Transportation Options Archives

Saanich hears from public on Quadra McKenzie Plan

July 9, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Government Local, Transportation Options/by Jim Zeeben

A revised Draft Quadra McKenzie Plan will go back to the public for further input this fall, after the District of Saanich Council heard from residents who are passionate about the area.

“The Quadra McKenzie planning process has sparked unprecedented public involvement,” Saanich Mayor Dean Murdock said. “Council has listened closely, and we have directed staff to revise the plan based on more than 10,000 public comments. There is still work ahead, including another round of public engagement, and I encourage all residents to stay involved—respectfully and constructively.”

Key revisions include reduced density, scaled back building heights and the removal of conceptual changes to McKenzie Avenue, which will be considered separately at a later time in collaboration with BC Transit.

An additional round of public engagement will run from August to October.

Construction begins in Inner Harbour on Belleville terminal

June 25, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Government Provincial, Transportation Options/by Jim Zeeben

Construction on the Belleville Ferry Terminal will begin this month, following the awarding of a design-build contract.

The Chamber has called for the new terminal for decades and, once complete, it will provide a more comfortable experience for people travelling to downtown Victoria by ferry.

“The Chamber has been an outspoken proponent for modernizing Belleville terminal for decades, and we’re happy to see the project meet new milestones along its way to completion,” Chamber CEO

Bruce Williams said. “With so much uncertainty affecting the economy, we support this project as an important investment in the future of Greater Victoria and as a confirmation of the value the Clipper and Coho bring to our region.”

Construction involves demolishing existing infrastructure and building a new pre-clearance terminal building with modern border-security standards. It also includes replacing aging wharf facilities and building a new commercial goods processing facility.

The new pre-clearance terminal will comply with the Canada-US Land, Rail, Marine and Air Transport Preclearance Agreement, and will make travel faster and easier by allowing passengers to complete the customs and immigration process in Victoria prior to disembarking in the US.

The overall project cost has increased from the $331 million budget that was approved in 2024, due to complex geotechnical and seismic conditions, site constraints and significant soil contamination that will require extensive remediation. Other factors include inflation and safeguarding against economic uncertainty related to tariffs on steel and other products. The federal government has confirmed it will increase its contribution to more than $45 million for the project. The new cost of the project is $416 million.

The project is expected to be completed in 2028.

New trail crossing at Tillicum will ease commute time

June 18, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Government Local, Transportation Options/by Jim Zeeben

Commuters will have an easier time crossing Tillicum Road at Highway 1, once a new trail crossing opens for summer 2027.

The province released illustrations on June 13 of the planned 100-metre Tillicum Active Transportation Bridge. Work is expected to begin in early 2026.

Once complete, the bridge will eliminate one of the last signalized crossings on the Galloping Goose Trail between downtown Victoria and the Westshore. More than 3,000 people use this section of the trail every day in the summer.

Report calls for changes to ease port labour disputes

June 18, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Food Security, Global Uncertainty, Government Federal, Transportation Options/by Jim Zeeben

The federal government has released a report on Canada’s West Coast ports, including recommendations to protect critical supply chains.

The Industrial Inquiry Commission on West Coast Ports found that changes need to be made to reflect the increasing importance of global supply chains on our economy.

“The strain on Canada’s supply chains has been compounded over recent years by repeated labour disruptions, resulting in 2023 holding the unfortunate record of most working days lost since 1986,” Canadian Chamber Vice-President Pascal Chan said. “As our economy contends with a productivity crisis, Canadian businesses cannot afford these continual major trade infrastructure shutdowns that prevent them from reliably delivering the goods.”

The impact of recent labour disputes has had serious implications on Greater Victoria and Vancouver Island, as we are dependent on the flow of goods for our food security as well as many of our livelihoods.

BC Ferries announces more details for new vessels

June 12, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Chamber Awareness, Climate Change Solutions, Government Provincial, Hospitality And Tourism Rescue And Recovery, Transportation Options/by Jim Zeeben

The Chamber is a strong supporter of the work BC Ferries does as a vital transportation and supply chain link for Greater Victoria.

“Our organizations have a very good relationship and we are encouraged by the business-minded approach BC Ferries takes to its long-term feasibility and sustainability,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said, who spoke today about the decision on CFAX as well as with the Canadian Press. “We know yesterday’s announcement about selecting the builder for new ships was a very well-informed decision, and we’re hopeful that we will still see a much needed fifth ship added to this proposal.”

BC Ferries announced China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyards will build four new vessels to replace four aging ships nearing the end of their service lives, each increasingly prone to mechanical issues and service disruptions.

“CMI Weihai is a global leader in passenger ferry construction, and shipbuilding more broadly,” BC Ferries CEO Nicolas Jimenez said. “It was the clear choice based on the overall strength of its bid, including its technical capabilities, high-quality and safety standards, ferry-building experience, proven ability to deliver safe, reliable vessels on dependable timelines, and the overall cost and value it delivers for our customers — all essential as we continue to experience growing demand and the urgent need to renew our aging fleet.”

BC Ferries said, in the first 10 years of their operation, the new vessels will inject $230 million locally on refits and scheduled maintenance. Over their expected 45-year lifespans, the ships are expected to spur 17,200 job-years of employment and $1.2 billion in wages, contributing $2.2 billion to BC’s GDP.

