Owen is Listening

Ideas I’m exploring.

Better connections. Welcoming neighbourhoods. A stronger local voice. These are starting points for discussion about what View Royal could do next.

Some ideas are developed further than others. All need input from residents, a clear understanding of costs and cooperation with the people responsible. I’ll keep refining them as I learn more.

Back to the campaign

Evening view from Atkins across Esquimalt Harbour, with boats and lights along the shoreline — The view from Atkins across Esquimalt Harbour. Photo from my collection.

Getting around View Royal

From the highway to the trail network, look at how each connection works for the people using it.

A closer look

Relieve highway bottlenecks while protecting bus priority.

Ask the Province and BC Transit to review whether the new bus lanes between McKenzie and Helmcken could also serve drivers taking the next exit, in both directions.

Concept map between McKenzie Interchange and Helmcken Overpass showing proposed exit-only use of bus lanes, with blue arrows westbound toward Langford and green arrows eastbound toward Victoria — Concept illustration: proposed exit-only use of bus lanes between McKenzie and Helmcken. This is an idea for review. It is not an approved Ministry plan or finalized engineering design. Select the image to enlarge it.

Read the proposal

Could the new bus lanes between McKenzie and Helmcken also work for drivers taking the next exit? I want the Province to review that possibility in both directions. Toward Langford, drivers could use the lane from McKenzie if they are exiting at Helmcken. Toward Victoria, drivers could use it from Helmcken if they are taking the McKenzie/Admirals exit. The proposal is for drivers taking those exits, with the lane and interchange arrangements to be assessed by the Province and BC Transit.

A possible first step

If elected, I would bring forward a motion asking staff to write to the Province requesting a review with BC Transit, including safety and the impact on bus travel times. I would also invite neighbouring municipalities to join the request. Highway 1 is the Province’s responsibility, and any changes would require its approval.

Bus travel times and safety need to be central to the review. The idea is to separate exiting traffic from through traffic earlier, while protecting the purpose of the bus lanes. Whether shared use could work, and at what times, would need to be assessed before any changes are considered.

Details, limits and questions

Could a driver joining at McKenzie and leaving at Helmcken stay in the shared lane, avoiding a merge into through traffic and back out again? The ramp and lane design would need to support this safely.
Where could drivers enter the lane, and how would signs and markings make the next-exit requirement clear?
What would shared use mean for bus travel times and reliability in each direction?
Would it reduce highway backups or move the bottleneck to the exits?
Would any operating-time restrictions, enforcement or emergency-access arrangements be needed?

What we would learn

A review by the Province with BC Transit establishing whether shared use by buses and next-exit traffic could safely ease congestion between McKenzie and Helmcken, and what the trade-offs would be.

Organizations to involve: Ministry of Transportation and Transit, BC Transit, the Victoria Regional Transit Commission and neighbouring municipalities.

Safer connections between trails

I want to look at safety where the E&N and Galloping Goose trails connect. The starting point is to understand the crossing, listen to the people using it and identify practical improvements with the agencies responsible.

A better plan when the highway closes

I want to explore how detours and public information could work better when highway traffic is diverted through our community. Earthquake and tsunami preparedness also need attention, with routes planned for the particular hazard rather than assuming an everyday detour is a safe evacuation route.

Smarter traffic lights and better planning

I often get a green light in View Royal, head downhill with a line of cars, and reach the next intersection just as it turns red. Meanwhile, someone has been waiting to cross when there appeared to be a gap in traffic moments earlier. Could better coordination help both?

I’d like View Royal to work with the Province and neighbouring municipalities on a smarter traffic network, where lights share information and respond to traffic as it moves. The goal would be fewer unnecessary stops, while keeping crossings safe and making sure people on side streets get their turn.

Alongside that, I want to explore a live computer model of our roads to test different light timings and road changes, see how they affect surrounding communities, and help plan for future growth. AI could play a part, but we’d need to check the predictions against what actually happens.

This would be a major regional project, not something View Royal could do alone. I’d start by finding out what’s already in place, what could work together, and where a small trial would make sense.

Support the Island railway corridor

I support the Island railway corridor and want its potential to remain part of the regional transportation conversation. The details need to be worked through with the communities, First Nations and organizations involved.

Places we enjoy and care for

Practical improvements to shared spaces, and more opportunities to make them our own.

Explore an off-leash dog park

I’d like to explore whether the old Thetis Lake overflow parking lot at Six Mile and Atkins could work as an off-leash dog park. I think it’s a location worth looking at, but I’d want to hear from nearby residents and dog owners first. That includes what people would want in the space, how access and parking would work, and how it could fit well with the surrounding neighbourhood and trails.

More room for local art

I would like to explore opportunities for local art along the Island Corridor, including whether an art wrap could improve a suitable structure. The location and approach would need to be worked out with artists, the property owner and the community.

New opportunities for View Royal

Explore where local economic development could contribute to a wider public benefit.

A closer look

Explore wildfire and emergency-technology opportunities.

Explore whether the Western Gateway could attract Canadian researchers and businesses working in wildfire response and emergency technology, bringing jobs and a broader commercial tax base.

Read the proposal

I want to explore whether the Western Gateway Corridor could attract Canadian researchers and businesses working on wildfire response and emergency technology. Areas such as early detection, thermal imaging and drone mapping could offer a connection between helping communities prepare for climate-related emergencies and bringing skilled jobs and new businesses to View Royal.

A possible first step

I would ask Council to explore interest from researchers, Canadian companies and emergency agencies, along with provincial and federal funding and partnership opportunities. The first step is to find out whether there is a realistic opportunity for View Royal and what role the Town could sensibly play.

This is an economic-development idea, with no commitment to build a dedicated centre or fund a new facility. View Royal would not become a drone testing range. Any flight testing would need to take place at suitable authorized locations elsewhere.

Details, limits and questions

Which businesses and researchers would be interested in locating or partnering in View Royal?
Could suitable space in the Western Gateway meet their needs while fitting the surrounding community?
What provincial or federal programs could support an opportunity, and what would they require from the Town?
Could this bring lasting jobs and help diversify our commercial tax base?
What costs, staff time and neighbourhood impacts would need to be understood before proceeding?

What we would learn

Whether there is enough interest and a practical partnership or funding path to justify a more detailed proposal. Any next step would come back to Council with its costs, benefits and municipal responsibilities clearly identified.

Potential partners to approach: Canadian wildfire and emergency-technology companies, researchers, emergency agencies, interested First Nations, and provincial and federal economic-development and innovation programs.

A stronger community voice

Give residents a meaningful role in shaping decisions before they are made.

Bring back committees

I want to explore bringing back committees as a way for residents to contribute local knowledge and help shape municipal decisions. They should have a clear purpose and a visible connection to the work of Council.

Add your perspective

What am I missing?

If you see a problem with one of these ideas, know of work already underway or have a better approach, I want to hear it.

Share your feedback If you email me, I will use your contact information only to respond to your message or follow up on what you share. I will not publish or sell it.