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CRD to consult councils on transportation plans

Capital Regional District directors have agreed to take their plans for creating a new regional transportation service on the road.

Capital Regional District directors have agreed to take their plans for creating a new regional transportation service on the road.

They hope a new transportation function will help address issues such as the Colwood Crawl by setting regional priorities and creating a unified voice to better leverage senior government funds.

But creating a new service requires approval of residents, and that means it needs buy-in by local councils. CRD directors agreed Wednesday to consult with local councils over the next three months and bring back feedback early in the new year.

Transportation select committee chairwoman Susan Brice told CRD board members that to be effective, a new transportation service needs support from all local governments in the region and challenged directors to champion the idea.

The new service initially would consolidate existing CRD transportation planning and regional trails. Ultimately, efforts could be made to bring public transit under the jurisdiction of the CRD, but that would require legislative change.

Colwood and Langford have in the past expressed concerns about a regional approach to transportation. When the idea was up for debate at a June meeting, Colwood Mayor Carol Hamilton and Langford Coun. Lanny Seaton voted against it. — Times Colonist