Transportation Master Plan: Implementation

Significant works on the Church/Throup Roundabout Project are continuing as the District makes progress on this critical corridor project and responds to the needs of our growing community.

Best efforts will be made to balance construction requirements and lessen the impact on commuters; however, delays are expected.

Next week, Church Road will be open and Throup Road will re-open to single-lane alternating traffic. While this is good news and should help some of the backup congestion seen on Highway 14 last week, we are encouraging commuters to avoid the area, if possible. It is currently anticipated that single-lane alternating traffic will remain in place on Throup Road from Tuesday, September 5th until Friday, September 8th, 7am to 7pm.

Earlier today, the District announced the Active Routes to Schools Campaign which may offer a creative solution for managing area traffic congestion.

Those travelling to/from Poirier and Journey Schools are strongly encouraged to make use of alternative meeting spots/locations for their school commute, such as:

• Municipal Hall at 2205 Otter Point Road;
• Sooke Library at 6671 Wadams Way; or
• SEAPARC Parking Lot at 2168 Phillips Road.

Making use of such locations offers a transportation alternative with many benefits including helping school-aged children meet the recommendation to accumulate at least 60 minutes per day of moderate to vigorous physical activity, which is associated with improved physical and mental health, and lessening congestion around schools.

While road works are disruptive, please be patient and kind as team members and project crews work hard for the benefit of Sooke.

Public Contact:
Hazelwood Construction
Tel: 250-716-1940

Related:

• Traffic Advisories (sooke.ca)
• District of Sooke Launching Active Routes to Schools Campaign in Partnership with Sooke School District
• Construction on Church/Throup Road Roundabout Project: Temporary Intersection Closure from August 29 to September 1 – Detours in Effect (sooke.ca)

Learn more:

• letstalk.sooke.ca/tmp

Significant works on the Church/Throup Roundabout Project are about to begin as the District continues implementation of the Transportation Master Plan and works to realize substantial project completion by late spring/early summer 2024.

Crews are currently mobilizing and next week, from Tuesday, August 29^th to Friday, September 1^st, a temporary closure of the Church/Throup Intersection will be in effect from 7 am to 7 pm.

Detours will be in place, please see the related Traffic Management Plan.

Those travelling in the area are asked to allow additional time for travel and follow signage and instructions of traffic personnel who are supporting the safety of the public and traffic crew alike.

Area neighbours will receive further information by letter from Hazelwood Construction.

Additional closures and traffic impacts are expected for the project’s duration. Patience is requested through the construction period as we progress community priorities for long-term traffic management in Sooke.

Learn more:

• Local Traffic advisories: sooke.ca/traffic-advisories
• Tenders Awarded for Charters Road and Church-Throup Road Roundabout Projects (sooke.ca)

Public Contact:
Hazelwood Construction
Tel: 250-716-1940

The District of Sooke is receiving $30,000 in funding from ICBC through their community road safety program to create two new crosswalks and install five flashing systems in the community --- helping make pedestrian travel safer.

This phase of crosswalk improvements includes:

• A new crosswalk with flashing lights on Phillips Road by SEAPARC front entrance;
• A new crosswalk with flashing lights on Grant Road by French Road;
• Flashing lights added to the Phillips Road crosswalk at the SEAPARC back entrance;
• Flashing lights added to the Church Road crosswalk on the Stickleback Urban Trail and Poirier Active School Travel Route; and
• Flashing lights added to the Otter Point at Rhodenite crosswalk.

Safely getting around town is important in any community. In Sooke, through recent budget engagement, residents are expressing this as one of the top priorities for our community.

Further, vehicle emissions are the greatest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions in Sooke. Notably, travel within Sooke produces nearly the same amount of emissions as travel to and from Sooke. “If we are going to make an impact toward our goal of reducing emissions by 50% by 2030, we need to ensure people feel safe walking around town,” says Mayor Tait. “While there is much more work to do, this is welcome progress. I extend my appreciation to our funding partners for helping with efforts for a safer, healthier Sooke. ”

The total project budget is approximately $50,000 with $20,000 being funded by District of Sooke Climate Action funding, made possible thanks to support from the Local Government Climate Action Program.

