@brianch.bsky.social
Westshore <-> Downtown would be very hard at street level. Even when there are no cars, you're hurdling through lights to/from Uptown.
Highway 17 is probably the least complex: few intersections and mostly needs bus on shoulder. Not enough for 30min times, but enough to eliminate traffic delays.
Highway 17 is probably the least complex: few intersections and mostly needs bus on shoulder. Not enough for 30min times, but enough to eliminate traffic delays.
December 8, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Westshore <-> Downtown would be very hard at street level. Even when there are no cars, you're hurdling through lights to/from Uptown.
Highway 17 is probably the least complex: few intersections and mostly needs bus on shoulder. Not enough for 30min times, but enough to eliminate traffic delays.
Highway 17 is probably the least complex: few intersections and mostly needs bus on shoulder. Not enough for 30min times, but enough to eliminate traffic delays.
Perhaps unintuitively, studies suggest it should be the other way around!
REM: carries 🧍🧍🧍🧍 but costs $$$$. Most competitive where there is slow traffic (e.g. Downtown, Colwood Crawl)
BRT: carries 🧍🧍 but costs $$. Most competitive where there is some traffic but few intersections (e.g. Highway 17)
REM: carries 🧍🧍🧍🧍 but costs $$$$. Most competitive where there is slow traffic (e.g. Downtown, Colwood Crawl)
BRT: carries 🧍🧍 but costs $$. Most competitive where there is some traffic but few intersections (e.g. Highway 17)
November 21, 2025 at 3:02 AM
Perhaps unintuitively, studies suggest it should be the other way around!
REM: carries 🧍🧍🧍🧍 but costs $$$$. Most competitive where there is slow traffic (e.g. Downtown, Colwood Crawl)
BRT: carries 🧍🧍 but costs $$. Most competitive where there is some traffic but few intersections (e.g. Highway 17)
REM: carries 🧍🧍🧍🧍 but costs $$$$. Most competitive where there is slow traffic (e.g. Downtown, Colwood Crawl)
BRT: carries 🧍🧍 but costs $$. Most competitive where there is some traffic but few intersections (e.g. Highway 17)
At this point, it's probably clear that this conversation is less about BRT vs LRT, and more about the challenges of surface-running transit. Does it still make sense in Victoria? Perhaps. But we are also seeing levels of ridership on Douglas around what justified the Canada Line and SLS.
November 21, 2025 at 2:01 AM
At this point, it's probably clear that this conversation is less about BRT vs LRT, and more about the challenges of surface-running transit. Does it still make sense in Victoria? Perhaps. But we are also seeing levels of ridership on Douglas around what justified the Canada Line and SLS.
Now, the 2011 report highlights how TSP will keep rapid transit moving. This is a bit of a hand-wave, as short blocks with heavy cross traffic makes strong TSP measures difficult.
Calgary has this challenge on 7th Ave, and that doesn't even have to deal with extra delay from retained car lanes!
Calgary has this challenge on 7th Ave, and that doesn't even have to deal with extra delay from retained car lanes!
November 21, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Now, the 2011 report highlights how TSP will keep rapid transit moving. This is a bit of a hand-wave, as short blocks with heavy cross traffic makes strong TSP measures difficult.
Calgary has this challenge on 7th Ave, and that doesn't even have to deal with extra delay from retained car lanes!
Calgary has this challenge on 7th Ave, and that doesn't even have to deal with extra delay from retained car lanes!
Next, we have some geometry problems. The 2011 study notes that blocks Downtown are incredibly short and can only fit one tram/long bus. This precludes running local service on Douglas to complement rapid transit, and is a reason why BC Transit doesn't already use articulated buses in Victoria.
November 21, 2025 at 1:42 AM
Next, we have some geometry problems. The 2011 study notes that blocks Downtown are incredibly short and can only fit one tram/long bus. This precludes running local service on Douglas to complement rapid transit, and is a reason why BC Transit doesn't already use articulated buses in Victoria.
First things first, both the 2011 study and 2025 refresh acknowledge that BRT would provide enough _capacity_ to fulfill future need. However, this capacity was based on pre-recovery 2023 ridership numbers and focuses on capturing people fed up with congestion on Highway 1.
November 21, 2025 at 1:37 AM
First things first, both the 2011 study and 2025 refresh acknowledge that BRT would provide enough _capacity_ to fulfill future need. However, this capacity was based on pre-recovery 2023 ridership numbers and focuses on capturing people fed up with congestion on Highway 1.
My reading of the SSMUH section on www.esquimalt.ca/community-pl... is that most of these lots would be eligible for 4-plexes (SSMUH is a zoning overlay)
July 7, 2025 at 5:55 PM
My reading of the SSMUH section on www.esquimalt.ca/community-pl... is that most of these lots would be eligible for 4-plexes (SSMUH is a zoning overlay)
On the bright side, it looks like we have Canadian representation at the working level on certain UITP initiatives. I was watching a webinar on bus priority when this popped up. To your point, it would be nice to know how local agencies are involved!
June 17, 2025 at 2:17 PM
On the bright side, it looks like we have Canadian representation at the working level on certain UITP initiatives. I was watching a webinar on bus priority when this popped up. To your point, it would be nice to know how local agencies are involved!