BC Transit is asking the public to weigh in on plans for a second RapidBus route in Victoria connecting UVic to Uptown.
The new route would be called Route 96 Blink McKenzie.
The company says the RapidBus could also come with changes to four other routes – Route 24 between Cedar Hill and Tillicum Centre, Route 25 between Maplewood and Tillicum Centre, Route 26 between Dockyard and UVic and Route 72 between Swartz Bay and Downtown.
In addition to changes to these existing routes, BC Transit is proposing adding two new routes – Route 16 Uptown/UVic that would travel on Cedar Hill Cross Road and Route 40 Dockyard/UVic that would travel on Admirals and McKenzie.
If approved to move forward, the new RapidBus route rollout would happen in three phases. The first would start with the arrival of new buses estimated to occur in 2025, followed by the introduction of Route 40 and realignment of Routes 24 and 25.
Phase two would start when the Ravine Way bus lane is built, including new stations at Carey Road and the Trans-Canada Highway. Replacement double deckers are expected to arrive in 2025/26, then Route 96 would be established. At this point Routes 26 and 72 would be realigned and Route 16 introduced.
The final phase would see the McKenzie RapidBus stations built and bus priority on McKenzie Avenue to support the RapidBus. It would see an increase in service levels on the RapidBus and improvements to service on Routes 16, 29, and 40 and Route 25 would be adjusted.
BC Transit is hoping the public will weigh in on the plans on its engagement website or at the three upcoming open houses.
- Wednesday June 19 from 10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. in front of the library at Esquimalt Town Square
- Wednesday June 19 from 2 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. on the SUB side of the UVic Transit Exchange
- Thursday June 20 from 4:00 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Uptown across from Erito Sushi
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Laura Brougham
