Fri Sep 13 08:36:00 UTC 2024: ## Greater Victoria Takes First Step Towards Regional Transportation Authority

**Victoria, BC** – The Capital Regional District (CRD) has taken a significant step towards establishing a regional transportation authority, paving the way for a more coordinated approach to transportation planning and investment in Greater Victoria.

The CRD board voted Wednesday to create a new regional transportation service that will combine existing work on trails with growth planning. This marks the first step towards a unified voice on transportation issues in the region, with the goal of reducing carbon emissions, promoting active transportation, and tackling congestion.

“This was an important first step as a region to say we are formally going to work together,” said CRD chair Colin Plant.

The new service will not interfere with municipal autonomy, but will provide a platform for updating the regional transportation plan and advocating for the region’s needs. This collaborative approach is seen as crucial to securing the necessary investment from senior governments for vital infrastructure improvements.

“We’re not going to land the significant transportation infrastructure improvements that we need by working separately,” said transportation committee board chair and Saanich Mayor Dean Murdock. “It’s only by working together, by speaking with a common voice, representing close to half a million people, that we’re going to be able to attract the kinds of investment that this region needs.”

While this is a significant step forward, the path to a fully functional regional transportation authority is still long. The next phase will see the CRD seeking elector approval for the bylaw establishing the authority. This process will likely take place through an alternative approval process in the first quarter of 2024, where the bylaw will be adopted unless at least 10% of electors submit a signed response form against it.

This latest move follows a previous attempt in 2018 that failed due to West Shore opposition. However, the board’s renewed commitment to this initiative demonstrates a growing recognition of the need for collaborative action on transportation issues in Greater Victoria.

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