Re “Work begins on upgrades to Pat Bay intersection in Central Saanich.”

The first transportation project the provincial government announced since the Capital Regional District (CRD) passed its new transportation strategy is bus lanes and new transit stops on a future rapid bus route. This is good news. The CRD’s new strategy calls for improving public transit and active transportation rather than increasing highway capacity for cars.

We expect that the province will respect the unanimous decision of our regional representatives and ensure that provincial funding is refocused on improving public transit, walking, rolling and bicycle infrastructure. This is also essential for meeting the provincial government’s new CleanBC target of reducing automobile travel 25 per cent by 2030.

The time for widening highways, and building flyovers or interchanges, is past. Our precious public dollars must go to BC Transit’s proposed rapid bus network and other projects that reduce greenhouse gas pollution and make our region safer, more inclusive, and more affordable.

Eric Doherty

Victoria