Transportation Master Plan Update

The City of Colwood is updating its Transportation Master Plan!

What is a Transportation Master Plan?

The Transportation Master Plan (TMP) provides vision and guidance for the City and its partners to improve mobility and provide safe, efficient transportation infrastructure to help support all travel options. It is used to guide improvements and investments in multi-modal transportation infrastructure and services and is intended to reflect the values and priorities of the community.

Developed in 2015, the current TMP was based on the vision and goals of the 2008 Official Community Plan (OCP), and was informed by mobility data provided through the 2011 CRD Origin-Destination Household Travel Survey and 2011 Canadian Census. The TMP was created prior to substantial changes occurring in areas like Royal Bay and Colwood Corners and included a series of proposed transportation infrastructure investments, some of which have since been completed.

The 2015 Transportation Master Plan is available online at the following link: Transportation Master Plan

A lot has changed since 2015

Much has changed in Colwood since the TMP was created almost ten years ago. The following are some of the most significant changes affecting travel choices, infrastructure investment, and the steps the City and partners are taking to continue to support safe, efficient mobility:

• Our population increased by almost 20% between 2011 and 2021, including a corresponding increase in population density. Growth has been concentrated in Colwood Corners and Royal Bay. Not only has this resulted in greater travel demand, it has also shifted trip making patterns and presented opportunities for new travel options.
  
  
• A new community-led Official Community Plan (OCP) was adopted in 2018 that provides updated directions and specific transportation and mobility priorities, with a greater emphasis on sustainable transportation in support of GHG emissions reduction goals.
  
  
• Guided by the 2015 TMP, a number of investments have been made to improve the City’s transportation network. Highlights include comprehensive streetscape works on Latoria Boulevard, active transportation upgrades on Metchosin Road and Painter Road, a new roundabout at Veterans Memorial Parkway / Latoria Road, and neighbourhood traffic management enhancements throughout Colwood.
  
  
• Travel behaviours have changed. A significant increase in the proportion of all trips made by active transportation has been experienced since 2011, with active transportation representing 5% of all trips in 2011 and 14% in 2022. Similarly, the number of daily trips per person has decreased by approximately 10% since 2011.
  
  
• The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a dramatic change in the way we travel. While the pandemic has since passed, the City is still working to understand the level of permanent change that has occurred in travel behaviours and trip making patterns.
  
  
• A series of Provincial legislative changes have impacted how municipalities like Colwood undertake land use planning and regulation. These changes will allow the City to require more active transportation measures and eliminate residential parking minimums in select locations.
  
  
• Significant forthcoming investments have been confirmed in active transportation infrastructure that will enhance opportunities for walking and cycling. Most notably, this includes the grade-separated crossing of the Galloping Goose Regional Trail over the Island Highway and the planned new Waterfront Multi-Use Pathway.
  
  

Why Update the Transportation Master Plan?

An update to the TMP is needed to ensure the plan remains aligned with updated policy directions, plan priorities are supported by Colwood residents, and a refreshed list of infrastructure priorities are identified to help guide investment by the City and partners.

How We Move

Mobility data provides insight into travel patterns and trip characteristics among Colwood residents. Of note, a significant increase in the proportion of all trips made by active transportation has been experienced since 2011, with active transportation representing 5% of all trips in 2011 and 14% in 2022. This is significant progress toward the City’s policy objectives to increase sustainable transportation trip making and realize fewer trips via automobile.

Nearly half (41%) of all morning trips by Colwood residents are to destinations within Colwood and approximately two-thirds end in a Westshore community. Specific to commute trips, approximately one-third of commute trips by Colwood residents are 30-minutes or longer and typical commute length is longer among Colwood residents as compared to the regional average.

The number of daily trips per person in Colwood has decreased by approximately 10% between 2011 and 2022, with an average of 2.6 trips per person. Similarly, vehicle ownership is approximately 1.9 vehicles per household, a decrease of approximately 5% from 2011 levels. Approximately 40% of all households own one or fewer vehicles, whereas 21% have three or more vehicles.

