Thanks to your support, the Quadra/McKenzie petition to stop the reduction of auto traffic to single lanes, has reached over 5000 signatures!

The Mayor and Council have heard your message and have been feeling the pressure on the issue.

That didn't stop the Mayor however from doing a bit of public relations damage control a couple weeks ago by releasing the following response that seemed to present the plan as a fait accompli:

LETTER: Quadra McKenzie Plan sets Saanich on course to better future - Saanich News

and then seemingly backing down from it today:

Mayor says Saanich has no plans to reduce McKenzie to single lane - Saanich News

However, the Mayor's recent seeming reversal in his public stance is vague and still appears to leaves the option open looking more like an attempt to mollify public opposition before it is decided on, and the Mayor is not the only person on the Council, who will decide on the issue.

"After receiving numerous emails about the issue, Saanich Mayor Dean Murdock reassured residents that McKenzie Avenue would not undergo lane reductions.

“I just wanted to be clear that there is no intention to reduce McKenzie to one lane,” he said. “What we're much more likely to see in the short term is a queue jumper lane at major intersections that will allow the bus to get ahead of traffic… but that will not result in a vehicle lane reduction for anybody."

Far from being clear, McKenzie would not be reduced to one lane in the current plan. It would in the plan be reduced to one lane on either side for auto traffic, but there would still be second lanes purely for bus use, meaning the Mayor's comment is vague and interpretative.

Will the Mayor use single queue jumper lanes for 'rapid transit', as a token foot-in-the-door to justify Transit-Operating Development Areas (TODs/TOAs), in the area that will promote sky-high densification, while in the long-term the reduction to single lane automobile traffic will continue?

The same day the Mayor released his statement the Hello Saanich online portal also sent out the following:

"QMP Check-In with Council and Phase 3 Engagement Summary Update

The QMP Phase 3 Community and Stakeholder Engagement Summary (January 2025) is planned to be presented to Council for information at a Special Council Meeting on February 11, 2025. The report will also outline land use, transportation, and process options for advancing the Draft Quadra McKenzie Plan.

We will send out another note when this item has been confirmed on the February 11th agenda. The Special Council meeting agenda and report will be posted for viewing on the Council Meeting Schedule page on the Thursday prior to the meeting.
How to Provide Input

You can attend the Council meeting in person or online (see link below for details) or send your submission to Council via the following options:

Email council@saanich.ca

Mail a submission to 770 Vernon Ave, Victoria BC, V8X 2W7
Drop information off in person to the Legislative Division on the second floor at 770 Vernon Avenue.

All correspondence to Mayor and Council, in regards to a specific item on an agenda, must be received by noon on the day of the meeting; will form part of the public record; and, may be published in a meeting agenda.

Should you wish to participate at the meeting either in person or by MS Teams, please visit the Council Meeting Information page for registration information.

More documents and information on the QMP project can also be found at saanich.ca/QMS

Thank you for your interest in the Quadra McKenzie Project!"

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Once again, thank you for all your support.  

Fore more information: Please contact Saanichpetition@mail.com