Abbotsford may be seeing significant investment in local transit in the wake of an extensive review of transit in the Fraser Valley.

City staff has recommended council focus the bulk of investment for new transit projects locally rather than on regional, or inter-regional systems.

Staff came to the conclusion after evaluating the long-awaited Strategic Review of Transit in the Fraser Valley.

Recently released, the study examines the Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) communities of Abbotsford, Mission, Chilliwack, Kent, Harrison Hot Springs, and Hope to determine the best options for transit services within the communities, the region, and in connection to Metro Vancouver.

Abbotsford's director of community planning, Carl Johannsen, said the principal need is to focus transit planning and investment within the city itself and the Central Fraser Valley (CFV) Transit System area, which includes Mission.

More than 80 per cent of daily trips begin and end in Abbotsford so it's logical to focus transit dollars on the city's core and corridors that service the University of the Fraser Valley, said Johannsen.

Abbotsford transit must also increase ridership, revenue and target commuters travelling to major employers such as the Abbotsford Regional Hospital, and primary commercial and industrial employers.

The study's plan vision reflects council's "horseshoe concept", a transit idea developed in 2008 enhancing high frequency routes along South Fraser Way and McCallum Road, and out to UFV and the airport.

Over time with increased ridership and revenue, primary routes would feature rapid buses, transit only lanes, transit priority light signals and possibly even local streetcars.

Abbotsford has an annual service hours per capita rate of less than .5, which is significantly lower compared to cities of similar size such as Kelowna with a service hour rate of close to 1.5, according to the strategic review.

Vehicle ownership is also higher in the Fraser Valley than any other part of the Lower Mainland.

The city's current transit plan developed in 2004 is out of date and needs replacement, Johannsen said.

BC Transit is developing a new plan for the CFV transit system in 2011, in conjunction with the Mission Abbotsford Transit Committee.

City staff will also work to ensure the plan emphasizes investment in local transit and gets public input around transit users needs, said Johannsen.

The strategic transit review highlights the development of new regional and inter-regional bus routes over the next 30 years, and would see yearly costs go from approximately $10 million up to $80 million.

The study's vision includes increased service at 10-minute intervals during peak periods along Highway 11 between Abbotsford and Mission.

Also included is an hourly service between Abbotsford and Chilliwack as well as service from Abbotsford along Highway 1 to Langley and Surrey, and the available RapidBus connections to the SkyTrain and Vancouver.

Mission would also be connected along Highway 7 to Maple Ridge, and its connections to the proposed Evergreen SkyTrain line.

The system would see an increase from approximately 40 buses to more than 135 over the next three decades

However, in the shorter term, staff should tailor a plan specific to local transit needs and not be constrained by the content of the regional study, noted Johannsen.

Some councillors stressed there was a need to still examine regional links, particularly with Chilliwack, when presented with the recommendations Monday night.

Coun. John Smith noted there is a great deal of interest in such a link.

"Students from UFV are concerned about the lack of connection between the two main campuses, and I'm persuaded by their argument and that such a connection would be largely self-funded," said Smith.

"There could be exceptions [to a focus on local service] and that's one in particular."

Johannsen said staff recommendations did not eliminate the possibility of the connection.

"The question is around the frequency and level of service," he said.

Coun. Lynn Harris noted that although the city's first commitment should be to local services, it should not dismiss the exploration of rail as a transit option.

The strategic review favoured expanding bus routes over re-establishing the Interurban rail service, which was deemed too expensive.

"The 2031 annual operating and debt service cost for a commuter rail service along the inter-urban line between Abbotsford and Surrey of approximately $68.9 million would almost equal that of the entire investment required to achieve the [transit] Vision," stated the report.

Critics with Rail for the Valley, a group advocating the establishment of light rail in the region, said the provincial numbers are inflated.

Harris suggested that rail proponents be given an opportunity in the future to make a presentation to council.

RBaker@abbotsfordtimes.com