The commute to and from the Saanich Peninsula got a little quicker this week after the province opened up new lanes that allow buses to jump the queue.
Part of a $7.6-million project to improve the efficiency of transit service along the highway, the new lanes installed at Mount Newton Cross Road and the Patricia Bay Highway opened for use on Thursday.
“These improvements mean better safety and faster transit service for people who live on the Saanich peninsula and for travellers who take the bus to the ferry or toward downtown Victoria,” said Transportation Minister Rob Fleming. “The Pat Bay Highway is an important and heavily used transportation corridor on the south Island, and I’m pleased that transit users will benefit from this project.”
The bus queue jump lanes start before the intersection and allow transit buses to bypass congestion. The lanes continue after the intersection along Highway 17, where buses merge back into the flow of traffic.
The project also includes new bus shelters on land owned by the Tsawout and Tsartlip First Nations, and new safety measures like rebuilt traffic islands, new signals and road markings at the intersection. Existing pathways have also been improved and new sidewalks have been added.
“Upgrades that prioritize transit, like these queue-jump lanes, reduce commute times and increase convenience for people catching the bus,” said Erinn Pinkerton, chief executive of B.C. Transit. “We’re always looking for ways to encourage more people to choose public transit and better connect communities. These lanes will help reduce the number of cars on the road, which eases traffic congestion and makes nearby neighbourhoods more accessible.”
The project was identified as a priority in the South Island Transportation Strategy.
