A proposal to add a direct bus connection between downtown Victoria and the Victoria International Airport is heading to public engagement, and Sidney officials say the plan comes with significant trade-offs.
The Victoria Regional Transit Commission voted on November 18th to move forward with public input on a reworked Saanich Peninsula transit network.
The idea would extend Route 72 to the airport on every trip and eliminate Route 88, with parts of Route 81 shifting to cover its former areas.
BC Transit says this would create a one-seat ride to YYJ as early as September 2026 without requiring new funding or buses.
Sidney Mayor Cliff McNeil-Smith says that comes at a cost to local riders.
At the December 1st council meeting, McNeil-Smith said the proposal would reduce service for residents and workers who rely on existing routes throughout the community.
“I am deeply concerned with transit service reductions for our residents and workers,” he said.
“Improved airport connectivity is an important goal, but it should only be pursued as part of an overall increase in service, not by reducing service to local riders.”
Under the proposal, the 72 route would reach the airport with more evening and weekend service than today. But travel times between Victoria, Sidney, and Swartz Bay would grow by roughly 10 minutes.
Service frequency on the west side of Sidney and along Canora Road, Ocean Avenue, Stirling Way, and the industrial area would drop from every 30 minutes to every 60 minutes.
The south side Sidney would also lose direct bus access to the Brentwood Bay ferry and Butchart Gardens due to the Route 81 realignment.
BC Transit estimates that airport ridership could rise significantly within a few years. At the same time, the agency expects a similar drop in ridership in the areas facing reduced service, resulting in little net change overall.
Public engagement will begin early in 2026.
The process will include an online survey and in-person sessions on the Saanich Peninsula. BC Transit also plans to consult with partners such as YYJ, BC Ferries, the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, and local governments.
Feedback will be used to shape the 2026–27 Annual Service Plan, which the Commission will review in March 2026.
In a statement, Mayor McNeil-Smith urged residents to get involved once consultation opens.
“I strongly encourage Sidney residents and workers to share their perspectives during the upcoming consultation period,” he said.
More details on engagement opportunities will be released in the new year.
