File photo.
The 13 mayors within the Capital Regional District are calling on the province for immediate action to ease traffic congestion, including getting “the train running” from Langford to Victoria.
In a letter to Premier John Horgan and Minister Claire Trevena, the mayors said an E&N stakeholder meeting in December showed “overwhelming support for rail use of the corridor to ease traffic congestion and boost economic development.”
The CRD communities are also calling on the completion of Bus Rapid Transit lanes to the Westshore and urge the province to include those projects in its budget.
Finance Minister Carole James will present the province’s 2019 budget on February 19.
The mayors thanked the province for indicating a commitment to rail on the Island and are pleased with the province’s action to engage communities along the corridor.
“While we understand the need for more study for the sections of track beyond Langford, we feel that delaying action on the Victoria to Langford segment of the corridor will result in potentially losing federal government funding,” the mayors wrote.
They added the rapid bus transit lane and E&N line between Victoria and Langford “do not need further study.”
The premier and transportation minister were also told the Pat Bay Highway corridor from Victoria to the Swart Bay BC Ferries’ terminal and Victoria Airport will benefit from a transportation strategy with safety improvements and enhanced public transportation to the airport and west Sidney industrial area.
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