Making transit a real alternative in Sooke

Traffic is one of Sooke’s biggest complaints. And the uncomfortable reality is we are the traffic. There is no single project that will solve Sooke’s traffic. Better transit has to be part of the solution. So what would it take for more of us to make transit a normal part of our lives? It’s frequency. If missing the bus means a long wait, people drive. If buses come every 15–20 minutes, transit becomes a real option. Good transit can save us the cost of a second vehicle, give youth independence, help elders age in place, and connect people who don't drive to work, to services and community.

Sooke has strong transit demand. Routes 61 and 65 are performing above BC Transit targets, with some peak trips at capacity. More frequent Sooke–West Shore–Victoria service must be a priority. But about 60% of trips made by Sooke residents stay within Sooke so better local transit is needed too. Improved local service is planned: new routes for Sunriver/Billings Spit and Grant Road/Whiffin Spit, with redesigned service for Otter Point/Kemp Lake and East Sooke/Beecher Bay. For lower-density areas, on-demand transit (Uber for buses) is being tested in B.C.

A bus/HOV lane on Highway 14 is an obvious wish-list item, giving buses an advantage through congestion. Improving transit is also generally less expensive over the long term than continually widening roads for more cars. Transit is regional too and planned improvements will benefit Sooke - expanded RapidBus corridors, an Uptown transit hub, and better airport and ferry connections.

Like everything involving multiple governments and public money, it won’t happen as quickly as we’d like. This is generational work – giving our kids more transportation choices than we have today. Make transit a real choice in Sooke, and everyone benefits.