Artist's rendering of the future downtown Nanaimo transit exchange. (City of Nanaimo)

By Ian Holmes

transit exchange debate

City believes new downtown Nanaimo bus exchange will improve public safety, others strongly disagree

Sep 25, 2023 | 6:08 AM

NANAIMO — Like it or not construction is anticipated to start in roughly a year for a new downtown Nanaimo transit exchange in 500 block of Terminal Ave.

While the City of Nanaimo is excited about the off-road sheltered exchange in the southbound lane behind the Queen’s Hotel, some people aren’t happy about it.

Victoria Crescent Association founder Kevan Shaw told NanaimoNewsNOW he believes the new transit exchange will lead to more social disorder and crime in an area all too familiar with those issues.

“We’ve been warning, warning and warning that this area is already hard hit by social disorder, and with five bus shelters and a public washroom, you’re going to have trouble,” Shaw said.

He refuted proper lighting to be incorporated into the project aimed at improving public safety will make a difference.

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Shaw is convinced more criminal activity and people struggling to take care of themselves will gravitate to the bus exchange.

“It is going to be in this area inhabited by the drug addicted, the mentally ill which turn to crime.”

Numerous business operators in the immediate area think a relocated downtown bus exchange is a bad idea, Shaw said.

He pointed to several serious assaults, a homicide and multiple recent fires in the area as examples of what could be amplified with a downtown transit exchange.

However, the city’s general manager of engineering and public works sees the issue entirely differently.

Bill Sims said BC Transit conveyed installing transit exchanges correlates to very little impacts on public safety.

He said consistently drawing people to the area to include multiple anti-crime elements will have positive impacts on safety in the immediate area.

“…improves passive surveillance and increases activity in the area, which naturally displaces that social disorder,” Sims told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Stating opposition to the pending new transit exchange has been made by “a relatively small number of people,” Sims said the infrastructure is another piece toward enhancing the downtown core.

Bird’s eye rendering of the future downtown transit exchange. (City of Nanaimo)

Sims said substantial senior government investments in the bus exchange project aligns with various city and private sector initiatives to make downtown a safer, more vibrant place.

“Which helps continue to activate and improve people traffic in the downtown core, attracts people to businesses in downtown.”

The downtown transit exchange coincides with significant ongoing road construction on the 500 block of Terminal Ave. to modernize the street with enhanced pedestrian amenities, new lighting and new underground utility lines.

A public washroom is planned to be part of the relocated transit exchange, while an operator rest facility and layover parking for the exchange will be located on nearby Cavan St.

The City bought three area lots in 2021 with an aim of re-located a major transit hub on the 500 block of Terminal Ave.

A feasibility analysis by the Regional District of Nanaimo in 2018 determined the Terminal Ave./Commercial St. area was the preferred destination among three options.

Detailed information on the transit exchange project can be found on the City’s website.

Fourteen public parking spots will be lost as a result of the new downtown Nanaimo transit exchange. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes