. Other areas where cycling facilities

have been identified by members of the public

as inadequate or dangerous are Central Saanich

Road near the old Mount Newton School site.

Improvements to existing facilities such as

green paint, asphalt, and clear signage were

also requested. Parked vehicles within cycling

lanes were identified as a safety concern on

several occasions for both cyclists and people

walking where shoulder lanes are ultimately

shared use facilities. Lowering posted speed

limits where current roadway widths are

inadequate for dedicated bicycle facilities was

also a recommendation.

Roads + Traffic Safety

The most common safety related concern

expressed is related to vehicle speeding.

Specific locations were identified such as along

East Saanich Road between Veyaness Road and

Mt Newton Cross Road, Wallace Drive near Rom

Knott Park and Brentwood Elementary, along

Central Saanich Road, and Marchant Road (this

list is not exhaustive), many of which were

followed with speed and traffic counts to

provide actual conditions. Speed reader signs

were also requested and on occasion have been

relocated on occasion throughout the

community.

Concerns for safety at intersections were also

identified by drivers and people walking and

cycling. These concerns relate to drive behavior

or increased traffic volumes at specific locations

such as the Benvenuto Avenue / Wallace Drive,

East Saanich Road / Wallace Drive, and Mount

Newton Cross Road / East Saanich Road

intersections.

Concerns around heavy truck traffic or truck

traffic travelling along routes not designated as

truck routes were also identified. Truck routes

and accommodating this commercial traffic will

be an important consideration for the overall

Active Transportation Plan. While this summary

of speed enforcement requests and concerns,

intersection upgrade requests, and other

roadway safety concerns is not exhaustive each

item received and reviewed by the TSC is being

considered as part of the overall Active

Transportation Plan.

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