Downtown Transit Exchange FAQs

• What is a transit exchange?

  A transit exchange is basically a group of transit stops in one place making it easier for people to get around. Nanaimo currently has four transit exchanges:

  • Woodgrove Mall (in the parking lot on the parkway side of the mall)
  • VIU
  • Country Club Mall (on Norwell Dr)
  • Downtown (currently at 1 Port Dr)

  Transit exchanges make it convenient for anyone needing to transfer to another route and are typically placed in areas where a large number of people want to go such as shopping areas and universities. Transit exchanges are designed to be safe spaces that are well-lit to reduce the risk of crime.  

  
  Transit Exchange Site Plan

• Why do we need a new Downtown Transit Exchange?

  This isn’t a new exchange, it’s just being moved to a more convenient location that will allow for easy connections between rapid and frequent line routes, boosting transit users’ experience. It will improve connectivity in the south end of Nanaimo and transit throughout the region.

  With City Plan: Nanaimo ReImagined and the Transit Redevelopment Strategy complete, a permanent downtown exchange allows the City of Nanaimo, Regional District of Nanaimo and BC Transit to provide a much-improved public transportation system that supports a revitalized downtown and will better connect the region with affordable, efficient and reliable transportation.

• What is being done to maintain public safety?

  • The Transit Exchange will be designed to meet Security Achieved through Functional Environmental (SAFE) Design standards, as required by BC Transit.
  • Terminal Avenue and the associated spaces are designed to meet Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles and best-practices for designing safe and comfortable public spaces:
    • Increased usage from transit passengers will activate the space and that can make it safer.
    • Enhanced security items will be implemented to deter off-hours gathering.
    • The Transit Exchange is within the patrol area of the Community Safety Officers.
    • Upgraded and attractive lighting will be integrated along Terminal Avenue, at the transit exchange, and within all open spaces to enhance safety, visibility, and public experience.

  
  Conceptual Rendering of Northbound Rapid Bus Bay

• Won't the buses make congestion on Terminal worse?

  The most recent travel time study (May 2022) showed that Terminal's peak traffic volumes account for 60% of available capacity on Terminal meaning that the road can handle more traffic without becoming too congested.

  The study also found that the current issue for travelling vehicles is almost solely based on traffic lights. The project team confirmed that last time the signals were retimed was around the opening of the parkway and may be even before that.

  Even with the addition of a pre-emption system to give buses priority and with a peak load of 22 buses per hour on opening day, replacing the signals and updating their timing should make traffic move better and improve the experience for people using the road.
  

• How will the buses safely access Terminal Avenue?

  When buses leave the transit exchange, they'll activate a system that makes the traffic lights at Gordon Street and Commercial Street turn red. Traffic will stop at Commercial Street allowing exiting vehicles to easily access Terminal Avenue for a short period of time.

  
  Conceptual Rendering of Buses Exiting the Exchange

• What will prevent people from running across Terminal Avenue to catch the bus?

  Making a safe place for people to walk is a priority for the Terminal Avenue Upgrades Project. On both sides of Terminal there will be hand railings and landscaping directing people away from the road. Also, the median will have shrubs and/or hand railings preventing people from walking there. These railings and natural barriers will help direct pedestrians to the Gordon Street Pedestrian Signal, and Esplanade and Commercial Street crosswalks to safely cross the road.

  
  Conceptual Rendering of Gordon Street Pedestrian Crosswalk

• How will the local businesses be affected?

  • Businesses in the area will still have a way for deliveries and services to reach them.
  • How these deliveries and services get to the businesses might change depending on how the project is planned. The specific routes will be determined as the project progresses.
  • The project team will continue to consult directly with local businesses with respect to their operational needs.

• How do vehicles access Shaw Lane?

  The entrance and exit for parking used by Shaw Lane residents and businesses is provided through a letdown between the rapid bus stop and the crosswalk.

  While not ideal to have public vehicles entering an exchange, this parking will likely be used exclusively for the residents/business owners as there is not enough space to provide customer parking. This should limit interactions with transit vehicles to a few times a day, unlike other exchanges in Nanaimo such as Woodgrove or VIU.

   

  Site plan showing access to Lois Lane and Shaw Lane

  
  Conceptual Rendering of Lois Lane

• How will this project contribute to creating a thriving, healthy downtown?

  The exchange helps the City and the RDN (where applicable) to address a number of longstanding concerns raised by residents and businesses, including:

  • Improving the intersection at Wallace Street/Albert Street/Commercial Street/Victoria Road to make it function better and safer. Read more about plans for this intersection from the Design Commercial - Downtown Reimagined project.
  • Providing a full transit exchange downtown with good lighting and safety improvements.
  • Filling in the large hole in the ground where the Jean Burns building used to be to make a lively retail and commercial hub as part of the 6 Commercial Street Expression of Interest.
  • Making it easier for people to walk and cross Terminal Avenue so they can get to and from Commercial Street/Port Place Shopping Centre area and businesses on Victoria Road and Wallace Street. This is part of the Terminal Avenue Upgrades Phase 1 Project.
  • Making public spaces more lively, welcoming and safe for everyone.

