First draft start on what promises to be the local headline yes/no debate for the foreseeable future.
Starting Points
- District's TMP Implementation page.
- Navigating Sooke: Transforming Traffic Challenges Into Solutions (updated Jan. 2025; burning questions answered in the FAQ section, including "Why can't Sooke stop growing?" and "Who pays for road, sidewalk and trail improvements?").
- A policy rationale for the connector route is presented in the Feb. 24 agenda pp. 41-44 as part of the grant submission package to the federal Active Transportation Fund. It includes reference to Strategic Plan priorities, community wellbeing, climate impacts and community economic development as per fund guidelines.
- District Council's 2024-2027 Strategic Plan .... Strategic Areas of Focus under Infrastructure Investments and Multi-Modal Transportation: "We make significant investments in infrastructure to support our community’s growth for future generations. This involves upgrading existing infrastructure, building new infrastructure, and seeking funding that supports our growing community’s needs. By enhancing our connectivity and livability, we can reduce our carbon footprint."
Feb. 24: Council moved that a borrowing referendum be scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026 as part of the next municipal general election. By then, the District's share of the costs will be better known following the early 2026 outcome of the federal grant application. It will also allow due public debate based on a full-scale information package to be produced by the District and set to include line-item cost breakdown, traffic impact studies, amortized costs of the borrowing over its 30-year lifespan and other critical details. This also gives time for the Ministry of Transportation and Transit (MOTT) to fund its complimentary updates to Sooke Road. Unanimous vote in favour by the four of us present (Beddows, St-Pierre, Tait and myself. Pearson on holiday, McMath a short-notice absentee due to work obligations.) There were six members of the public (one a babe in arms) present for this decision.
Feb. 23: Tomorrow evening Council will review the latest iterative approach to building out critical sections of Sooke’s internal transportation network. It is contingent on both a successful borrowing referendum and approved grants through Ottawa’s Active Transportation Fund (which, if successful, would reduce the now $49m price tag for the Throup/Phillips section to $28m). See the agenda pp. 21-44 for the staff report from Operations Director Jeff Carter and his team.
A referendum update follows on agenda pp. 45-60. It includes a variety of taxpayer impacts based on interest rates, term length and whether or not grant applications succeed. Council is asked to vote on whether to schedule this "assent borrowing opportunity" with the near-term (TBD) by-election(s), as a standalone or in tandem with the Oct. 2026 municipal general election. Grant results will be known late this year/early next, and so we're being nudged towards a 2026 option.
Holding back while clearly signalling we're ready to move ahead with a referendum will motivate, I trust, the BC Ministry of Transportation and Transit to announce and fund its share of complimentary Hwy 14 improvements (i.e., Idlemore and the right-turn lanes at Phillips, Church and the signalized Charters intersection). Letters of support have been requested by the District from multiple local and provincial stakeholders, and those will need to be collected and compiled.
Time must also be given for full public input to inform the referendum. I picture extraordinarily lively town halls and the formation of "Vote Yes" and "No" lobby groups as was the case when the 2006 connector route referendum was (sadly, frustratingly) defeated. Viva the democratic process.
What's missing to date is the hard data, traffic projections and detailed cost spreadsheets that must inform the referendum debate. As I wrote in my Bill 44 blog post last week: "In the months ahead, District staff will need present a comprehensive and persuasive cost/benefit analysis of why this bypass is a game changer -- one with full reference to the existing traffic impact studies -- if indeed this referendum is to pass the smell test and succeed in a 50% + one vote. Approx. $200 (?) per residential household annually over as long as 30 years is no small ask, especially in such uncertain economic times and given all the other best practices we're asking residents to fund, i.e. the asset management reserve fund, 24/7 policing, a fully unionized fire department and substantial overall District staffing levels, no matter that we're currently one of BC's lowest-taxed communities.”
Implementation of the 2020 Sooke Transportation Master Plan
Proposed construction dates pending multiple factors, notably potential borrowing referendum vote and successful federal grant application. See map below for remaining phases as currently envisioned.
The TMP and Parks & Trails Master Plans were endorsed by council on Oct. 13, 2020
See the agenda pp. 21-44 for the Feb. 24, 2025 staff report.
Complete
Preliminary (i.e., completed prior to the 2020 TMP)
- Wadams Way: District paid for road, adjacent multi-use trail ($450k) was 60% funded by the Province
- Press release: Pre-Election Grand Opening (Sept. 27, 2014)
- Sooke Road roundabout at Evergreen Mall: Completed November, 2015
- Project costs: $9.1m ($6m from Province; $3.1m from District)
- Town centre sidewalk from Church to Otter Point Rd. constructed by MOTI in conjunction with roundabout
Phase 1: Otter Point Road Active Transportation Corridor Project
- Sooke Road to Wadams Way - 430m of sidewalks, 720m of bike lane, crosswalk at Grant Rd.
- Total project cost: $2.1m (with $1.9m from the federal/provincial Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program)
- Contract awarded to Hazelwood Construction Services, Nanaimo (which had recently completed a MOTI contract for shoulder widening on the West Coast Rd. between Otter Point and Woodhaven).
Phase 2: Church Road Corridor
- Total project cost: $1.84m
- Tender awarded to Hazelwood (July 12, 2021 - agenda pp. 193-94) ... second lowest of six bids received
- Sidewalks, bike lanes, road resurfacing, utilities upgrades
- $500k grant from the BC Active Transportation Infrastructure Grant Program
Phase 3: Church Road Roundabout
- Total project cost: $2.9m
- Church Road Roundabout and Intersection design - Nov. 23, 2020 council meeting (agenda pp. 151-52)
- Tender awarded to Hazelwood Construction Services at council meeting of July 24, 2023 (see agenda, pg. 183)
- Hazlewood's was the only proposal received from the tender process.
- Substantial completion in May, 2024
Phase 4: Charters Corridor
- Total project cost: $6.9m
* $3,579,041 from the one-time BC Growing Communities Fund
* $2,220,000 from Road Development Cost Charges
* $111,711 from the Communities Building Fund
* $1,039,247 from additional grants/funds
* $487,962 from CRD Infrastructure and Water Services
- Tender awarded to Hazelwood at council meeting of July 24, 2023 (see agenda, pp. 181-82)
- Note: Phases three and four tendered to Hazelwood given construction efficiencies and its successful execution of earlier phases. Higher bids were received from Vimex Contracting ($7.4m) and Don Mann Excavating ($7.9m)
Upcoming
Phase 5: Charters & Sooke Road Intersection
- Four-legged signalized intersection
- Total project cost: $3.5m
- MOTT anticipated to pay 50% of costs
- Grant application pending for $500k
- Planned construction in 2026
- BC Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants application #1 - Nov. 27, 2023 (see agenda pp. 35-38). Denied.
