Southern Gulf Islands Transportation Integration

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New: SGI Transportation Integration Plan; Appendix A- Public Engagement Summary; SGI Active Transportation Plan

About the SGI Transportation Referendum

Galiano Community Bus (2017-2019)

The Capital Regional District (CRD) will have a referendum question on the ballot for the general election of October 15, 2022. The referendum will ask voters if they are in favour of establishing an integrated transportation service for the Southern Gulf Islands Electoral Area, funded by a maximum tax requisition of $675 000 or $14.10 per $100,000 of assessed property value ($0.1414 per $1,000). Click here for more information about Proposed Establishment Bylaw 4484, and the referendum question.

How Will the Funding Be Used?

Pender Island Community Trail

The funding will be used to directly support local transportation groups with grants so they can offer right sized solutions for trails and community bus service. The funding will pay for staff to seek additional infrastructure funding and provide continuity of coordination and administration. The service will be accompanied by the establishment of an SGI Transportation Commission, with representation from each island, as well as representation by stakeholders in each of the three transportation modes. Ultimately, the Commission would be responsible for proposing service priorities and budget allocations, which would require approval by the CRD Board and be implemented by staff and partner transportation groups. The Commission will be able to shift priorities and allocations to best fit community needs and opportunities.

What’s It All About?

Mayne Island Community Bus

The primary objective of an SGI transportation service would be to provide financial and coordination support to locally led active transportation and community transit initiatives. It would also provide some support for partnerships to improve inter-island travel between the islands (beyond BC Ferries).This project was initiated at the request of island residents, organizations, and the SGI Community Economic Sustainability Commission (CESC), who asked the CRD to support the community buses and provide transportation alternatives within the Southern Gulf Islands: Galiano, Mayne, Saturna and North & South Pender Islands (SGI).

Why is the CRD Proposing this Service?

Signage on Galiano Island Roadway
With an SGI Transportation Service, the CRD could support transportation projects specific to the islands. It could hold and administer transportation funds, allocate funding to local transportation projects, apply for transportation grants from other levels of government, act as a sponsor to non-profits applying for transportation grants, and hold land tenure and licenses of occupation required for larger infrastructure initiatives. The proposed service will also support transportation by filling gaps in the existing local transportation framework via grants to local transportation societies and providing coordination for a transportation network that is integrated across different modes and different islands of the SGI EA.

What Have Islanders Said?

Stroller on Saturna Island The decision to propose a transportation service comes after a year-long community engagement process that involved a high level of public participation. Overall, the theme heard repeatedly from the public and stakeholders was that there was a need to improve transportation options on the Southern Gulf Islands, particularly due a lack of safety for users of the hilly, winding and narrow road network. Improved transportation options would:
  • Better connect island communities.
  • Provide alternatives to single occupancy vehicles and reduce car dependency.
  • Provide low-income populations more affordable travel options.
  • Better enable seniors and youth the ability to travel safely and independently.
  • Support sustainability goals in the SGI.

To better understand some of the road safety issues in the SGI, read this Driftwood article which discusses the first-hand experiences of cyclists in the neighbouring Salt Spring Island Electoral Area.

You can read more details of the extensive community engagement process in Watt’s final report, the SGI Transportation Integration Plan and Appendix A- Public Engagement Summary.

How Do I Learn More?

See Background Resources on the right, and check out the resources below:

Active Transportation Planning

Bicycles on Galiano Island

In tandem with this Transportation Integration Plan, the Capital Regional District developed a Southern Gulf Islands Active Transportation Plan that builds on existing mapping work completed for Galiano, Mayne, Saturna, and the Pender Islands, including the CRD Regional Parks’ proposed spine trails and trails managed by CRD local Parks and Recreation Commissions as well local trail societies on each island.

This AT plan is intended as a resource for groups developing active transportation in the islands. If the CRD establishes an SGI Transportation Service, the future SGI Transportation Commission can consider a strategic plan for implementation, and start exploring how to fund it with infrastructure grants from other levels of government. The maps are living documents, and the future SGI Transportation Commission will have the opportunity to update them as needed.