Learn more about our community's transportation infrastructure, mobility data and travel behaviours and how they have changed over the past ten years.

Further information on travel characteristics among Colwood residents is available in the latest CRD Origin-Destination Household Travel Survey and Canada Census Profile.

Complete Street Design

The layout and design of streets in Colwood is guided by the TMP and the detailed specifications contained in the Subdivision and Development Servicing (SDS) Bylaw. An update to the SDS Bylaw was completed in 2023 to ensure street design standards reflect updated priorities, including a “complete streets” approach to ensure provision of active transportation facilities and green infrastructure.

Click to see how the City’s Subdivision & Development Servicing Bylaw (refer to Section 6) helps guide design and construction of complete streets in Colwood.

Traffic Modelling

The City has developed a traffic model that reflects anticipated future community growth and associated travel demand and travel patterns. The model is used to test growth scenarios and the network improvements required to maintain safe, efficient movement, as well as to understand where upgrades are required in the City’s major road network to meet future travel demand.

Utilizing the traffic model and in discussions with Council, options to widen major streets have been considered specifically to address anticipated long-term growth in south Colwood. The approach we have been asked to follow involves widening Veterans Memorial Parkway to four lanes along the entire length and widening Latoria Road to four lanes between Metchosin Road and Veterans Memorial Parkway. Associated improvements are also to be pursued on Metchosin Road, including widening to four lanes for the section between Wishart Road and Sooke Road, localized intersection upgrades at key locations (i.e., Lagoon Road, Painter Road, Hatley Drive), and added centre turn lanes or medians in select locations to support side street and driveway access.

Click to learn more about the City’s Traffic Demand Model and how it is being used to plan the major street network.

Upgrading the Street Network

Guided by the 2015 TMP and more recent traffic modelling and technical study, a series of long-term street network improvements have been identified for Colwood. These include street widening, new traffic signals and opportunities for roundabouts to continue to support efficient, safe movement in our community. Long-term network improvements were shared on Information Boards at the Colwood Ideas Fair in April, 2024.

Active Transportation in Colwood

Active transportation refers to any form of human-powered transportation, including walking, cycling or rolling. The City is seeking to invest in active transportation to provide a more effective and equitable transportation system, create more choices for people and reduce reliance on personal vehicles. In doing so, we support our environment goals and provide opportunities to enhance personal health and well-being. The Official Community Plan (OCP) provides specific direction in support of active transportation, including the following policies:

Policy 8.2.2.1 - Expand the pedestrian network by enhancing and building sidewalks where there are gaps (…)

Policy 8.2.3.2 - Provide cycling infrastructure that is comfortable for all ages and abilities (…)

Policy 8.2.2.2 - Expand and enhance multi-use trails (…)

Inline with the OCP and guided by the 2015 TMP, the City has made significant recent investment in active transportation infrastructure, including new sidewalks and planned cycling facilities. These improvements are largely funded through on-going land development and funding available through provincial grants.

The Draft Colwood Active Transportation Network Plan (ATNP) was created in 2022. While not a formal document of Council, the ATNP considers possible long-term active transportation networks, design guidelines for safe, attractive facilities, and potential priorities for investment in walking and cycling infrastructure.

Transformational projects: Galloping Goose Bridge and Waterfront Walkway

The Federal government has made two very significant and exciting investments in active transportation infrastructure in Colwood. First, $3.4M for a grade-separated crossing of the Galloping Goose Regional Trail at the Island Highway to address the current crossing challenges and provide for a safer, more connected trail user experience. Also, as a key outcome of the Waterfront Stewardship Plan, the City has secured $6M in funding to advance the Waterfront Multi-Use Pathway that will allow visitors to walk, wheel, scooter or cycle nearly 4km from the Lagoon Bridge to the vibrant seaside village planned at The Beachlands.