- BC Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants Program application #2 - Oct. 28, 2024 (see agenda pp. 23-33), includes engineering blueprint of intersection on pg. 29.
Phase 6: Throup and Phillips Road Connector
- Total project cost: $49,791,985 (includes 20% contingency)
- Grant application amount: $16,901,991
- District contribution: $32,889,209
- less Development Cost Charge contributions: ~ $5m
- From Church Rd. roundabout to Phillips exit onto Sooke Road
- Proposed construction: 2026-2029
- Now recontexualized as a single project (as opposed to phases in previous strategies)
- Project at 75% functional design
- Land acquisition required
- Extensive contingencies built into the $49m price tag to account for potential inflation & cost factors (therefore final costs may be significantly lower)
* 20% best-practice overall contingency ($10m)
* 10% inflation for contracted services at time tender is awarded ($5m)
* 2% costs for potential remediation of contaminated soil ($2m)
* 12% allowance for contracted management services ($6m)
Phase 7: Otter Point Active Transportation Corridor Continuation
- Total project cost: $2,096,602 (includes 30% contingency)
- Grant application amount: $884,930
- District contribution: $1,211,672
- Continuing the sidewalk and bike lane from The Park View north past the Municipal Hall to Rhodonite.
- "Completes the missing active transportation link connecting the Broom Hill area to John Phillips Park and the Stickleback Trail"
- 50% conceptual design
- Proposed construction: 2027
Phase 8: Hwy 14 Active Transportation Continuation
- Total project cost: $9,669,615 (includes 30% contingency)
- Grant application amount: $5,801,769
- District contribution: $4,987,248
- West Coast Rd. sidewalks and shoulder bike lanes from Ed Macgregor Park to Whiffin Spit Rd.
- "MOTT will not fund sidewalks along highways" but a successful grant will "incentivize the Ministry to complete a road resurfacing project."
- Proposed construction: 2028
Phase 9: Wadams/Otter Point/Grant Road West Continuation
- Project cost estimate: $12m
- Proposed construction: 2030
Trail Connection to Sunriver
Context: Active Routes to Schools
Phase 1: Ponds Corridor
Cost: $2.1m
Completed in 2021
Phase 2: Little River Trail & Bridge
- District's Little River Multi-Use Trail home page
- Cost: $2,869,000
- BC Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants Program application - Nov. 27, 2023 (see agenda pp. 35-57; engineering drawings begin on pg. 39)
- Environmental Development Permit - Sept. 23, 2024 (see agenda pp. 125-200; Environmental Management Plan begins on pg. 133)
- Little River Pedestrian Crossing contract to Regehr Contracting Ltd. - $1,943,749.30 - Jan. 13, 2025 (agenda pp. 21-65)
- Site preparation underway, trail and boardwalk construction begins in spring, completion date this fall
Upcoming
Phase 3: Little River Active Transportation Trail - Sunriver Way Access
- Total project cost: $2,763,411 (includes 30% contingency)
- Grant application amount: $$1,658,064
- District contribution: $1,105,377
- Proposed construction: 2027
- Remediating the very steep access point to the future Little River (Demamiel Creek) Trail from its Sunriver Way northern access point. Construction of two retaining walls over 150m to reduce grade according to standards set in BC's Active Transportation Design Guide.
Grant Funding Possibilities
Federal Active Transportation Fund
- federal government website landing page via the Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada
"Up to $500M will be available for active transportation capital projects across Canada. This includes a minimum of 10% of total funds set aside for Indigenous recipients ... Projects that are determined to be eligible will be further evaluated against the program's merit criteria. Final project selection is undertaken with a view to balancing funding support by taking into consideration such factors as regional distribution, the type of project, and equitable access."
- Application deadline: February 26, 2025
- Projects must be complete by March 30, 2030
- Unlimited number of project requests up to a maximum of $50m
- Grants will cover up to 60% of costs per project
- Grants can be stacked with other funding sources
- Active Transportation Fund grant windows will open again in coming years as part of a "Targeted Funding" approach
- The fund is a component of the federal government's $3b Canada Public Transit Fund
Sooke's grant request = $25,246,754 (i.e., 5% of total available national grant funding in the current funding window; other opportunities will follow if we receive partial funding)
1. Throup and Phillips Road Connector Active Transportation Corridor ($16,901,991)
2. Little River Active Transportation Trail - Sunriver Way Access ($1,658,064)
3. Otter Point Active Transportation Corridor Continuation (John Phillips Park lot to Rhodonite - $884,930)
4. Highway 14 Active Transportation Continuation (Ed Macgregor Park to Whiffin Spit Road - $5,801,769)
Frequently Asked Questions
<clip> "Capital projects involve new infrastructure construction, enhancement of existing infrastructure, and/or improvements to design and safety features that encourage increased active transportation.Eligible capital projects may include:
"Is a municipal attestation or endorsement from Council required for a municipal applicant? "Municipal applicants do not require a municipal Council endorsement, resolution or other form of attestation at the time of application. Should the project funding be approved, such an attestation may be required as a condition of the funding agreement."
Long-Term Borrowing Referendum Update
Feb. 24, 2025. See the agenda pp. 45 to 60
"The District of Sooke has key capital Transportation Master Plan projects that need debt financing, as outlined in its 2025-2029 Five-Year Financial Plan, at a total budget of $49.79 million (Appendix 1). With $5 million of DCC and other funding available, the maximum amount of funds the District needs to borrow to finance these projects is up to $44.79 million ($49.79 million - $5 million and including contingency). With a successful federal Active Transportation grant of $16.90 million, this borrowing amount will be reduced to $27.89 million." (from the staff report, pg. 46)
- Council options
i) Tag the referendum onto a near-term by-election for one councillor and possibly Mayor
ii) Hold a borrowing referendum on a standaloneTBD voting day after the by-election
iii) Tag it onto the municipal general election ballot on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026
Staff recommendation: "If Council's preference is to receive confirmation on grant funding prior to a referendum then it is recommended that the District conduct the assent voting (referendum) in October 2026. By this time, the District will have the necessary information to inform the public and meet the grant funder’s required timeline. Additionally, combining the referendum with the general local election is a cost-effective option."
