Saanich’s Uptown area is about to undergo some major upgrades!
Designed to make it easier and more convenient for Greater Victoria residents to choose public transit, the Uptown Mobility Hub will enhance accessibility and safety for commuters and pedestrians alike.
The project, which was awarded to Windley Contracting Ltd. of Nanaimo in fall 2024, is already underway, with construction expected to be completed by the summer of 2025.
The Uptown Mobility Hub will soon become the region’s principal RapidBus exchange and route connector, serving as a central link for public transit services across the Greater Victoria area.
Key elements of the upgrades include the construction of a new roadway, transit infrastructure, and active transportation improvements.
Additionally, four new bus stops will be built—including two located on the Trans-Canada Highway, each featuring shelters for riders.
Plus, dedicated bus lanes will also be introduced, ensuring faster, more efficient service.
To ensure pedestrian safety, enhancements will include better crosswalks and improved intersections, alongside the creation of new multi-use pathways that will connect directly to the Galloping Goose Regional Trail network.
Not only will this make the area more walkable, but it will also promote a cyclist-friendly environment around the hub too!
“As this area gets increasingly busy, we know people who live in and around Victoria count on connections that get them to and from home, work and school quickly,” said George Anderson, BC’s parliamentary secretary for transit.
“These improvements, along with our plans for the transit-oriented development at Uptown, will create a hub that delivers fast travel, easy connections and better livability for everyone.”
The project is being funded through a combined investment of $20 million, with the province of BC contributing $15.5 million and the federal government adding $4.5 million through the Public Transit Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.
The upgrades to the Uptown Mobility Hub are just one piece of a larger vision for improved transit and active transportation across southern Vancouver Island.
Other initiatives include the Highway 1 Bus-On-Shoulder-Lanes project, the Colquitz Bridges Widening project, and BC Transit’s transit-priority lanes in the Six Mile area of View Royal.
If you’re looking to read more about this project and other initiatives, you can do so by checking out their South Island Transportation Strategy progress report.
