@brianch.bsky.social
Reposted
Without fanfare, the BC Ministry of Transportation released a report that makes a strong case for a Westshore to Victoria rail line, writes Sam Holland
New Study Makes Strong Case for Getting Westshore Rail on Track - Better Columbia
The province quietly updated the 2011 Westshore Rapid Transit Study. They determined that we need transit investment, now more than ever.
bettercolumbia.ca
November 14, 2025 at 4:12 AM
Without fanfare, the BC Ministry of Transportation released a report that makes a strong case for a Westshore to Victoria rail line, writes Sam Holland
Reposted
We need to show up in Oak Bay too. #YYJ bsky.app/profile/aaoa...
Public Hearing coming up likely Dec. 1/2- would be great to hear voices that are concerned about the process followed here to speak up. Addressing the false dichotomy between what the mayor proposed and “massive densification” is important. This is not an either/or, and the process is at issue.
November 13, 2025 at 6:02 PM
We need to show up in Oak Bay too. #YYJ bsky.app/profile/aaoa...
Reposted
Transit rider @nottaylorx.bsky.social shared this video of a side-by-side comparison of a tram in Amsterdam and a streetcar in Toronto departing a stop.
Guess which one has fully active signal priority? A phase before left-turning cars?
Guess which one has fully active signal priority? A phase before left-turning cars?
November 13, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Transit rider @nottaylorx.bsky.social shared this video of a side-by-side comparison of a tram in Amsterdam and a streetcar in Toronto departing a stop.
Guess which one has fully active signal priority? A phase before left-turning cars?
Guess which one has fully active signal priority? A phase before left-turning cars?
Reposted
"[T]here have been 33 studies on Ambleside in the past 79 years. There has been such great engagement that I think it's disrespectful to those that gave their input to not push this forward.”
Good pushback to West Van mayor from both province & a local BIA voice. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Good pushback to West Van mayor from both province & a local BIA voice. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
West Vancouver mayor says he won’t back down from standoff on provincially mandated housing targets | CBC News
The B.C. government says West Vancouver has shirked its responsibility to build housing and meet set targets. But the district mayor says he fundamentally disagrees with the province's approach. As th...
www.cbc.ca
November 13, 2025 at 5:11 PM
"[T]here have been 33 studies on Ambleside in the past 79 years. There has been such great engagement that I think it's disrespectful to those that gave their input to not push this forward.”
Good pushback to West Van mayor from both province & a local BIA voice. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Good pushback to West Van mayor from both province & a local BIA voice. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Reposted
Speeding up buses along Kingsway will have an outsized benefit for the network—but Vancouver and TransLink can do better than two minutes of time savings per trip, argues Ben Chang
The Kingsway transit priority proposals are good, but we can do better - Better Columbia
TransLink and the City of Vancouver are proposing transit priority measures and bus stop balancing along Kingsway, focusing on Route 19. And it’s a great place to start! The 19 is the 9th most used bus route in the entire region1, while also being the 4th slowest1, which means improvements that are made here will […]
bettercolumbia.ca
November 12, 2025 at 6:29 AM
Speeding up buses along Kingsway will have an outsized benefit for the network—but Vancouver and TransLink can do better than two minutes of time savings per trip, argues Ben Chang
Reposted
Did you know that when Mount Dennis GO opens this Sunday. It'll be 3x faster to get to Union Station than it currently takes. The fastest trips today take around 45 minutes, on Sunday it'll take just 13 minutes. This is the power of regional rail.
November 11, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Did you know that when Mount Dennis GO opens this Sunday. It'll be 3x faster to get to Union Station than it currently takes. The fastest trips today take around 45 minutes, on Sunday it'll take just 13 minutes. This is the power of regional rail.
Reposted
Municipal election year is coming up. Stay tuned for a lot of things coming from HFL.
Did you know Homes for Living has a newsletter? 🏡✨
✔️ Check out our November issue here: https://bit.ly/47VZUBC
✔️ Sign up to get future issues: https://bit.ly/4qUd2zN
✔️ Explore past editions on our website: homesforliving.ca
✔️ Check out our November issue here: https://bit.ly/47VZUBC
✔️ Sign up to get future issues: https://bit.ly/4qUd2zN
✔️ Explore past editions on our website: homesforliving.ca
November 11, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Municipal election year is coming up. Stay tuned for a lot of things coming from HFL.
@ohtheurbanity.bsky.social's experience here shows a gap not many think about: so many folks in the CRD have the same problem taking transit from home or to work. That includes people who work at the airport and its business park!
The Montreal comparison is apt because it does have night service.
The Montreal comparison is apt because it does have night service.
Oops, I didn’t explain this clearly! Lack of sleep.
The bus from Victoria drops you off at a bus exchange here. In the day there’s another bus to the airport.