Draft Referendum Question "Are you in favour of the District of Sooke adopting the Loan Authorization Bylaw No. XXX to authorize the borrowing of up to $XXXXX for the purpose of building roads with an active transportation path located at XXXXXX, Sooke, BC?"
Cost implication scenarios for taxpayers
The Municipal Finance Authority of BC's current long-term (30-year) borrowing rate is 4.36% See MFA long-term borrowing rates backgrounder. A long-term loan is locked in for its first ten years at a set interest rate, then renegotiated based on current interest rates at time of renewal. Interest rate trends have been declining since a peak of 4.97% in fall 2023.
1. Without Active Transportation Grant (at 4.36% interest rate)
- $45m principal
- annual principal payment = $876k
- annual interest payment = $1,972,426
- annual debt repayment = $2,848,768
- Cost per average assessed Sooke household (2024 figure) = $272 per year
- If interest rate was 3.5% = $169 per year
2. With Active Transportation Grant (at 4.36% interest rate)
- $28m principal
- annual principal payment = $545,654
- annual interest payment = $1,228,130
- annual debt repayment = $1,773,784
- Cost per average assessed Sooke household (2024 figure) = $169 per year
- If interest rate was 3.5% = $146 per year
"This annual payment could be further reduced if the District increases its contribution and reduces the loan principal. Staff will be exploring any non-property tax funding sources to reduce the overall taxpayer costs."
Total cost of MFA loan with interest over its lifespan: ?
Related: Why Construction Costs On Public Infrastructure Projects Are Skyrocketing - Dan Baxter, Progressive Contractors Association of BC (Vancouver Sun, Oct. 1, 2024)
Budget 2025 Public Survey
- Slide deck
- What We Heard Report
<clip> pg. 16 "The timing of the budget survey, coinciding with the Charters Road closure, gave the District a valuable opportunity to check in with the community on its transportation needs—especially for Highway 14 and the local road network. This feedback is important as the District considers ways to accelerate the implementation of its Transportation Master Plan, which outlines a strategic 10-year vision for enhancing transportation.
Residents were also asked to prioritize up to three solutions for reducing congestion on Highway 14. Results included:
1. Alternate Routes: 225 votes; 68.4%
2. Improve local roads and how we travel around Sooke: 171 votes; 52%
3. Road Widening and expansion: 148 votes; 45%
4. Improve public transportation: 138; 41.9%
5. Local employment: 125; 38%
Business Case Study (2014) for Phillips/Charters Section
Mayor Milne and his council directed staff to produce the Business Case: Grant Road Connector Project - Phillips to Charter Roads (Nov. 2014). Total estimated cost for this section of the route was $3,808,439. The line-item budget presented in the report included "site works, removals, road works, drainage, wetland crossing, miscellaneous expenses and a 25% contingency ... The District’s share of $1,269,480 ($3,808,439 less possible (federal) Building Canada - Small Communities grant funding of $2,538,959) will be financed by $774,383 in Development Cost Charges, $305,569 from capital reserves and $189,528 from taxes."
Other highlights and rationales as identified in this report:
- "The District engaged a consulting firm to develop traffic simulation models and estimate total trip distances in base case and in a project case scenarios. Travel projections for the project are based on a PM Peak of 640 vph = 6,400 vehicles per day. The model estimated that 18.6 million kms would be driven in a base case scenario and 14.6 million kms annually under the project scenario, resulting in a savings of 4 million kms annually. Operating costs savings from this reduced trip distance are estimated at $1 million annually based on $0.25 per kilometre.
- "Time savings due to the improved network and reduced idling are estimated at 147,000 hours per year, which results in a savings of $1.47 million annually based on a time value of $10/hr."
- "Taking an estimated 6,400 vehicles per day off the busy Highway 14 (Sooke Road) may result in reduced accidents. Highway 14 (Sooke Road) has a high accident frequency resulting partly from having many access points. The project will alternatively provide a safe parallel route through the town core and reducing the need to use many of the current access points. Typical calculations value one fatality at $1,000,000 and an injury at $250,000. Annual savings are estimated at $290,000 per year taking into account estimated property damage costs and personal injury costs."
- Under social benefits: "Pedestrians and cyclists are forced to use the highway to complete the connection to several schools, the recreation centre, and the town core. Local transit service is not possible within this disconnected network ... Not having a parallel road network in the District forces all local and through traffic onto the highway. Turning volumes are high and put a strain on the road capacity. Travel distances are also significantly longer for local trips as residents must drive to the highway and then re-enter the community at another cross street. The high level of access points along the highway contributes to the high accident frequency in Sooke."
- "Only one small portion of road right-of-way remains to be formally secured. This portion is owned by the Capital Regional District and subject to stewardship by the SEAPARC Commission (governing body of the SEAPARC recreation centre). Approval for the dedication has been received by the SEAPARC Commission Board. The District and the Capital Regional District have an agreement in principle to facilitate the transfer of the subject lands in return for the District providing access and additional parking at the SEAPARC leisure centre from the connector. This has already been incorporated into preliminary design work."
- "Preliminary design work and stakeholder consultations have already taken place for what was previously going to be one large project. The District decided instead to break the project into more manageable phases and has recently completed Phase 1 (Wadams Way) on time and under budget. Support letters have been received by the District for the entire Grant Road Connector Project and also for this particular project, Phase 2 (Phillips Road to Charters Road). Community support for the project is clearly evidenced by the project’s inclusion in the District’s Official Community Plan and Transportation Master Plan documents."
Miscellaneous
From This Blog
* Hwy 14: Condensed & Updated (June 13, 2024)
* Hwy 14 Revisited: Congestion & Safety Edition (March-June, 2024)
* CRD’s Proposed Transportation Authority (May 23, 2024)
* Highway 14 Revisited: Four-Lane Opening Edition (July 22, 2022)
* What's Next For Sooke's Evolving Road, Sidewalk and Roundabout Network (Jan. 20, 2021)
* Highway 14 Revisited: Spring 2019 Edition (March 29, 2019)
* Fresh Paint, Familiar Refrain for Sooke Road (Nov. 17, 2018)
Previous Sooke Referendums
May 1, 2016 ”Residents of Sooke and Juan de Fuca have voted to buy a 23-acre golf course for future recreational use. The owners of DeMamiel Creek Golf Course accepted a $1-million offer from SEAPARC, subject to the referendum. SEAPARC will transfer $250,000 for the purchase and the remaining $750,000 will be financed over 15 years at a fixed rate of about 3 per cent.” Results: 978 YES … 209 NO. (Times Colonist) (Referendum conducted by the CRD.)
