Douglas Street in front of Crystal Garden will become a precinct for buses in an 18-month trial, Victoria council has reluctantly decided.
“Not everyone is going to like this,” said Mayor Lisa Helps.
“There are some pieces that some people will like, other pieces that other people will like but no one is going to like the whole thing. So no matter what we do, no one is going to be happy.”
The idea is a joint proposal by B.C. Transit and the three commercial bus operators — Wilson’s Transportation, Tofino Bus and Greyhound Canada — which have been given notice they must move out of the existing bus depot at Douglas and Belleville Street by the end of May. A residential development is planned for the property.
“There’s no perfect solution. But in the absence of a perfect solution we could do nothing, but I don’t see that as an option,“ Helps said.
The 18 months give everyone “time to look for a better solution if there is one.”
Under recommendations approved by council, bus operators are to demonstrate, in no later than six months, strategies “to mitigate the unfavourable impacts of excessive bus noise, emissions and aesthetic impacts.”
As well, bus operators are to bear all costs for physical changes.
John Wilson, CEO of Wilson’s Transportation, said 10 sites were evaluated before the Douglas Street proposal was chosen as the one that was best suited for the needs of the bus lines, the public and the tourism industry.
Coun. Geoff Young said he supported the trial.
“I think it is a reasonable way for the city to contribute to the operation of something that is essential, not just for tourists but for people who don’t have alternative means of inter-city transportation,” he said.
“Would I prefer something else? Yes. Clearly there are some significant benefits to having an off-street inter-city bus station. But given the circumstances, I’m prepared to support that element of the plan.”
The bus precinct is across the street from the existing bus depot. Commercial bus operators will lease about 1,600 square feet in Crystal Garden for use as a customer service centre.
Commercial operators say they need space for about 15 to 20 buses a day departing between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. during peak season. They will lease enough street space from the city for three buses to be parked on the south end of the block near Crystal Garden.
Three buses is the maximum and the expectation is only one or two buses will be stopped there most of the time for a maximum layover of 30 minutes each.
A taxi zone and passenger dropoff and pickup will also be located at the south end of the block.
B.C. Transit will locate a bus stop able to accommodate three buses at the north end.
Coun. Marianne Alto said it will be a challenge to manage people boarding buses and pedestrians. “I really don’t see an alternative in the time frame that’s before us. The only reason that I think I can fall just slightly on the side of supporting this is because it is time limited.”
Coun. Ben Isitt was the only one to oppose the plan.
“I’m not convinced the level of amenity is adequate for passengers,” Isitt said, adding that people will have to queue outside on Douglas Street in inclement weather waiting to get on a bus.
“I just don’t see them standing at the edge of a curb being adequate or desirable,” he said.
The proposal also calls for a new B.C. Transit bus zone on the east side of Government Street, between Superior and Belleville streets, beside the Royal B.C. Museum.
On-street vehicle parking near the museum would be removed to make way for layover space for seven to nine transit buses.