But the last bus at 9:06pm does not work for a flight arriving at 9pm.
Same with our morning flight.
The bus from Victoria drops you off at a bus exchange here. In the day there’s another bus to the airport.
But the last bus at 9:06pm does not work for a flight arriving at 9pm.
Same with our morning flight.
Victoria’s transit does not go all the way to the airport for either of our scheduled flights. You have to take a 30 minute walk, partly along roads without sidewalks.
October 20, 2025 at 8:53 PM
@ohtheurbanity.bsky.social's experience here shows a gap not many think about: so many folks in the CRD have the same problem taking transit from home or to work. That includes people who work at the airport and its business park!
The Montreal comparison is apt because it does have night service.
The Montreal comparison is apt because it does have night service.
Reposted
In February 1972, Bologna conducted a cordon survey of cars entering the area inside the ring boulevard.
It's challenging to compare data across all entry points, but here's how the numbers for six selected access points look: 1972 vs 2022.
That's quite the reduction 📉
It's challenging to compare data across all entry points, but here's how the numbers for six selected access points look: 1972 vs 2022.
That's quite the reduction 📉
October 15, 2025 at 9:34 PM
In February 1972, Bologna conducted a cordon survey of cars entering the area inside the ring boulevard.
It's challenging to compare data across all entry points, but here's how the numbers for six selected access points look: 1972 vs 2022.
That's quite the reduction 📉
It's challenging to compare data across all entry points, but here's how the numbers for six selected access points look: 1972 vs 2022.
That's quite the reduction 📉
Reposted
this was unthinkable a few years ago, so BC requiring munis to zone for 20-year housing need is having an impact
But something is clearly wrong if:
a) apartments and dense townhouses are still generally illegal
b) this upzoning is sufficient for 20-year housing demand
c) UVic still needs a rezoning
But something is clearly wrong if:
a) apartments and dense townhouses are still generally illegal
b) this upzoning is sufficient for 20-year housing demand
c) UVic still needs a rezoning
October 15, 2025 at 12:02 AM
this was unthinkable a few years ago, so BC requiring munis to zone for 20-year housing need is having an impact
But something is clearly wrong if:
a) apartments and dense townhouses are still generally illegal
b) this upzoning is sufficient for 20-year housing demand
c) UVic still needs a rezoning
But something is clearly wrong if:
a) apartments and dense townhouses are still generally illegal
b) this upzoning is sufficient for 20-year housing demand
c) UVic still needs a rezoning
Reposted
BC Transit is looking for input on the new Regional Transit Plan!
engage.bctransit.com/victoria-reg...
Want some ideas on what feedback to give? Check out our guide: bettertransityyj.ca/2025/10/12/s...
engage.bctransit.com/victoria-reg...
Want some ideas on what feedback to give? Check out our guide: bettertransityyj.ca/2025/10/12/s...
Victoria Regional Transit Plan
We need your input! BC Transit is seeking input into the long-term goals and network design priorities for the Victoria Regional Transit Plan. The plan is being developed with input from the Capital R...
engage.bctransit.com
October 15, 2025 at 2:17 AM
BC Transit is looking for input on the new Regional Transit Plan!
engage.bctransit.com/victoria-reg...
Want some ideas on what feedback to give? Check out our guide: bettertransityyj.ca/2025/10/12/s...
engage.bctransit.com/victoria-reg...
Want some ideas on what feedback to give? Check out our guide: bettertransityyj.ca/2025/10/12/s...
Reposted
There's the usual discussion about using BRT as a proof of concept for trains, but it's too bad we're not doing kicking cars off of Douglas, or even median bus lanes
(Draft design for Douglas below) 1/x
(Draft design for Douglas below) 1/x
October 13, 2025 at 3:22 PM
There's the usual discussion about using BRT as a proof of concept for trains, but it's too bad we're not doing kicking cars off of Douglas, or even median bus lanes
(Draft design for Douglas below) 1/x
(Draft design for Douglas below) 1/x
Reposted
Join us next Thursday the 16th at 6pm for a sunset bike ride along the waterfront! Everyone welcome, we'll be talking about public transportation while enjoying active transportation 🚲🚌
October 9, 2025 at 4:19 AM
Join us next Thursday the 16th at 6pm for a sunset bike ride along the waterfront! Everyone welcome, we'll be talking about public transportation while enjoying active transportation 🚲🚌
Reposted
Interestingly, the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association, who had previously opposed the infrastructure, eventually reversed their position and became one of the city’s most vocal cycling proponents—calling protected bike lanes “the way of the future” and a “win–win–win for all users”.
October 6, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Interestingly, the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association, who had previously opposed the infrastructure, eventually reversed their position and became one of the city’s most vocal cycling proponents—calling protected bike lanes “the way of the future” and a “win–win–win for all users”.