Nov. 2014 Two "plebiscites" that the CivicInfo BC database files with other referendums
i) "Would you support the District of Sooke working with the community to develop multi-use community centre facilities? YES or NO" Result: 3072 YES ... 631 NO.
ii) "Should the District of Sooke join other municipalities in renewing and restating its opposition to the expansion of oil tanker traffic through Coastal BC waters? YES or NO" Result: 2618 YES ... 1137 NO.
Nov. 15, 2008 “Are you in favour of the Capital Regional District Board adopting Bylaw No. 3525, “Sooke Region Museum Service Establishment Bylaw No. 1, 2008” to establish a service for the District of Sooke and a portion of the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area for the purpose of contributing $25,000 annually to an endowment fund and $50,000 annually to an operating fund for the Sooke Region Museum YES or NO?” Result: 2857 YES ... 398 NO.
November 19, 2005 - Boundary extension into portions of East Sooke (including Grouse Nest and Silver Spray/Sooke Point). Result: Successful. (votes unknown). Two preliminary stories on the subject from the News Mirror's Dan Ross re: preliminary open house and council's vote for a referendum.
January 22, 2005 - Connector road borrowing referendum. 2900 votes cast, according to the Times Colonist, with the "No" side winning by 300 votes. The question sought approval for a $2.6m borrowing to pair with $4m in federal and provincial infrastructure grants. An initial attempt to move this foward via the Alternate Approval Process failed when more than 10% of eligible Sooke voters filed counter petitions.
At this point, Sooke had no engineered sidewalks whatsoever having been built out to rural standards while part of the Capital Regional District. Background: See Sooke Borrowing Referendum report just prior to voting day from the Sooke News Mirror's Robin Wark. <clip> "The connector project includes a new two-lane road complete with sidewalk, curb and gutter, from the gazetted Gatewood Road (located halfway between Pyrite and Otter Point Roads) to Church Road, near Throup Road. The Highway 14 project will upgrade two km of the road from just west of Atherley Close to Charters Road. It includes sidewalks on both sides, widening to allow for left turn lanes, curb and gutter, a median, 75 more streetlights and a traffic light at Sooke and Charters Road ... the projects would cause a maximum tax increase of $56.62, based on the average home assessment of $187,000."
Urban Systems' Highway 14 Corridor Study (Dec. 2008)
Prepared for MOTI, not available online; I have a single page from it with the following conclusions:
"* The capacity of the existing two-lane Highway 14 corridor is being reached and will continue to degrade with increased traffic volume associated with continued growth and development in the District of Sooke.
* Difficult road-way geometry, limited access control, and increasing traffic volumes contribute to safety performance concerns along the corridor.
* It is unlikely that four laning of Highway 14, either in the form of the proposed '5-lane concept' through Sooke's urban core or the proposed #14 realignment in the rural areas, will be considered viable improvement options.
* A combination of other improvement measures will be required to address the identified performance deficiencies over the long term in both the urban and rual areas of Sooke and the Highway 14 corridor."
The Summer of Sooke's Driving Discontent (2024)
The Charters closure and the resultant discontent from our commuter population ended more or less in lockstep with the improved road's reopening in September. Always worth a read as a reminder of local sentiment back then are Britt Santowski's traffic impact surveys. (see the Sept. 9, 2024 agenda, pp. 649-718)
Federal Grants to Sooke Since 2002
- Search results from the Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada database
- Infrastructure Canada total funding to Sooke: $47.1m
- Gas tax revenue: $7.7m
- Highway 14 corridor grants: $30m
- Little River Crossing: $1,307,610
- T'Sou-ke Community Complex and Health Care Centre: $3,893,335
Adoption of Current TMP in Oct. 2020
From the somewhat wayback file, here's how the District was planning to move forward on the road network following approval of the 2020 Transportation Master Plan. Remarkable progress to date yet so much still to accomplish (including the future connection of Wadams Way to Grant Road West via an Otter Point Rd. roundabout as planners eventually progress to the western half of the bypass).
The TMP states that "Highway 14 experiences traffic volumes up to 20,000 vehicles per day. Otter Point Road is the busiest Collector Road with volumes up to 9,500 per day." The projected Average Daily Traffic entering Sooke in 2038 will be 25,000 vehicles. See the map on page 41.
Directions Within Sooke's Pending Official Community Plan
Sooke’s pending OCP includes 14 action items related to transportation in its Implementation Plan (see pp. 161-162). Our OCP, like all others in BC, is to be renewed by Dec. 31, 2025. The transportation priorities (all either ongoing or short-term) include:
* "Update the existing MOU with MOTI in order to realize shared multi-modal objectives for Highway 14, the Grant Road Connector and associated municipal streets"
* "Ensure that school site design provides safe access in relation to Highway 14"
* "Support work-from-home, teleworking and co-work spaces in the town centre, carpooling, car share operators and other initiatives to reduce commuter travel"
* "Continue to work with BC Transit and MOTI to identify, plan and construct transit priority measures" as well as expanded regional and local service.
* "Town Centre parking management study" and review of on-and-off street parking management practices.
Behind the Eight Ball: Trumpian Context
All the above is logical in blessedly normal times. Yet these clearly are not that given looming trade wars, retaliatory tariffs, resultant recessions and who knows what next fresh hell/madness from King Donad. Our privileges, even more than is already happening in this age of polycrisis, are being severely tested. There's likely an argument to be made that the District’s best practices and next-generational thinking/spending be paused until sanity prevails. Then again, costs will only rise and this is a project intended for both this and multiple next-generation Sooke residents.
Starting Points
- District's TMP Implementation page.
- Navigating Sooke: Transforming Traffic Challenges Into Solutions (updated Jan. 2025; burning questions answered in the FAQ section, including "Why can't Sooke stop growing?" and "Who pays for road, sidewalk and trail improvements?").
