Master Transportation Plan

Hello, if this question is alluding to what the road system will look like in the area around the new hospital currently under construction, please see the Bell McKinnon Local Area Plan. This plan was adopted in 2018. A local area plan provides direction for how a particular area will grow and change over time. They typically include detailed guidelines and policies to direct the urban design, transportation (including cycling, walking, transit), land use, parks and open spaces, and other planning elements in the area.

While the OCP does not refer specifically to NZEVs or kickscooters, it does support the design of transportation networks to accommodate all modes of transportation which is consistent with the suggestions in the Phase 2 report of the Master Transportation Plan that is underway. The MTP report recommends consideration of an application for the escooter pilot program and recommends additional study to determine the appropriateness of NZEVs for North Cowichan. Staff are still accepting feedback on the MTP (email engineering@northcowichan.ca) and a draft plan will be brought to the new Council for comment at a future date.

Thanks for your question.

The updated map for the cycling and pedestrian network show the new extension of the Cowichan Valley Trail, which will connect the Berkey's Corner area to Chemainus as a multi-use facility to facilitate cycling between the two areas. From Berkey's Corner they can connect to facilities on Cowichan Lake Road and future Government Street (Duncan) facilities. There will also be a connection of the trail to Bell McKinnon Road (north end) where future facilities will connect to a proposed multi-use path along the east side of Highway 1 to Beverly Street which will then switch to the west side between Beverly Street and James Street. James Street facilities will connect to the core area of Duncan. More information about the proposed multi-use pathways is found in Section 6.2 of the Phase 2 report and in the online survey.

The transportation consultant has a draft plan identifying Jaynes Rd as a future cycling network leg, but this has not been fully reviewed nor prioritized. In the meantime, we appreciate the feedback that will help in the assessments of recommended works. There is a sidewalk on one side of Jaynes Road for its entire length, providing a safe and accessible route for pedestrians.

This Master Transportation Plan is expected to comment on the goals for the corridor through consultation with Island Corridor Foundation and note comments through public engagement such as this. The overall strategy for the railway, however, is beyond the scope of this plan .

The consultant working on the MTP and staff have recognized this issue, as well as Cowichan Tribes, who note the Tzouhalem Road corridor. The Master Transportation Plan will address the conditions as best as possible given the constraints and will not necessarily mean road improvements for vehicles only, and is likely to recommend the encouragement of all forms of transportation, access management and improvements at the intersections.

A Phase 2 report of findings and draft recommendations will be presented to Council and will be available to the public shortly prior to development of the draft plan.

A draft Master Transportation Plan will be developed upon Council’s direction after review of the Phase 2 report. The report and subsequent Master Transportation Plan will then be shared with stakeholders, government partners, and the public, before final approval by Council. At this time, you can read Phase 1 reports that include the presentation to Council and the engagement summary report, in the ‘Phase 1 Reports’ tab on the project page.

Thank you for your inquiry. The Cowichan Valley Regional Transit System is in the process of updating its Transit Future Action Plan. We encourage you to provide input through their interactive map or a general inquiry https://engage.bctransit.com/cowichanvalley2021

The North Cowichan's Master Transportation Plan will also provide recommendations to transit based on feedback we hear, but the municipality does not manage transit in the area.

The current plan for intersection improvements at Herd and Bell Mckinnon Roads is for a roundabout. The timing is expected to coincide with development related to the new hospital project occurring between 2022 and 2026.

A future multi-purpose trail is planned for alongside Osborne Bay Road. This trail is in early stages of planning and at this time there is no timeline for construction.