Public Engagement and the Bowerbank Road Project
NEWS FEATURE:
A Review of Public Engagement Leading up to the Bowerbank Road Project
The changes to Bowerbank Road have sparked significant controversy among supporters and opponents. The changes were part of the Town’s Active Transportation Plan (ATP) strategy to expand cycling opportunities.
When the draft ATP was presented at Committee of the Whole (COW) in December 2022, improving Bowerbank was only ranked third in a list of priorities. The Winter (January) 2023 Town Talk featured the draft ATP with a map of the proposed cycling priorities and that the draft ATP was open for public input until 17 March 2023.
In May 2023, after considering community input with 46% of respondents opposed to bikeway projects and a lengthy debate, Council made eight amendments to the draft ATP including revising the list of cycling improvements to make Bowerbank become the top priority. The final draft ATP was presented in June 2023 which described planned improvements for Bowerbank including a “Traffic diversion at Ardwell Avenue to restrict southbound thru/left.” Council directed a final 2-week period for final public review, and authorization for staff to proceed with design and construction of the Bowerbank Road project. Only one response in opposition to the Bowerbank project was submitted before adoption.
Staff presented a preliminary design to Council in October 2023 stating that “staff intend to complete a “consult” level engagement process (International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) guidelines) with key stakeholders. Since this project was part of the ATP engagement process, staff do not believe a higher level of engagement would add much value to the design and implementation of this project.”
Both the Peninsula News Review and the Times Colonist reported on the preliminary design for Bowerbank with the Times Colonist article including a plan of the preliminary design.
There is no summary or information in any of the subsequent reports on the IAP2 consultation with key stakeholders on the design. In October 2024, the Town applied for a $300k grant from BC Active Transportation for the Bowerbank project which was approved in March 2025.
The Town’s Facebook post and webpage with plans for Bowerbank in December 2024 prompted community debate and requests for Council to reconsider the project.
In response, on 13 January 2025, Council passed a motion to discuss the Bowerbank project at COW. At the 20 January 2025 COW meeting, Council discussed a staff request for clear direction on whether to proceed with the Bowerbank project and communications as planned. And, on 27 January 2025, the Council confirmed direction to proceed. Construction began in Summer 2025 and is now finished.
Community debate over the Bowerbank project continues. Public feedback on speed limits in January 2026 listed “Strong frustration with Bowerbank Road Neighbourhood Bikeway” under Most Frequent Comments.
Mayor McNeil-Smith stated: “Since the implementation of that early last fall, we have had a lot of feedback, a lot of negative criticism over not only the implementation of it, but what it is today after it was implemented. And, criticism over the impacts that it creates for different users. I want to say from my perspective that I'm listening to that feedback … We will be collecting data, predominantly next summer in the better season, and that will come forward to Council and I'm willing to consider further what the Bowerbank Bikeway is and what changes or any changes. I'm not trying to communicate anything in advance. I'm just saying that it registers with the feedback that we've had, and we saw a lot of comments while we were talking about local roads throughout our community. There was a lot of weight or a lot of mention of Bowerbank.”
RESOURCES
We invite you to comment below. You do not have to sign in. When you start typing your name, a small check box will appear below the terms and conditions. Checking the box will allow you comment as a guest, requiring only your name and email address. Your email address remains confidential.