- A policy rationale for the connector route is presented in the Feb. 24 agenda pp. 41-44 as part of the grant submission package to the federal Active Transportation Fund. It includes reference to Strategic Plan priorities, community wellbeing, climate impacts and community economic development as per fund guidelines.
- District Council's 2024-2027 Strategic Plan .... Strategic Areas of Focus under Infrastructure Investments and Multi-Modal Transportation: "We make significant investments in infrastructure to support our community’s growth for future generations. This involves upgrading existing infrastructure, building new infrastructure, and seeking funding that supports our growing community’s needs. By enhancing our connectivity and livability, we can reduce our carbon footprint."
Feb. 24: Council moved that a borrowing referendum be scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026 as part of the next municipal general election. By then, the District's share of the costs will be better known following the early 2026 outcome of the federal grant application. It will also allow due public debate based on a full-scale information package to be produced by the District and set to include line-item cost breakdown, traffic impact studies, amortized costs of the borrowing over its 30-year lifespan and other critical details. This also gives time for the Ministry of Transportation and Transit (MOTT) to fund its complimentary updates to Sooke Road. Unanimous vote in favour by the four of us present (Beddows, St-Pierre, Tait and myself. Pearson on holiday, McMath a short-notice absentee due to work obligations.) There were six members of the public (one a babe in arms) present for this decision.
Feb. 23: Tomorrow evening Council will review the latest iterative approach to building out critical sections of Sooke’s internal transportation network. It is contingent on both a successful borrowing referendum and approved grants through Ottawa’s Active Transportation Fund (which, if successful, would reduce the now $49m price tag for the Throup/Phillips section to $28m). See the agenda pp. 21-44 for the staff report from Operations Director Jeff Carter and his team.
A referendum update follows on agenda pp. 45-60. It includes a variety of taxpayer impacts based on interest rates, term length and whether or not grant applications succeed. Council is asked to vote on whether to schedule this "assent borrowing opportunity" with the near-term (TBD) by-election(s), as a standalone or in tandem with the Oct. 2026 municipal general election. Grant results will be known late this year/early next, and so we're being nudged towards a 2026 option.
Holding back while clearly signalling we're ready to move ahead with a referendum will motivate, I trust, the BC Ministry of Transportation and Transit to announce and fund its share of complimentary Hwy 14 improvements (i.e., Idlemore and the right-turn lanes at Phillips, Church and the signalized Charters intersection). Letters of support have been requested by the District from multiple local and provincial stakeholders, and those will need to be collected and compiled.
Time must also be given for full public input to inform the referendum. I picture extraordinarily lively town halls and the formation of "Vote Yes" and "No" lobby groups as was the case when the 2006 connector route referendum was (sadly, frustratingly) defeated. Viva the democratic process.
What's missing to date is the hard data, traffic projections and detailed cost spreadsheets that must inform the referendum debate. As I wrote in my Bill 44 blog post last week: "In the months ahead, District staff will need present a comprehensive and persuasive cost/benefit analysis of why this bypass is a game changer -- one with full reference to the existing traffic impact studies -- if indeed this referendum is to pass the smell test and succeed in a 50% + one vote. Approx. $200 (?) per residential household annually over as long as 30 years is no small ask, especially in such uncertain economic times and given all the other best practices we're asking residents to fund, i.e. the asset management reserve fund, 24/7 policing, a fully unionized fire department and substantial overall District staffing levels, no matter that we're currently one of BC's lowest-taxed communities.”
Implementation of the 2020 Sooke Transportation Master Plan
Proposed construction dates pending multiple factors, notably potential borrowing referendum vote and successful federal grant application. See map below for remaining phases as currently envisioned.
The TMP and Parks & Trails Master Plans were endorsed by council on Oct. 13, 2020
See the agenda pp. 21-44 for the Feb. 24, 2025 staff report.
Complete
Preliminary (i.e., completed prior to the 2020 TMP)
- Wadams Way: District paid for road, adjacent multi-use trail ($450k) was 60% funded by the Province
- Press release: Pre-Election Grand Opening (Sept. 27, 2014)
- Sooke Road roundabout at Evergreen Mall: Completed November, 2015
- Project costs: $9.1m ($6m from Province; $3.1m from District)
- Town centre sidewalk from Church to Otter Point Rd. constructed by MOTI in conjunction with roundabout
Phase 1: Otter Point Road Active Transportation Corridor Project
- Sooke Road to Wadams Way - 430m of sidewalks, 720m of bike lane, crosswalk at Grant Rd.
- Total project cost: $2.1m (with $1.9m from the federal/provincial Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program)
- Contract awarded to Hazelwood Construction Services, Nanaimo (which had recently completed a MOTI contract for shoulder widening on the West Coast Rd. between Otter Point and Woodhaven).
Phase 2: Church Road Corridor
- Total project cost: $1.84m
- Tender awarded to Hazelwood (July 12, 2021 - agenda pp. 193-94) ... second lowest of six bids received
- Sidewalks, bike lanes, road resurfacing, utilities upgrades
- $500k grant from the BC Active Transportation Infrastructure Grant Program
Phase 3: Church Road Roundabout
- Total project cost: $2.9m
- Church Road Roundabout and Intersection design - Nov. 23, 2020 council meeting (agenda pp. 151-52)
- Tender awarded to Hazelwood Construction Services at council meeting of July 24, 2023 (see agenda, pg. 183)
- Hazlewood's was the only proposal received from the tender process.
- Substantial completion in May, 2024
Phase 4: Charters Corridor
- Total project cost: $6.9m
* $3,579,041 from the one-time BC Growing Communities Fund
* $2,220,000 from Road Development Cost Charges
* $111,711 from the Communities Building Fund
* $1,039,247 from additional grants/funds
* $487,962 from CRD Infrastructure and Water Services
- Tender awarded to Hazelwood at council meeting of July 24, 2023 (see agenda, pp. 181-82)
- Note: Phases three and four tendered to Hazelwood given construction efficiencies and its successful execution of earlier phases. Higher bids were received from Vimex Contracting ($7.4m) and Don Mann Excavating ($7.9m)
Upcoming
Phase 5: Charters & Sooke Road Intersection
- Four-legged signalized intersection
- Total project cost: $3.5m
- MOTT anticipated to pay 50% of costs
- Grant application pending for $500k
- Planned construction in 2026
- BC Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants application #1 - Nov. 27, 2023 (see agenda pp. 35-38). Denied.
