Transportation priorities are largely based on existing plans, strategies and bylaws at local, regional and provincial levels. At the regional level, priorities align well with the Regional Growth Strategy, Regional Transportation Plan and the Regional Trails Management Plan. The priorities also align to plans and policies from other agencies and senior governments, including the BC Transit Future Plan, BC Transit’s RapidBus Strategy, SITS and CleanBC.
On July 14, 2021 the CRD Board unanimously approved the transportation priority implementation strategies presented in Transportation Priority Area Implementation Strategies.
Full realization of the multi-modal transportation network as identified in the Regional Transportation Plan will help the region take action on three core transportation issues :
- Congestion: Traffic congestion in the AM and PM peak periods increases travel time and decreases residents’ quality of life.
- Mode Share: The regional road network is largely built out, constraining infrastructure solutions because of cost and geography; as a result, there is a need to focus on solutions that shift mode share.
- Climate Change: Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the region and with the declaration of a climate emergency, the region needs to act by substantially reducing GHG emissions from transportation.
The CRD role in transportation is to act where it has authority, coordinate where needed, and set direction on matters that are currently not the responsibility of any partner. The CRD Board’s confirmation of regional transportation priorities follows from the 2020 release of the South Island Transportation Strategy (SITS).