New: SGI Transportation Integration Plan; Appendix A- Public Engagement Summary; SGI Active Transportation Plan

About the SGI Transportation Referendum

Galiano Community Bus (2017-2019)

The Capital Regional District (CRD) will have a referendum question on the ballot for the general election of October 15, 2022. The referendum will ask voters if they are in favour of establishing an integrated transportation service for the Southern Gulf Islands Electoral Area, funded by a maximum tax requisition of $675 000 or $14.10 per $100,000 of assessed property value ($0.1414 per $1,000). Click here for more information about Proposed Establishment Bylaw 4484, and the referendum question.

How Will the Funding Be Used?

Pender Island Community Trail

The funding will be used to directly support local transportation groups with grants so they can offer right sized solutions for trails and community bus service. The funding will pay for staff to seek additional infrastructure funding and provide continuity of coordination and administration. The service will be accompanied by the establishment of an SGI Transportation Commission, with representation from each island, as well as representation by stakeholders in each of the three transportation modes. Ultimately, the Commission would be responsible for proposing service priorities and budget allocations, which would require approval by the CRD Board and be implemented by staff and partner transportation groups. The Commission will be able to shift priorities and allocations to best fit community needs and opportunities.

What’s It All About?

Mayne Island Community Bus

The primary objective of an SGI transportation service would be to provide financial and coordination support to locally led active transportation and community transit initiatives. It would also provide some support for partnerships to improve inter-island travel between the islands (beyond BC Ferries).This project was initiated at the request of island residents, organizations, and the SGI Community Economic Sustainability Commission (CESC), who asked the CRD to support the community buses and provide transportation alternatives within the Southern Gulf Islands: Galiano, Mayne, Saturna and North & South Pender Islands (SGI).

Why is the CRD Proposing this Service?

Signage on Galiano Island Roadway
With an SGI Transportation Service, the CRD could support transportation projects specific to the islands. It could hold and administer transportation funds, allocate funding to local transportation projects, apply for transportation grants from other levels of government, act as a sponsor to non-profits applying for transportation grants, and hold land tenure and licenses of occupation required for larger infrastructure initiatives. The proposed service will also support transportation by filling gaps in the existing local transportation framework via grants to local transportation societies and providing coordination for a transportation network that is integrated across different modes and different islands of the SGI EA.

What Have Islanders Said?

Stroller on Saturna Island The decision to propose a transportation service comes after a year-long community engagement process that involved a high level of public participation. Overall, the theme heard repeatedly from the public and stakeholders was that there was a need to improve transportation options on the Southern Gulf Islands, particularly due a lack of safety for users of the hilly, winding and narrow road network. Improved transportation options would:
  • Better connect island communities.
  • Provide alternatives to single occupancy vehicles and reduce car dependency.
  • Provide low-income populations more affordable travel options.
  • Better enable seniors and youth the ability to travel safely and independently.
  • Support sustainability goals in the SGI.

To better understand some of the road safety issues in the SGI, read this Driftwood article which discusses the first-hand experiences of cyclists in the neighbouring Salt Spring Island Electoral Area.

You can read more details of the extensive community engagement process in Watt’s final report, the SGI Transportation Integration Plan and Appendix A- Public Engagement Summary.

How Do I Learn More?

See Background Resources on the right, and check out the resources below:

Active Transportation Planning

Bicycles on Galiano Island

In tandem with this Transportation Integration Plan, the Capital Regional District developed a Southern Gulf Islands Active Transportation Plan that builds on existing mapping work completed for Galiano, Mayne, Saturna, and the Pender Islands, including the CRD Regional Parks’ proposed spine trails and trails managed by CRD local Parks and Recreation Commissions as well local trail societies on each island.

This AT plan is intended as a resource for groups developing active transportation in the islands. If the CRD establishes an SGI Transportation Service, the future SGI Transportation Commission can consider a strategic plan for implementation, and start exploring how to fund it with infrastructure grants from other levels of government. The maps are living documents, and the future SGI Transportation Commission will have the opportunity to update them as needed.

  • What's Happening? - June 2022

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    On June 8, 2022, the Capital Regional District (CRD) Board received the Southern Gulf Islands Transportation Integration Plan, which presents a business case for a new transportation service for the Southern Gulf Islands Electoral Area. After consideration of the plan’s recommendations, the CRD Board gave three readings to Bylaw 4484, an important step towards the establishment of an integrated Southern Gulf Islands (SGI) Transportation Service.