• Why was this location chosen?

  In October 2018, different options were looked at on behalf of the RDN and the Terminal Avenue location was recommended as the best choice. This location is ideal because:

  • it can handle more passengers and buses,
  • provides better access for pedestrians and cyclists,
  • it's close to stores and shops, and
  • it fits well with the Nanaimo Transportation Master Plan, especially the proposed future rapid bus line.

  Having the exchange in the 500 block of Terminal Avenue makes things better in a few ways:

  • it's easy to transfer between buses,
  • you don't have to cross busy streets to switch buses,
  • it allows for possible expansion on Wallace Street/Victoria Road or Cavan Street, and
  • it keeps traffic on Terminal Avenue moving smoothly.

  A first look at the options for the 500 Terminal Avenue property showed that no matter if it was on-street or off-street, it would work just as well as the current temporary Port Drive setup or even better.

  
  Sites Reviewed in Various Studies Downtown Nanaimo

  From engagement and technical analysis, the City considered three options (including the Terminal Ave location) for a downtown transit exchange. Each option has its good and bad points, but the Terminal Avenue location has the most advantages.

  Here’s what the studies found:

  • Port Drive (not selected): Setting up a transit exchange at Port Drive would need a lot more investigation, and it might take more than 5 years to make it happen. Also, if the transit exchange stays there, it might make it harder to plan for the area’s future development. So, not having the transit exchange there would provide more flexibility for future changes, including the opportunity to create a more attractive street.
  • Front Street (not selected): The Front Street concept would be an “on street” exchange. But off-street exchanges work better because they are safer for people walking and lessen the impacts to traffic. There also other challenges at this location related to Gabriola ferry traffic. As well, a roundabout will be considered to connect the future Port Drive lands, which could affect operation of the transit exchange.

   

• Why did the City expropriate the properties on the 500 block of Terminal Avenue?

  In short, the City didn’t expropriate land. The City began an expropriation process in July 2021 for 6,10,14 Commercial Street (a.k.a. Jean Burns property), but it wasn’t completed as the owners of that property sold to the City on August 12, 2021.

  The other two properties next to the Jean Burns site, 565 and 575 Terminal Avenue, were sold to the City on August 19, 2021, and on June 21, 2021.

  
  Purchase history of properties along 500 Terminal

• Will existing trees be impacted?

  • Keeping existing trees will be a priority, but their health and impacts to the project will need to be considered. 
  • Existing trees will be assessed during the detailed design phase.
  • As with Terminal Avenue, we plan to plant more trees than we remove.
    

• What is a respite facility and why is it needed?

  Like all workers, bus drivers need a break too. In fact, it is required they take regular breaks to make sure they stay alert when driving large vehicles like buses. A respite facility is an area where they can park and take a break. It looks like a parking lot with a small building. The area will be fenced and have a gate that locks at the end of each day to keep the area secure.

  
  Conceptual Site Plan for Respite Facility

  
  Conceptual Rendering for Cavan Street

• Why choose 35 Cavan Street for the respite facility?

  The future transit exchange on Terminal has limited space so a different location had to be found. The City-owned parking lot just up the road on Cavan Street was the best option to provide a space for transit drivers to take their required breaks. 

  
  Routing to and from Transit Layover (Respite) Facility

• How much noise can be expected from the respite facility?

  Noise will be intermittent and may include buses braking and backing up into spots. Currently the RDN Fleet is mostly CNG which is quieter than the former diesel busses. The long-term goal is to electrify the fleet in the next 2-5 years, which will be significantly quieter than the current fleet.

  There will be some low-volume noise such as talking from the operators using the facility and sitting outside on nice days.

• What hours will bus drivers be at the respite facility?

  Typically, drivers will take breaks from around 8 am to 9 pm, with the busiest times being midday. The current downtown exchange accommodated 55 breaks on weekdays which is an average of 3 busses per hour, or one every twenty minutes. 

  Conceptual Rendering of Operator Respite Facility

• How will the overall project (exchange on Terminal and Respite facility on Cavan) affect parking?

  The parking lot at Shaw Lane will have 14 fewer parking spaces. But, with the ease of access for transit riders to the area (up to 22 buses per hour arriving at the exchange), the loss of these spots shouldn’t have much impact as we expect car use to decrease.

  Changing the Cavan Street property from a parking lot into a place for bus drivers to take a break will affect 37 off-street parking and six on-street parking spaces. Studies have shown that the on-street parking on Cavan Street can easily be replaced by other existing on-street spaces nearby. Most of the people who use the off-street parking have monthly passes, and some can park at the 95 Cavan Street lot, while others can use nearby parkades or private lots within about 200 meters of this area.