WCEL > Issues > Urban Growth and Development > Smart Bylaws Guide > Part 4 > Connect Destinations and Transportation Modes > Transit

Smart Bylaws Guide – Connect Destinations and Transportation Modes – Transit

Public transit is an important link in the transportation network where densities are high enough to support it.  Transit options are becoming increasingly important as demographics change in BC and a greater proportion of the population becomes seniors seeking transportation choices that do not involve the automobile.

Efficient access to transit and to other modes of transportation from transit is a key consideration in encouraging transit use.  Route design to and from multi-modal stations and facilities at these stations such as bicycle and car parking make transit more convenient and accessible.

Municipalities can work with BC Transit to more effectively tailor their specific transit needs to their transit system.  Municipal activities can include:

• Clearly identifying local transportation objectives; 
• Examining potential transit markets (school students and youth, young adults and college students, adults, seniors, persons with disabilities, residents of a particular neighbourhood); 
• Monitoring changing transportation needs; and 
• Alerting BC Transit of changes in transportation needs and working with them to assess possible options.

Municipalities can also undertake transit planning in conjunction with land use planning to encourage nodal and transit-oriented development as part of the transportation network.  Area transit plans and transit plans help municipalities to integrate transit considerations into planning and development projects.  See also the Victoria Transport Policy Institute's recent paper on evaluating accessibility.

For More Information

• Transit-Oriented Development
• Transportation Demand Management Encyclopedia (Victoria Transport Policy Institute):
• Park & Ride
• Shuttle Services
• Transit Encouragement
• Transit Improvements
• City of Kamloops Official Transit Plan
• Transit Resources (Victoria Transport Policy Institute)
• Aging Americans: Stranded Without Options (Surface Transport Policy Project, 2004)
• Bogota, Columbia's TransMilenio Bus Rapid Transit System (Asia-Pacific Environmental Innovation Strategies, Research on Innovative and Strategic Policy Options - Good Practices Inventory - Summary)
• Bogota, Columbia's TransMilenio official website, with explanations on how they developed the system, analysis of before and after, etc.
• City of Seattle Complete Streets Ordinance No. 122386 (2007) establishes new principles for street design, to support and encourage safe walking, bicycling and transit use, and fight climate change - with design features that include street and sidewalk improvements, pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements, public transit facilities and street trees