    The Capital Regional District will include a referendum question on the ballot of the General Local Election in October 2022, to ask if voters support the creation of a new transportation service for the Electoral Area. Voter assent is required to authorize creation of the new service. If approved, the new service would raise a maximum requisition of $675 000 or $14.10 per $100,000 of assessed property value ($0.1414 per $1,000).

    Visit the CRD Elections & Other Voting | CRD web page for updates about the referendum as details are confirmed.

  • SGI TIP Updates May 2022

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    Thank you for your interest in the CRD Southern Gulf Islands Transportation Integration project. We have now concluded our community engagement on creating a new transportation service for the Southern Gulf Islands Electoral Area.


    Check out the What We Heard-Round Two report for a summary of the input we received. Round 2 engagement took place in Winter 2022 and sought feedback on the level of support for the various funding options and the range of proposed transportation solutions. It involved an online survey and four virtual Q&A sessions (conducted over Zoom). A mail out FAQ was sent to every SGI mailbox. This mail out explained the proposals and encouraged people to fill out the survey and attend the virtual meetings. During the Round 2 engagement, 1.5k people visited the Get Involved website, and 365 surveys were submitted.

    The Round 2 Engagement found the majority of people supported a tax requisition to increase transportation solutions in the islands. Eighty-five percent of respondents to the survey indicated a desire for change from the current level of transportation service on the islands. A fully integrated transportation system was the first preference for most participants, and a semi-integrated transportation system was the second preference for most participants.

    In tandem with this Transportation Integration Plan, the Capital Regional District developed a Southern Gulf Island Active Transportation Plan that builds on existing mapping work completed for Galiano, Mayne, Saturna, and the Pender Islands, including the CRD Regional Parks’ proposed spine trails and trails managed by CRD local Parks and Recreation Commissions as well local trail societies on each island.

    This Active Transportation Plan is intended as a resource for groups developing active transportation in the islands. If the CRD establishes an SGI Transportation Service, the future SGI Transportation Commission can consider a strategic plan for implementation, and start exploring how to fund it with infrastructure grants from other levels of government. The maps are living documents, and the future SGI Transportation Commission will have the opportunity to update them as needed.


    Next steps: The CRD will receive the final report from Watt Consulting with recommendations on creating a new transportation service. The CRD Board will then be presented with the outcomes of this process and will consider whether to pursue a referendum and establishment of a transportation service in the SGI EA.


    Stay tuned for updates on this, and thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts on the proposed integrated transportation service for our islands.

  • Round 2 Survey is now closed - Thanks for your input!

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    Thank you to all who participated in our second round of community engagement.

    We are now compiling the feedback we received.

    The second phase of public engagement presented a range of transportation solutions and sought to understand the level of support for funding the various options. This project builds on a large amount of resident feedback and analysis already undertaken through past initiatives as well as this recent community engagement.

    For more information you can email TransportationSGI@crd.bc.ca.

  • Round 2 Survey and Table of Service Options & Costs

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    We are now beginning the next round of community engagement on options for service establishment that would enable a transportation function for the Southern Gulf Islands Electoral Area.

    This phase of public engagement presents a range of transportation solutions and seeks to understand the level of support for funding the various options. Feedback received will help guide the decision making of the CRD Board in terms of whether to pursue a referendum and service establishment for a transportation function in the SGI EA.

    We encourage you to review the table of service options & costs, fill out a survey, and sign up for an online Q&A session:

    Thank you for taking the time to learn about and share your thoughts on the proposed service options.

  • Engagement Data from Round 1

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    A variety of public engagement methods have been undertaken for this project from March-December of 2021; targeted outreach via virtual workshops with Transit Advisory Groups and stakeholders, outreach in person at several public events and online via this engagement site (which included interactive mapping, quick polls, a survey, and an ideas forum). During the fall outreach, a mailout FAQ was sent to every SGI mailbox to encourage people to fill out the survey.

    We have further consultation scheduled for January 2022.

    Check out this report summarizing the data we collected in the initial phases of engagement

    What We've Heard - Round 1 Report

Page last updated: 27 Jun 2022, 12:15 PM