Reposted
The frequent serious accidents on this bottleneck demonstrate every time why we need proper grade separated transport Westshore -> Uptown -> Downtown.
Victoria Transit's network has a single point of failure at the geographic funnel between the Core and the West Shore, where any disruption (itself not exactly uncommon) results in crippling delays that cascade across the whole region. 1/5
October 3, 2025 at 12:01 AM
The frequent serious accidents on this bottleneck demonstrate every time why we need proper grade separated transport Westshore -> Uptown -> Downtown.
Oak Bay usually flies under the radar, despite their very central location next to UVic. Lots of very interesting (and sometimes frustrating) land use and housing changes in this OCP, so feedback will be extra important!
bsky.app/profile/home...
bsky.app/profile/home...
Oak Bay is planning for 3,761 new homes over 20 years through its Official Community Plan update.
Now is the time to speak up for more housing + a more inclusive community.
Survey is open until October 14, 2025
connect.oakbay.ca/official-com...
Now is the time to speak up for more housing + a more inclusive community.
Survey is open until October 14, 2025
connect.oakbay.ca/official-com...
Official Community Plan Update
A community's vision for the future, the District of Oak Bay is updating our Official Community Plan and we want to hear from you.
connect.oakbay.ca
October 3, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Oak Bay usually flies under the radar, despite their very central location next to UVic. Lots of very interesting (and sometimes frustrating) land use and housing changes in this OCP, so feedback will be extra important!
bsky.app/profile/home...
bsky.app/profile/home...
Reposted
Saanich is hosting two in-person open houses on the updated Shelbourne Valley Plan, including important plans for new housing and stronger, more connected communities.
+ You can still have your voice heard on housing & community planning through the online survey 🙂
hello.saanich.ca/en/projects/...
+ You can still have your voice heard on housing & community planning through the online survey 🙂
hello.saanich.ca/en/projects/...
October 2, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Saanich is hosting two in-person open houses on the updated Shelbourne Valley Plan, including important plans for new housing and stronger, more connected communities.
+ You can still have your voice heard on housing & community planning through the online survey 🙂
hello.saanich.ca/en/projects/...
+ You can still have your voice heard on housing & community planning through the online survey 🙂
hello.saanich.ca/en/projects/...
Reposted
So, here's our vision for the 'New Vancouver Special':
Existing owners redevelop their lot, building 6 "family size" flats, and keeping 2 for themselves
4 additional families buy in as co-developers
City provides "outright" zoning so the permit can be had in the same timeline as a house
Existing owners redevelop their lot, building 6 "family size" flats, and keeping 2 for themselves
4 additional families buy in as co-developers
City provides "outright" zoning so the permit can be had in the same timeline as a house
October 1, 2025 at 5:42 PM
So, here's our vision for the 'New Vancouver Special':
Existing owners redevelop their lot, building 6 "family size" flats, and keeping 2 for themselves
4 additional families buy in as co-developers
City provides "outright" zoning so the permit can be had in the same timeline as a house
Existing owners redevelop their lot, building 6 "family size" flats, and keeping 2 for themselves
4 additional families buy in as co-developers
City provides "outright" zoning so the permit can be had in the same timeline as a house
Reposted
Meanwhile for Douglas St in Downtown Victoria, with over 60 buses per direction per hour during peaks, it's taken a decade for planning work to actually start, a year for a lackluster 10%-conceptual design to show up, and likely will take years longer for anything to happen. We can do better.
One month ago, these guys raced the bus on foot, and won. The city reacted, and finally put up a temporary bus lane pilot. They re-ran the race and the bus won.
Don't let anyone tell you that bus lanes have to take a year to install!
Don't let anyone tell you that bus lanes have to take a year to install!
REMATCH! Bus with a dedicated lane beats walking!
September 28, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Meanwhile for Douglas St in Downtown Victoria, with over 60 buses per direction per hour during peaks, it's taken a decade for planning work to actually start, a year for a lackluster 10%-conceptual design to show up, and likely will take years longer for anything to happen. We can do better.
Reposted
🚨 Have your say! 🚨
The Shelbourne Valley Action Plan survey is open until Oct. 13.
This is your chance to weigh in on how Saanich plans for housing, transportation, and livability along Shelbourne.
👉 Take the survey here: bit.ly/3KgcUtE
The Shelbourne Valley Action Plan survey is open until Oct. 13.
This is your chance to weigh in on how Saanich plans for housing, transportation, and livability along Shelbourne.
👉 Take the survey here: bit.ly/3KgcUtE
hello.saanich.ca
September 24, 2025 at 1:13 AM
🚨 Have your say! 🚨
The Shelbourne Valley Action Plan survey is open until Oct. 13.
