The BC government recently announced plans to replace the Royal BC Museum at an estimated cost of $795 million.
However, long overdue is the construction of Light Rail Transit between Victoria and the fast-growing West Shore.
The province has been investing in LRT construction in the Lower Mainland with no plans for Greater Victoria.
LRT enables better regional planning for housing and transportation and is far better for the environment and budget than subsidizing the cost of electric vehicles.
According to a recent study, the total cost of construction for a 16 km route to Langford is $595-million.
Approximately $251 million is for the cost of construction, including signalling upgrades, seven new trains, LRT stations, property acquisition, and a maintenance facility.
The remaining cost is for a $255 million contingency fund, including engineering, First Nations consultation, and provincial government overhead.
The price tag for the McKenzie Interchange was $98 million. As the West Shore continues growing, significantly more investment in roads and interchanges will be required without alternatives like LRT.
The BC government could responsibly start LRT in our region and still have funds available for a museum renovation.
Plus there would be federal government funding that normally accompanies major infrastructure projects.
A museum renovation and LRT would be investments in both British Columbia’s past as well as its future.
The oil and gas province of Alberta committed to LRT long ago and planned their housing accordingly.
Edmonton started Light Rail Transit in 1974 with a population similar to Greater Victoria today.
Calgary started LRT construction in 1978 with a population of 518,000.
This was long before concerns about a climate emergency.
Now high-speed rail is being considered between Edmonton and Calgary.
British Columbia needs to catch up to our Alberta neighbour.
This column appears Wednesdays in the Times Colonist.
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