Colwood council is joining Langford in rejecting a regional transportation service, putting the viability of the service in question.
Councillors passed a motion last week “respectfully declining” to participate in the Capital Regional District’s proposed regional transportation service.
“It’s not about not recognizing there’s a problem,” Mayor Carol Hamilton said.
She noted that some roadways fall under the authority of the province, while others are the responsibility of municipalities, and suggested a task force could be formed instead.
Other council members expressed fears that the municipality wouldn’t have a strong voice in decision-making. Colwood, with about 16,000 people and 4.4 per cent of the regional population, has few votes at the CRD board table, where representation is related to population.
“I think the trepidation is about [when] the big players in the fish bowl generally make the decisions that impact the little fish,” Coun. Gordie Logan said in a statement.
Coun. Jason Nault also raised concerns that the CRD does not have jurisdiction over many of the corridors of concern to Colwood, including the Trans-Canada Highway, which falls to the province, and Veterans Memorial Parkway in Langford.
The CRD board proposed the regional transportation service as a way of collecting data and creating a unified voice on regional transportation priorities.
Langford also declined to participate in the service.