The new vessels will be more spacious, have reduced emissions and be significantly quieter underwater to better protect marine life.

Highway project will ease commute — eventually

May 29, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Finding And Keeping Workers, Government Provincial, Transportation Options/by Jim Zeeben

Connecting communities is critical for helping business flow smoothly around the region. There are deliveries to make and appointments to keep, but good transportation is also vital to helping employers find and keep workers. This has been a consistent advocacy priority for Chamber members, who help us understand their biggest challenges by filling out our annual member survey as well as in daily interactions.

Of course, building better transportation corridors can require patience. That’s the case across the region, including Highway 1 where the bus-on-shoulder project is currently underway. New bus lanes from the McKenzie Interchange to the Colwood Interchange will make taking the bus faster and more reliable and convenient for commuters.

Drivers can expect daytime disruption during construction. The Burnside Road on-ramp and the Helmcken overpass will close overnight between 8 pm and 5:30 am. The Galloping Goose Trail also faces closures of as long as 15 minutes between 8 and 11 pm.

The Highway 1 bus-on-shoulder project is part of the South Island Transportation Strategy to create a dedicated rapid transit corridor between downtown Victoria and the Westshore. BC Transit currently operates its Blink RapidBus to connect the areas and is planning to expand the service over time.

The bus-on-shoulder project includes $67 million in provincial funding and $28 million in federal funds. The project is expected to be completed in late 2027.

Saanich seeks feedback on traffic calming measures

May 29, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Government Local, Safe Communities, Transportation Options/by Jim Zeeben

A survey that closes on Saturday will help the District of Saanich roll out its Traffic Calming Policy for municipal roadways. You can have your say on how Saanich addresses road dangers so drivers, pedestrians and cyclists feel safer travelling the district’s streets.

Traffic calming can include speed bumps, bike ways, traffic circles and other infrastructure designed to slow drivers. A survey for offering feedback is open until May 31. The findings will help Saanich refine its plan ahead of council approvals this summer.

Real estate market stays steady through Spring start

May 8, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Finding And Keeping Workers, Housing, Transportation Options/by Jim Zeeben

The chaos created by threats of tariffs and a tradewar is the likely reason for a cooler start to the spring housing market.

“Political uncertainty associated with the federal election, combined with broader economic concerns stemming from the United States tempered our brisk spring market growth,” Victoria Real Estate Board Chair Dirk VanderWal said in a media release. “The good news is we remain in that sweet spot of inventory, which we currently find is between 3,000 and 4,000 listings.”

VanderWal, who spoke to The Chamber’s Public Policy and Advocacy Committee on Tuesday along with VREB CEO David Corey, said that having available inventory is good for buyers, sellers and the 1,600 real estate agents working in our region.

“Currently, single family homes in certain price ranges are in demand and may see multiple offers, while there is a larger supply of condos waiting for buyers,” VanderWal said.

The benchmark value for a single family home in the Victoria Core in April was $1,344,800, up from March’s value of $1,335,300. The benchmark value for a condominium in April was $566,100, up from the March value of $560,400.

Chamber championing ferries’ future resonates with Island communities

April 30, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Climate Change Solutions, Finding And Keeping Workers, Food Security, Global Uncertainty, Government Provincial, Transportation Options/by Jim Zeeben

The Chamber’s efforts to bring a business perspective to the future of our most vital transportation link has captured the attention of policy makers and business associations on the Island and across BC.

A letter penned by The Chamber on behalf of 20 organizations was sent to BC Premier David Eby last week. The letter makes the case for revisiting the recent decision by the BC Ferries commissioner to only approve four new vessels instead of the five required to meet demand.

The request was picked up by media during an interview with the Premier, who agreed that the vessels are needed.

“I think we need boats that are going to be able to serve the public well into the future here in British Columbia,” Eby told reporters. “It’s critical for commerce, for tourism and as the Island Highway for so many families and businesses.”

The Chamber supports efforts to reduce costs faced by taxpayers, and is grateful the provincial government has heard our calls to invest in ways that grow the economy for everyone. The attention on the issue has also raised the potential for federal funding to be part of the solution.

“Affordability is about more than just fares and yet there’s nothing that requires the commissioner to apply that lens,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams wrote in the letter about the need for infrastructure that drives business, industry and tourism.

Read The Chamber’s column

First cruise ship of the season arrives March 6

March 5, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Transportation Options/by Jim Zeeben

This year’s cruise ship season begins March 6, when the Disney Wonder is scheduled to arrive at 8 am before departing at 5 pm from Pier B at The Breakwater District at Ogden Point.

“As we embark on the 2025 cruise season, we are thrilled to welcome visitors from around the world to our vibrant city,” Greater Victoria Harbour Authority CEO Robert Lewis-Manning said in a media release. “We look forward to providing a warm, authentic welcome that showcases the rich culture and hospitality of our community.”

The Disney Wonder carries up to 2,700 passengers and 950 crew, and its arrival marks an early start to the season, as cruise ships deployed in other parts of the world typically return to the West Coast in April to prepare for their voyages to Alaska.

Cruise ship season gets fully underway April 4 with the arrival of Holland America’s Koningsdam. In total, 320 cruise ship visits are currently scheduled this year.

Last week, The Chamber reported on a big win for businesses downtown as our advocacy efforts helped relocate the shuttle stop for cruise ships ahead of the season