Residents can provide comments on proposed changes to the Regional District of Nanaimo’s (RDN) transit system, including routes, services and infrastructure.
The RDN’s Transit Redevelopment Strategy is focused on developing a plan for improving transit services over the next five years. The draft service and infrastructure proposals are based on analysis, best practices and feedback from transit customers, staff and residents in the project’s first round of engagement, according to the RDN.
The feedback, which will be received until Nov. 3, is phase two of the RDN’s transit redevelopment strategy, underway since June.
“We’ve been listening to feedback on how to make our transit system even better and are pleased with the level of response we have received during phase one of public engagement,” said Tyler Brown, RDN chair. “We encourage all transit users and the broader community to take advantage of the opportunity to again share their thoughts and ideas during this next phase.”
The draft proposal features recommendations including:
- The near-term introduction of a new RDN Rapid Line route that would offer limited-stop service every 15 minutes or better along the Island Highway from Woodgrove to downtown Nanaimo, with extension to south Nanaimo in the medium term.
- Further improvements to the directness, frequency and hours of operation of routes serving key corridors and destinations such as Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, the Oceanside area and the Departure Bay ferry terminal.
- Local route adjustments to better serve existing ridership and new development.
- Service to new areas such as the Rutherford neighbourhood and Duke Point.
- Draft priorities for infrastructure investment at exchanges, Park & Rides and stops.
“The Transit Redevelopment Strategy provides the opportunity to not only restructure our system to better meet existing and future needs, but also make transit wayfinding easier through improvements to resources such as route maps,” said Stuart McLean, RDN transit select committee chair. “It is important that we hear from residents on whether we have achieved the right balance and how we could further improve the draft recommendations before they are finalized and presented to the board in the coming months.”
To complete the survey in person, residents can visit the RDN transit office at 6300 Hammond Bay Road, Nanaimo, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.