- BC Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants Program application #2 - Oct. 28, 2024 (see agenda pp. 23-33), includes engineering blueprint of intersection on pg. 29.
Phase 6: Throup and Phillips Road Connector
- Total project cost: $49,791,985 (includes 20% contingency)
- Grant application amount: $16,901,991
- District contribution: $32,889,209
- less Development Cost Charge contributions: ~ $5m
- From Church Rd. roundabout to Phillips exit onto Sooke Road
- Proposed construction: 2026-2029
- Now recontexualized as a single project (as opposed to phases in previous strategies)
- Project at 75% functional design
- Land acquisition required
- Extensive contingencies built into the $49m price tag to account for potential inflation & cost factors (therefore final costs may be significantly lower)
* 20% best-practice overall contingency ($10m)
* 10% inflation for contracted services at time tender is awarded ($5m)
* 2% costs for potential remediation of contaminated soil ($2m)
* 12% allowance for contracted management services ($6m)
Phase 7: Otter Point Active Transportation Corridor Continuation
- Total project cost: $2,096,602 (includes 30% contingency)
- Grant application amount: $884,930
- District contribution: $1,211,672
- Continuing the sidewalk and bike lane from The Park View north past the Municipal Hall to Rhodonite.
- "Completes the missing active transportation link connecting the Broom Hill area to John Phillips Park and the Stickleback Trail"
- 50% conceptual design
- Proposed construction: 2027
Phase 8: Hwy 14 Active Transportation Continuation
- Total project cost: $9,669,615 (includes 30% contingency)
- Grant application amount: $5,801,769
- District contribution: $4,987,248
- West Coast Rd. sidewalks and shoulder bike lanes from Ed Macgregor Park to Whiffin Spit Rd.
- "MOTT will not fund sidewalks along highways" but a successful grant will "incentivize the Ministry to complete a road resurfacing project."
- Proposed construction: 2028
Phase 9: Wadams/Otter Point/Grant Road West Continuation
- Project cost estimate: $12m
- Proposed construction: 2030
Trail Connection to Sunriver
Context: Active Routes to Schools
Phase 1: Ponds Corridor
Cost: $2.1m
Completed in 2021
Phase 2: Little River Trail & Bridge
- District's Little River Multi-Use Trail home page
- Cost: $2,869,000
- BC Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants Program application - Nov. 27, 2023 (see agenda pp. 35-57; engineering drawings begin on pg. 39)
- Environmental Development Permit - Sept. 23, 2024 (see agenda pp. 125-200; Environmental Management Plan begins on pg. 133)
- Little River Pedestrian Crossing contract to Regehr Contracting Ltd. - $1,943,749.30 - Jan. 13, 2025 (agenda pp. 21-65)
- Site preparation underway, trail and boardwalk construction begins in spring, completion date this fall
Upcoming
Phase 3: Little River Active Transportation Trail - Sunriver Way Access
- Total project cost: $2,763,411 (includes 30% contingency)
- Grant application amount: $$1,658,064
- District contribution: $1,105,377
- Proposed construction: 2027
- Remediating the very steep access point to the future Little River (Demamiel Creek) Trail from its Sunriver Way northern access point. Construction of two retaining walls over 150m to reduce grade according to standards set in BC's Active Transportation Design Guide.
Grant Funding Possibilities
Federal Active Transportation Fund
- federal government website landing page via the Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada
"Up to $500M will be available for active transportation capital projects across Canada. This includes a minimum of 10% of total funds set aside for Indigenous recipients ... Projects that are determined to be eligible will be further evaluated against the program's merit criteria. Final project selection is undertaken with a view to balancing funding support by taking into consideration such factors as regional distribution, the type of project, and equitable access."
- Application deadline: February 26, 2025
- Projects must be complete by March 30, 2030
- Unlimited number of project requests up to a maximum of $50m
- Grants will cover up to 60% of costs per project
- Grants can be stacked with other funding sources
- Active Transportation Fund grant windows will open again in coming years as part of a "Targeted Funding" approach
- The fund is a component of the federal government's $3b Canada Public Transit Fund
Sooke's grant request = $25,246,754 (i.e., 5% of total available national grant funding in the current funding window; other opportunities will follow if we receive partial funding)
1. Throup and Phillips Road Connector Active Transportation Corridor ($16,901,991)
2. Little River Active Transportation Trail - Sunriver Way Access ($1,658,064)
3. Otter Point Active Transportation Corridor Continuation (John Phillips Park lot to Rhodonite - $884,930)
4. Highway 14 Active Transportation Continuation (Ed Macgregor Park to Whiffin Spit Road - $5,801,769)
Frequently Asked Questions
<clip> "Capital projects involve new infrastructure construction, enhancement of existing infrastructure, and/or improvements to design and safety features that encourage increased active transportation.Eligible capital projects may include:
- Building or enhancing infrastructure for active transportation, such as multi-use paths, sidewalks, footbridges, separated bicycle lanes, and connections to other roadways (recreational trails are only eligible provided they can also be used for transportation, i.e., connecting to destinations, services or amenities);
- Enhancing active transportation infrastructure, including design considerations in which there may be no net gain in kilometres of infrastructure, but include quality improvements that support greater usage;
- Building or enhancing design features and facilities that promote active transportation, such as storage facilities, lighting, greenery, shade, and benches; and
- Building or enhancing safety features which promote active transportation, such as crosswalks, medians, speed bumps, and wayfinding signage.
"Is a municipal attestation or endorsement from Council required for a municipal applicant? "Municipal applicants do not require a municipal Council endorsement, resolution or other form of attestation at the time of application. Should the project funding be approved, such an attestation may be required as a condition of the funding agreement."
Long-Term Borrowing Referendum Update
Feb. 24, 2025. See the agenda pp. 45 to 60
"The District of Sooke has key capital Transportation Master Plan projects that need debt financing, as outlined in its 2025-2029 Five-Year Financial Plan, at a total budget of $49.79 million (Appendix 1). With $5 million of DCC and other funding available, the maximum amount of funds the District needs to borrow to finance these projects is up to $44.79 million ($49.79 million - $5 million and including contingency). With a successful federal Active Transportation grant of $16.90 million, this borrowing amount will be reduced to $27.89 million." (from the staff report, pg. 46)
- Council options
i) Tag the referendum onto a near-term by-election for one councillor and possibly Mayor
ii) Hold a borrowing referendum on a standaloneTBD voting day after the by-election
iii) Tag it onto the municipal general election ballot on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026
Staff recommendation: "If Council's preference is to receive confirmation on grant funding prior to a referendum then it is recommended that the District conduct the assent voting (referendum) in October 2026. By this time, the District will have the necessary information to inform the public and meet the grant funder’s required timeline. Additionally, combining the referendum with the general local election is a cost-effective option."
