Transportation Master Plan Community Survey: Round Two Public Engagement

We considered the following big challenges and opportunities when creating the plan.

The District is growing.

Squamish has grown quickly and, based on current projections, will continue to grow for the coming decades Providing greater transportation choices supports everyone that wants to live in the community.

How the District uses its land is very important for managing how people get around the community.

We can meet many District goals by focusing future growth near neighbourhood centres and areas along transit routes. This will put people close to important places and services like parks, schools,  grocery stores, services and recreation areas. It will also make it easier for people to walk, bike and use public transportation to get where they need to go.

Accommodating all trips by car will become increasingly challenging.

As our community continues to grow, and if everyone keeps traveling the same way they do today, the traffic congestion on our streets will continue to get worse, reducing quality of life. Widening large portions of our street network is not possible due to property constraints, high construction costs, and environmental considerations.

Transportation choices that work for all ages, incomes and abilities.

Everyone likes to get around in different ways. Some will always drive, some will walk or roll, and some will choose transit. These needs vary by age, income, physical ability and individual preferences. For the community to work for everyone, it needs safe, convenient and reliable options for all of the above transportation means.

The plan gives people choices.

The community has told us they want safer ways to get around on foot, by bicycle and in other ways, such as skateboarding and scooters. This plan will give greater focus to these methods of transportation.

Options that consider sustainability.

Switching to electric cars helps with some District objectives such as addressing climate change and air quality, but it won’t solve traffic and parking challenges. Truly sustainable transportation solutions are those that can accommodate growth with less ongoing financial investment and community impacts.

We plan to use quick and efficient building methods.

In addition to major projects that require significant investment, the plan proposes a "quick build" approach for many smaller projects. This approach uses lower cost designs and materials leading to more kilometers of safe zones for walking, biking and rolling.

It's not about stopping people from driving.

It's about finding a balance. Many people choose to drive less when they have other transportation choices. This helps make more room on the streets and in parking areas for those who still need or prefer to drive.

It's about creating a community that benefits everyone.

The District currently works well for people that drive today. Streets take them where they need to go, but better and more infrastructure is needed on many streets, if people want to walk, ride a bicycle, or take transit.