PETITION LAUNCHED BY THE VIEW ROYAL CLIMATE COALITION (VRCC) and SUPPORTED BY THE SOUTH ISLAND CLIMATE ACTION NETWORK (SI-CAN)
TO: THE VICTORIA REGIONAL TRANSIT COMMISSION
WHY SIGN THIS PETITION?
This petition seeks a rapid 100% transition of Victoria Regional Transit System vehicles to clean electric power, and observes that:
– We are in a climate emergency.
– Burning hydrocarbon fuels in transit vehicles emits greenhouse gases and contributes to local air pollution.
– The Victoria Regional Transit Commission has plans to transition our regional transit fleet to clean electric vehicles over several years.
– Purchasing any hydrocarbon/combustion-powered transit vehicles now — regardless of the fuel type (diesel, compressed fracked gas, so-called “renewable” natural gas or other hydrocarbon-based fuels) — would waste public funds and delay this transition, locking in years of future greenhouse gas emissions.
– Other cities in Canada, the U.S. and the world are already electrifying their public transit more rapidly.
– This opportunity to show vision and caring for the health and safety of our citizens can save public funds if acted upon now.
WE RESPECTFULLY URGE THE VICTORIA REGIONAL TRANSIT COMMISSION TO REQUEST THAT BC TRANSIT:
1. Immediately cease purchasing any hydrocarbon-powered vehicles and purchase only electric vehicles.
2. Create a 100% battery electric HandyDART fleet before locating it in the proposed facility in View Royal.
3. Provide the required funding for acquisition of 100% electric-powered transit vehicles and existing renewable energy systems to support them, in order to help residents reduce local emissions and take part in meaningful climate action.