The work will be completed this fall.

At the July 24, 2023 Council meeting, Council approved issuing two contracts on crucial road projects to assist with traffic management and work towards lessening congestion on Highway 14.

The Charters Road Corridor Project will see the addition of sidewalks, bike lanes and significant structural repairs to reopen the road to two-lane vehicle traffic.

Church Road at Throup will transform into a roundabout in advance of increased density in the area and the build-out of the Throup Road Connector.

Although specified project timelines are not yet available, both projects are expected to be completed next year. Once construction timelines are advanced, major project milestones and anticipated dates will be shared with the community.

The projects, totaling an estimated $11.5 million, are being funded through a combination of sources – including:

CHARTERS ROAD CORRIDOR ($7 million):

• $3.6 million: Growing Communities Fund
• $2.2 million: Road Development Cost Charges
• $1.0 million: Cash in lieu contributions (from development)
• $200,000: Community Building Fund

CHURCH-THROUP ROAD ROUNDABOUT ($4.5 million):

• $1.5 million: Growing Communities Fund
• $1.7 million: Road Development Cost Charges
• $500,000: Active Transportation Grant
• $800,000: Community Building and Casino Funds

Learn more:

• Stay informed on planned traffic events on the District’s traffic advisory page: sooke.ca/traffic-advisories.

The District is taking the next step in responding to traffic management with the invitation of two tenders on both the Charters Road Streetscape and Church Road-Throup Road Roundabout Projects.

The invitation will close on June 30, 2023 with a staff report on a recommendation for Council's consideration proceeding to a July meeting.

Boring in advance of the construction of the Church Road Roundabout is scheduled for June 6, 7, and 8th, 2023. Intermittent traffic delays can be expected from 7am to 5 pm for approximately 5 minutes at a time throughout the day while the work is completed on Church Road from Waddams Way to Throup.

Please allow additional time for your travels.

As indicated in the District’s 2023 Budget, work is set to begin on long-awaited repairs and reconstruction of the Charters Road Corridor.

This work will occur in multiple phases. The ultimate road build-out will include significant restructuring and the addition of sidewalks and bike lanes on both sides of the road.

Upcoming Milestones

Two key milestones are approaching as this work begins.

Phase 1a: Preparatory Site Works

Tree removal is required to facilitate the construction of this active transportation corridor. In maintaining our municipal tree canopy, the District will be increasing tree planting in other areas of the community including planting at least forty trees in Ravens Ridge Park later this year.

For the safety of those travelling in the area, Charters Road will be closed between 9am and 2pm during the week of May 8^th. Tree falling will begin once bird surveying is complete and may commence as early as mid-day on Monday, May 8^th. It is anticipated that this phase of preparatory site works will conclude by 2pm on Thursday, May 11^th.

Local area residents will be permitted access in and out of their properties.

The closure times have been scheduled to minimize the impact on those travelling to/from school. Those travelling in the area are asked to plan ahead and allow extra time while this work is completed.

Phase 1b: Project Tender

The District will issue a project tender in the coming weeks. Applicants will have several weeks to apply.

Throughout the project, best efforts will be made to minimize disruption to the public; however, delays are expected while this important work is completed. Once the tenders are reviewed and the tender is awarded, a preliminary project schedule will be made available. At this time, additional information on project timelines is not known.

Background - After significant rainfall and related damage, Charters Road was limited to single-lane alternating travel with the Northbound lane being closed on November 26, 2021. The District was unsuccessful in securing financial support through two provincial funding streams to assist with repairs, leading to construction delays. Identified as a priority in the 2023 Budget, it is anticipated that the Charters Active Transportation Corridor project will be complete in 2024.

At the March 21, 2023, Special Council Budget meeting Council received a report on proposed 2023 Capital projects. Since that meeting, new information has been provided by the Provincial Government to staff on the Growing Communities Fund which is requiring revisions to the proposed projects.

Additionally, the District has received confirmation that Sooke was unsuccessful in the Charters Active Transportation Corridor Grant. Due to the significant impact this grant notification has on the available funding for capital projects, staff have reviewed and revised the 2023 and 2024 Capital Plan for the roads and parks projects and they will present a proposed solution to Council at the March 27, 2023 Regular Council meeting.

In short, the proposed changes suggest funding the Charters Road Project as follows:

• $3,579,041 from Growing Communities Fund
• $2,220,000 from Road Development Cost Charges
• $111,711 from the Communities Building Fund
• $1,039,247 from additional grants/funds

The March 27, 2023 Regular Council meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. at Sooke Municipal Hall, in Council Chambers. The meeting will also be live-streamed on the District’s YouTube Channel with a recording available after the meeting for those wishing to watch/listen to it at their convenience.

Learn more:

• March 27, 2023 Related Staff Report: 2023-2024 Operations/Parks Capital Projects
• Budget Information Page: letstalk.sooke.ca/budget

Work has begun on a new transit shelter at Grant Road West and French Road South.

Construction schedule

Preparation for the pad is underway. Concrete work is currently scheduled for the week of November 21^st with project completion by year-end.

Minimal impact is expected during construction; however, minor traffic delays may occur as the concrete is poured.

Enhancing bus stops provides several benefits

• Amenities such as shelters and benches improve the comfort of customers waiting for buses.
• Clear, level surfaces with sufficient space make a stop accessible which removes barriers to transit use.
• Transit shelters improve the visibility of the transit system, increasing the ease of use.

“Each step we take, no matter how small or grand to enhance the usability of transit is a milestone for us to celebrate,” said Mayor Maja Tait.

Improving bus shelters is an overlapping deliverable in the Official Community Plan (2010), the Sooke Local Area Transit Plan (2020), the Transportation Master Plan and the Sooke 2030 Climate Action Plan.

At the June 27, 2022 Regular Council meeting, Council supported the Charters Road Corridor Active Transportation Project in alignment with the District's Transportation Master Plan at a total project cost of $6,942,797.00.

The application covers all the work on the corridor between Charters and Throup Road south to the intersection of Church Road and Highway 14. Project costs are based on the latest available engineering estimates. The District is responsible for funding the remarkable costs including any project overruns. The current projections have the District funding $1,024,248, which has been accounted for through successful negations for cash in lieu contributions from major developments on this corridor.

Funding Stream
The Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) opened up a third intake of the Canada Community-Building - Strategic Priorities Fund, Capital Infrastructure Stream which will provide an opportunity to apply for 100% funding up to a maximum of $6,000,000. At this time, it is not known when the grant announcement will be made.

Construction Timelines

Should the District be successful with its grant application, it is currently anticipated construction will take approximately 10 months with the intent of substantial competition before the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) begins work on Highway 14 in 2024-2025.

Project Scope including Environmental Enhancements

In alignment with the District's Transportation Master Plan Urban / Suburban cross-section Standards, the project scope includes:

• 800 metres of North Bound and South Bound Vehicle Travel lanes (road base reconstruction/pavement and road line markings);
• 800 metres of sidewalk;
• 800 metres of bike lanes;
• 400 metres of street LED lighting incorporating dark sky principles (both sides of the corridor);
• Major geotechnical wall structures (both sides) to support Throup Stream Culvert crossing and road grade improvements to meet current design standards;
• Opening of approximately 245 metres of inaccessible fish habitat as a part of culvert installation;
• safety handrails where applicable in wall locations;
• Boulevard enhancements with trees and grass facilitating separation of sidewalk from the travel lanes where applicable;
• 400 metres of storm main lines to facilitate road corridor catch basins; and
• Activated LED flashing pedestrian crosswalks.