This is your chance to weigh in on how Saanich plans for housing, transportation, and livability along Shelbourne.
👉 Take the survey here: bit.ly/3KgcUtE
The Shelbourne Valley Action Plan survey is open until Oct. 13.
This is your chance to weigh in on how Saanich plans for housing, transportation, and livability along Shelbourne.
👉 Take the survey here: bit.ly/3KgcUtE
Reposted
Time to fill out the survey for the Shelbourne Valley Action Plan.
Slightly improved from the last one, but still mostly ineffective since it doubles down on discretionary approvals instead of proactive planning
Survey open to Oct 13: hello.saanich.ca/en/...
Slightly improved from the last one, but still mostly ineffective since it doubles down on discretionary approvals instead of proactive planning
Survey open to Oct 13: hello.saanich.ca/en/...
September 23, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Time to fill out the survey for the Shelbourne Valley Action Plan.
Slightly improved from the last one, but still mostly ineffective since it doubles down on discretionary approvals instead of proactive planning
Survey open to Oct 13: hello.saanich.ca/en/...
Slightly improved from the last one, but still mostly ineffective since it doubles down on discretionary approvals instead of proactive planning
Survey open to Oct 13: hello.saanich.ca/en/...
Reposted
So glad to be featured in @ohtheurbanity.bsky.social excellent video!
High costs in Canada have been accepted as an inevitability - as projects are descoped & cancelled.
ION & REM show that another way is possible…
…given the humility to abandon our Anglo roots & learn from global best practice.
High costs in Canada have been accepted as an inevitability - as projects are descoped & cancelled.
ION & REM show that another way is possible…
…given the humility to abandon our Anglo roots & learn from global best practice.
The most underappreciated issue in urbanism is the Anglosphere’s transit construction cost problem.
It’s not just that we’re spending too much money on any particular project.
It’s that we could be getting *much more transit* for the *same amount of money we’re currently spending*.
It’s not just that we’re spending too much money on any particular project.
It’s that we could be getting *much more transit* for the *same amount of money we’re currently spending*.
How This Small City Built Light Rail For Cheap
YouTube video by Oh The Urbanity!
youtu.be
September 22, 2025 at 1:04 AM
So glad to be featured in @ohtheurbanity.bsky.social excellent video!
High costs in Canada have been accepted as an inevitability - as projects are descoped & cancelled.
ION & REM show that another way is possible…
…given the humility to abandon our Anglo roots & learn from global best practice.
High costs in Canada have been accepted as an inevitability - as projects are descoped & cancelled.
ION & REM show that another way is possible…
…given the humility to abandon our Anglo roots & learn from global best practice.
Reposted
We've been campaigning to get people to fill out TransLink's survey about BRT and we're down to the last 29 hours before it closes! Many thanks to @rmtransit.bsky.social for sharing our cute little video with his 340k subscribers!!!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2Tu...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2Tu...
The Problem with Vancouver's Boundary Rd BRT (w/ @MovementYVR )
YouTube video by RMTransit
www.youtube.com
September 21, 2025 at 2:15 AM
We've been campaigning to get people to fill out TransLink's survey about BRT and we're down to the last 29 hours before it closes! Many thanks to @rmtransit.bsky.social for sharing our cute little video with his 340k subscribers!!!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2Tu...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2Tu...
Reposted
$22 billion for one light rail line? We can't keep accepting transit cost escalation as inevitable.
We now have the project-level breakdowns for Sound Transit 3 light rail projects, outlining the $20-$30 billion shortfall the agency is facing through 2046.
Ballard Link's 2025 $ estimate is now $22.6 billion, a full 90% increase.
The Boeing Access Road infill station is now at $475 million.
Ballard Link's 2025 $ estimate is now $22.6 billion, a full 90% increase.
The Boeing Access Road infill station is now at $475 million.
September 15, 2025 at 9:03 PM
$22 billion for one light rail line? We can't keep accepting transit cost escalation as inevitable.
Reposted
It's kinda crazy that the government went to the trouble of pissing off half their coalition to push through major project streamlining legislation (citing the need to build schools faster), but schools still need to get a rezoning from council
This seems like such low-hanging fruit lol
This seems like such low-hanging fruit lol
The CBC did a story on the NIMBYs fighting the rezoning for the elementary school in the Olympic Village. I'm happy with the quote I got in at the end!
youtu.be/Z8j56MEne0c?...
youtu.be/Z8j56MEne0c?...
Olympic Village school project faces community backlash
YouTube video by CBC British Columbia
youtu.be
September 14, 2025 at 6:36 PM
It's kinda crazy that the government went to the trouble of pissing off half their coalition to push through major project streamlining legislation (citing the need to build schools faster), but schools still need to get a rezoning from council
This seems like such low-hanging fruit lol
This seems like such low-hanging fruit lol