Car-centric Shelbourne Street is heading for a major makeover that includes separated bike lanes, wide walkways and boulevards — but not likely before the end of 2021.
The final Shelbourne Valley Action Plan will head to a public hearing on April 25, said Cameron Scott, Saanich manager of community planning.
But even with council’s expected go-head to accelerate $12.5 million for 2.3 kilometres of pedestrian and cycle-friendly measures identified last Dec. 5, another year of detailed design work would still be needed to get the show on the road, he said.
At the December meeting, the late Coun. Vic Derman noted that Shelbourne is a “nasty and aggressive” corridor for non-drivers, with motor vehicles allotted 90 per cent of the space from North Dairy Road to Torquay Drive.
The Shelbourne Valley project was initiated in 2009 to guide land use and transportation decisions for the next 30 years, taking in everything from climate change to environmental restoration and walkable developments including compact mix-used housing.
Depending on budget approvals, the first phase will take about four years, Scott said. It includes upgraded sidewalks, bike lanes physically separated from vehicle traffic, and bike lanes set off by pavement markings.
“Of course we’d like things to move faster, but this is a very big project,” said Coun. Colin Plant said. “These mobility changes will make the Shelbourne Valley more livable and should also result in new developments replacing some of the old housing stock.”
If they get a final OK, the changes would include upgraded sidewalks along Shelbourne stretching from North Dairy Road to Pear Street, physically separated bike paths from North Dairy Road to Christmas Avenue, and painted bike paths from Christmas Avenue to Torquay Drive.
Seventy trees on narrow boulevards at the south end of the corridor will be removed because they interfere with space needed for new sidewalks and a physically separated bike lane. Ninety new trees would be planted, Scott said.
Edward Pullman, president of the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition said getting the cycling lanes up to speed has “obviously been quite slow, but at the end of the day, we’re very happy with it.”
Originally, cycling lanes were going to be built in a piecemeal fashion as redevelopment allowed lanes to be claimed over three decades, while the current plan will have it done in a few years, Pullman said.
Saanich was trying to do it right and the municipality has done a good job, he said. Once in place, the bike lanes should lead to a lot more people cycling on Shelbourne corridor, a crucial roadway because there really isn’t an alternate route through Saanich, Pullman said.
As for sidewalks, some are in poor shape and very close to the curb on some stretches of Shelbourne, less than ideal for noise and overall sense of safety, Scott said.
Shorter pedestrian crossing distances and longer crossing times at major intersections and medians to provide refuge from car traffic are also on the agenda for pedestrian
comfort.
All bus stops on the corridor will get new shelters and boulevards will be added near shopping centres such as Hillside and University Heights.
“During discussions on SVAP, my main concern was to keep lanes available for current and future transit use,” said Coun. Susan Brice, chair of the Greater Victoria Transit Commission.
The UVic Bike Connector, an existing route from Pear Street at Shelbourne to UVic will be improved by the addition of bike lanes on Poplar Avenue and enhancement of the crossing of Cedar Hill Cross Road at Iona Drive.
The block between Derby Road and Cedar Avenue is planned to connect with the Bowker Creek greenway — a route primarily for pedestrians and cyclists with some access for vehicles on residential streets.
Motorists will still have four lanes to use for two-thirds of the Shelbourne corridor, including the southern half from North Dairy Road to Christmas Avenue.
Most, but not all, left-turn accesses to businesses and side streets will be retained.
On top of the $12.5 million for the improvements, the preliminary estimate for upgrades for water, sewer and stormwater drains needed within the next
10 years is another $18 million.
The April 25 public hearing starts at 7 p.m. at Saanich Municipal Hall.