Draft Referendum Question "Are you in favour of the District of Sooke adopting the Loan Authorization Bylaw No. XXX to authorize the borrowing of up to $XXXXX for the purpose of building roads with an active transportation path located at XXXXXX, Sooke, BC?"
Cost implication scenarios for taxpayers
The Municipal Finance Authority of BC's current long-term (30-year) borrowing rate is 4.36% See MFA long-term borrowing rates backgrounder. A long-term loan is locked in for its first ten years at a set interest rate, then renegotiated based on current interest rates at time of renewal. Interest rate trends have been declining since a peak of 4.97% in fall 2023.
1. Without Active Transportation Grant (at 4.36% interest rate)
- $45m principal
- annual principal payment = $876k
- annual interest payment = $1,972,426
- annual debt repayment = $2,848,768
- Cost per average assessed Sooke household (2024 figure) = $272 per year
- If interest rate was 3.5% = $169 per year
2. With Active Transportation Grant (at 4.36% interest rate)
- $28m principal
- annual principal payment = $545,654
- annual interest payment = $1,228,130
- annual debt repayment = $1,773,784
- Cost per average assessed Sooke household (2024 figure) = $169 per year
- If interest rate was 3.5% = $146 per year
"This annual payment could be further reduced if the District increases its contribution and reduces the loan principal. Staff will be exploring any non-property tax funding sources to reduce the overall taxpayer costs."
Total cost of MFA loan with interest over its lifespan: ?
Related: Why Construction Costs On Public Infrastructure Projects Are Skyrocketing - Dan Baxter, Progressive Contractors Association of BC (Vancouver Sun, Oct. 1, 2024)
Budget 2025 Public Survey
- Slide deck
- What We Heard Report
<clip> pg. 16 "The timing of the budget survey, coinciding with the Charters Road closure, gave the District a valuable opportunity to check in with the community on its transportation needs—especially for Highway 14 and the local road network. This feedback is important as the District considers ways to accelerate the implementation of its Transportation Master Plan, which outlines a strategic 10-year vision for enhancing transportation.
Residents were also asked to prioritize up to three solutions for reducing congestion on Highway 14. Results included:
1. Alternate Routes: 225 votes; 68.4%
2. Improve local roads and how we travel around Sooke: 171 votes; 52%
3. Road Widening and expansion: 148 votes; 45%
4. Improve public transportation: 138; 41.9%
5. Local employment: 125; 38%
Business Case Study (2014) for Phillips/Charters Section
Mayor Milne and his council directed staff to produce the Business Case: Grant Road Connector Project - Phillips to Charter Roads (Nov. 2014). Total estimated cost for this section of the route was $3,808,439. The line-item budget presented in the report included "site works, removals, road works, drainage, wetland crossing, miscellaneous expenses and a 25% contingency ... The District’s share of $1,269,480 ($3,808,439 less possible (federal) Building Canada - Small Communities grant funding of $2,538,959) will be financed by $774,383 in Development Cost Charges, $305,569 from capital reserves and $189,528 from taxes."
Other highlights and rationales as identified in this report:
- "The District engaged a consulting firm to develop traffic simulation models and estimate total trip distances in base case and in a project case scenarios. Travel projections for the project are based on a PM Peak of 640 vph = 6,400 vehicles per day. The model estimated that 18.6 million kms would be driven in a base case scenario and 14.6 million kms annually under the project scenario, resulting in a savings of 4 million kms annually. Operating costs savings from this reduced trip distance are estimated at $1 million annually based on $0.25 per kilometre.
- "Time savings due to the improved network and reduced idling are estimated at 147,000 hours per year, which results in a savings of $1.47 million annually based on a time value of $10/hr."
- "Taking an estimated 6,400 vehicles per day off the busy Highway 14 (Sooke Road) may result in reduced accidents. Highway 14 (Sooke Road) has a high accident frequency resulting partly from having many access points. The project will alternatively provide a safe parallel route through the town core and reducing the need to use many of the current access points. Typical calculations value one fatality at $1,000,000 and an injury at $250,000. Annual savings are estimated at $290,000 per year taking into account estimated property damage costs and personal injury costs."
- Under social benefits: "Pedestrians and cyclists are forced to use the highway to complete the connection to several schools, the recreation centre, and the town core. Local transit service is not possible within this disconnected network ... Not having a parallel road network in the District forces all local and through traffic onto the highway. Turning volumes are high and put a strain on the road capacity. Travel distances are also significantly longer for local trips as residents must drive to the highway and then re-enter the community at another cross street. The high level of access points along the highway contributes to the high accident frequency in Sooke."
- "Only one small portion of road right-of-way remains to be formally secured. This portion is owned by the Capital Regional District and subject to stewardship by the SEAPARC Commission (governing body of the SEAPARC recreation centre). Approval for the dedication has been received by the SEAPARC Commission Board. The District and the Capital Regional District have an agreement in principle to facilitate the transfer of the subject lands in return for the District providing access and additional parking at the SEAPARC leisure centre from the connector. This has already been incorporated into preliminary design work."
- "Preliminary design work and stakeholder consultations have already taken place for what was previously going to be one large project. The District decided instead to break the project into more manageable phases and has recently completed Phase 1 (Wadams Way) on time and under budget. Support letters have been received by the District for the entire Grant Road Connector Project and also for this particular project, Phase 2 (Phillips Road to Charters Road). Community support for the project is clearly evidenced by the project’s inclusion in the District’s Official Community Plan and Transportation Master Plan documents."
Miscellaneous
From This Blog
* Hwy 14: Condensed & Updated (June 13, 2024)
* Hwy 14 Revisited: Congestion & Safety Edition (March-June, 2024)
* CRD’s Proposed Transportation Authority (May 23, 2024)
* Highway 14 Revisited: Four-Lane Opening Edition (July 22, 2022)
* What's Next For Sooke's Evolving Road, Sidewalk and Roundabout Network (Jan. 20, 2021)
* Highway 14 Revisited: Spring 2019 Edition (March 29, 2019)
* Fresh Paint, Familiar Refrain for Sooke Road (Nov. 17, 2018)
Previous Sooke Referendums
May 1, 2016 ”Residents of Sooke and Juan de Fuca have voted to buy a 23-acre golf course for future recreational use. The owners of DeMamiel Creek Golf Course accepted a $1-million offer from SEAPARC, subject to the referendum. SEAPARC will transfer $250,000 for the purchase and the remaining $750,000 will be financed over 15 years at a fixed rate of about 3 per cent.” Results: 978 YES … 209 NO. (Times Colonist) (Referendum conducted by the CRD.)
Nov. 2014 Two "plebiscites" that the CivicInfo BC database files with other referendums
i) "Would you support the District of Sooke working with the community to develop multi-use community centre facilities? YES or NO" Result: 3072 YES ... 631 NO.
ii) "Should the District of Sooke join other municipalities in renewing and restating its opposition to the expansion of oil tanker traffic through Coastal BC waters? YES or NO" Result: 2618 YES ... 1137 NO.
Nov. 15, 2008 “Are you in favour of the Capital Regional District Board adopting Bylaw No. 3525, “Sooke Region Museum Service Establishment Bylaw No. 1, 2008” to establish a service for the District of Sooke and a portion of the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area for the purpose of contributing $25,000 annually to an endowment fund and $50,000 annually to an operating fund for the Sooke Region Museum YES or NO?” Result: 2857 YES ... 398 NO.
November 19, 2005 - Boundary extension into portions of East Sooke (including Grouse Nest and Silver Spray/Sooke Point). Result: Successful. (votes unknown). Two preliminary stories on the subject from the News Mirror's Dan Ross re: preliminary open house and council's vote for a referendum.
January 22, 2005 - Connector road borrowing referendum. 2900 votes cast, according to the Times Colonist, with the "No" side winning by 300 votes. The question sought approval for a $2.6m borrowing to pair with $4m in federal and provincial infrastructure grants. An initial attempt to move this foward via the Alternate Approval Process failed when more than 10% of eligible Sooke voters filed counter petitions.
At this point, Sooke had no engineered sidewalks whatsoever having been built out to rural standards while part of the Capital Regional District. Background: See Sooke Borrowing Referendum report just prior to voting day from the Sooke News Mirror's Robin Wark. <clip> "The connector project includes a new two-lane road complete with sidewalk, curb and gutter, from the gazetted Gatewood Road (located halfway between Pyrite and Otter Point Roads) to Church Road, near Throup Road. The Highway 14 project will upgrade two km of the road from just west of Atherley Close to Charters Road. It includes sidewalks on both sides, widening to allow for left turn lanes, curb and gutter, a median, 75 more streetlights and a traffic light at Sooke and Charters Road ... the projects would cause a maximum tax increase of $56.62, based on the average home assessment of $187,000."
Urban Systems' Highway 14 Corridor Study (Dec. 2008)
Prepared for MOTI, not available online; I have a single page from it with the following conclusions:
"* The capacity of the existing two-lane Highway 14 corridor is being reached and will continue to degrade with increased traffic volume associated with continued growth and development in the District of Sooke.
* Difficult road-way geometry, limited access control, and increasing traffic volumes contribute to safety performance concerns along the corridor.
* It is unlikely that four laning of Highway 14, either in the form of the proposed '5-lane concept' through Sooke's urban core or the proposed #14 realignment in the rural areas, will be considered viable improvement options.
* A combination of other improvement measures will be required to address the identified performance deficiencies over the long term in both the urban and rual areas of Sooke and the Highway 14 corridor."
The Summer of Sooke's Driving Discontent (2024)
The Charters closure and the resultant discontent from our commuter population ended more or less in lockstep with the improved road's reopening in September. Always worth a read as a reminder of local sentiment back then are Britt Santowski's traffic impact surveys. (see the Sept. 9, 2024 agenda, pp. 649-718)
Federal Grants to Sooke Since 2002
- Search results from the Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada database
- Infrastructure Canada total funding to Sooke: $47.1m
- Gas tax revenue: $7.7m
- Highway 14 corridor grants: $30m
- Little River Crossing: $1,307,610
- T'Sou-ke Community Complex and Health Care Centre: $3,893,335
Adoption of Current TMP in Oct. 2020
From the somewhat wayback file, here's how the District was planning to move forward on the road network following approval of the 2020 Transportation Master Plan. Remarkable progress to date yet so much still to accomplish (including the future connection of Wadams Way to Grant Road West via an Otter Point Rd. roundabout as planners eventually progress to the western half of the bypass).
The TMP states that "Highway 14 experiences traffic volumes up to 20,000 vehicles per day. Otter Point Road is the busiest Collector Road with volumes up to 9,500 per day." The projected Average Daily Traffic entering Sooke in 2038 will be 25,000 vehicles. See the map on page 41.
Directions Within Sooke's Pending Official Community Plan
Sooke’s pending OCP includes 14 action items related to transportation in its Implementation Plan (see pp. 161-162). Our OCP, like all others in BC, is to be renewed by Dec. 31, 2025. The transportation priorities (all either ongoing or short-term) include:
* "Update the existing MOU with MOTI in order to realize shared multi-modal objectives for Highway 14, the Grant Road Connector and associated municipal streets"
* "Ensure that school site design provides safe access in relation to Highway 14"
* "Support work-from-home, teleworking and co-work spaces in the town centre, carpooling, car share operators and other initiatives to reduce commuter travel"
* "Continue to work with BC Transit and MOTI to identify, plan and construct transit priority measures" as well as expanded regional and local service.
* "Town Centre parking management study" and review of on-and-off street parking management practices.
Behind the Eight Ball: Trumpian Context
All the above is logical in blessedly normal times. Yet these clearly are not that given looming trade wars, retaliatory tariffs, resultant recessions and who knows what next fresh hell/madness from King Donad. Our privileges, even more than is already happening in this age of polycrisis, are being severely tested. There's likely an argument to be made that the District’s best practices and next-generational thinking/spending be paused until sanity prevails. Then again, costs will only rise and this is a project intended for both this and multiple next-generation Sooke residents.
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