Dean Murdock Saanich Councillor

Saanich teams with Victoria on gas tax funding application
By Kyle Slavin - Saanich News

Saanich and Victoria councils are hoping for a $1 million grant to help them plan for a new-and-improved Douglas Street corridor.

Saanich council last week unanimously supported a joint application with the City of Victoria seeking federal gas tax money from the Union of B.C. Municipalities to conduct “community planning work” on Douglas.

Saanich Council supports funding application to expedite Douglas Corridor planning
May 28, 2012 CFAX 1070

Saanich Council has supported a report regarding the securing of funding that would expedite the planning process for the future of the Douglas Corridor.

Saanich Councilor Dean Murdock the request for funding would be made of the UBCM, in a joint application with the City of Victoria

"to apply for planning funds from UBCM, part of the gas tax funds for planning purposes, and the idea is that we would accelerate the planning process in the Douglas Corridor"

Saanich Council supports recommendation to secure land for portion of Interurban Rail Trail
May 28, 2012 CFAX 1070

Saanich Council has voted in favor of a recommendation to request a portion of federal government owned land be secured for the Interurban Rail Trail, should the property be sold.

Saanich Councillor Dean Murdock says Monday night's vote was unanimous.

Saanich Council supports report on Douglas Corridor traffic improvements
CFAX 1070 March 26, 2012

A report authored by engineering staff on traffic improvements proposed for the Douglas Corridor received unanimous support from Saanich Council Monday night.

Saanich Councillor Dean Murdock says council wants to ensure that this issue is a priority.

"I hear from commuters that travel along Douglas and all our major corridors, that we can't wait for a rapid transit system to begin addressing traffic, we have to start implementing changes now, to get people moving"

Saanich budget discussions focus on engineering-related spending Tuesday
CFAX 1070 March 6, 2012

Saanich continued budget discussions Tuesday night, with a focus on engineering-related spending.

Saanich Councillor Dean Murdock says the replacement of the Craigflower Bridge was one item discussed.

"that's a project that will get underway this year, it's valued at about 10.8 million dollars, and that's almost entirely covered by gas tax revenue that was given to Saanich and View Royal for the replacement of the Craigflower Bridge"

Councils debate state of bus service in Saanich and Victoria
CFAX 1070 February 29 2012

B-C Transit provided an update on its planning for a light rail rapid transit line to a special joint meeting of Saanich and Victoria Councils...but most of the politicians seemed more interested in what can be done to improve bus movements right now.

'Green commuting' bill finds second wind
By Jeff Bell, Times Colonist February 11, 2012

With buses passing behind her and cyclists in attendance, Victoria MP Denise Savoie had the ideal setting Friday to announce that her 2009 private member's bill on "green" commuter choices will be re-introduced in Parliament.

Since she is Deputy Speaker, Savoie cannot bring the Commuter Tax Incentive Bill back herself, so fellow NDP MP Jamie Nicholls, who represents Vaudreuil-Soulanges in Quebec, is taking on the task.

Crossing the Gorge a major hurdle for Craigflower Bridge project
By Kyle Slavin - Saanich News

Moving drivers, pedestrians and cyclists across the Gorge Waterway is a cinch – as long as each part of the whole transportation network is operational.

Take one of the pieces out of the equation – say, Craigflower Bridge – and that quick 400-metre trip from Craigflower to Gorge road becomes a 4.5-kilometre detour.

"We're having a real difficult time with this," said Jim Hemstock, manager of transportation with the District of Saanich.

We asked the Saanich mayor and council candidates to provide their thoughts and strategies on light-rail transit along the Douglas Street corridor.

Dean Murdock, council candidate: