Dean Murdock Saanich Councillor

We asked the Saanich mayor and council candidates to provide their thoughts and strategies on the transportation issues in Saanich (outside of the light rail discussion).

Dean Murdock, council candidate:

Planning for the future of transportation in Saanich will involve upgrades to sidewalk and bicycle infrastructure, but how should the transit system change to be accessible to more people?

Dean Murdock, council candidate:

How do you propose to quickly alleviate some of the stresses caused by single-occupancy vehicles, which turns many of our major thoroughfares into parking lots at rush hour?

Dean Murdock, council candidate:

MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
November 1, 2011

Saanich residents deserve neighbourhood sidewalks: Murdock

Victoria – Saanich Councillor Dean Murdock thinks your neighbourhood needs a sidewalk.

Announcing his mobility plan today, Murdock said quality sidewalks and bike lanes are a priority for most of the Saanich residents he’s met on the doorstep.

Signature building to serve as catalyst for Shelbourne renewal
By Kyle Slavin - Saanich News

While staffers plan out the future of Shelbourne Valley – complete with dense centres and walkable villages – council OK'd what it hopes will be the "catalyst" for that change Monday night.

A small three-storey building – which will house a Vancity credit union, a medical practice and office space – will replace the single-floor dry cleaner and barbershop at the corner of Cedar Hill X Road and Stamboul Street.

We know that other cities have seen incredible economic growth as a result of rail systems in their major corridors. We know that LRT can reduce emissions significantly and can do a lot to encourage new ridership — as much as double ridership -- bringing more convenience and lower car-dependence to thousands of individuals and families.

Here in our region, we need an independent review of the proposed regional LRT system to give the public and decision-makers the information we need to evaluate these extraordinary benefits and the estimated costs to build and operate the system.

Saanich to MLAs, MPs: Show us the LRT money
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Times Colonist

Saanich council is pushing the provincial and federal governments for light rail transit funding.

Politicians voted unanimously in favour Monday night of Coun. Dean Murdock's motion to ask senior governments to pay their shares for a transit system from Douglas Street to the West Shore.

B.C. Transit, the Capital Regional District board, the Victoria Regional Transit Commission and the B.C.

Transit Board all support light rail transit.

Saanich councillors asked to lobby feds and province for LRT funds
Kyle Slavin, Saanich News

A lesson learned by councillors at a federal conference earlier this year is finally getting legs in Greater Victoria as municipal governments look for ways to fund light-rail transit.

Saanich Coun. Dean Murdock is expected to put forward a motion to council tonight to send a letter to the provincial and federal ministers of transportation, as well as our local MLAs and MPs, requesting financial support.

Capital region councillors find light-rail inspiration at Halifax conference
Kyle Slavin, Saanich News

Municipal politicians are itching to get back to political action after spending the weekend rubbing elbows with their Canadian counterparts and, more importantly, bouncing ideas off them to see how Greater Victoria can capitalize on projects that have been done elsewhere in the country.

Public deserves say on $1 billion light rail plan, Saanich mayor says
Erin McCracken, Victoria News

Reaction to bring B.C. Transit’s recommendation to bring a $950-million electric light-rail transit system to the region was swift – and mixed.

"The issue right now is do our taxpayers have an opportunity to comment between now and when they want a decision on May 17?" asked Saanich Mayor Frank Loenard. "That's a pretty tight timeline on a $1-billion decision for taxpayers."