The Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) was adopted by the Regional Board in late 2020 and was developed over more than two years with opportunities for public and stakeholder input (see the RTP Engagement Summary).
The RTP and its supporting plans, the Regional Bicycling and Trails Master Plan, Westside Trail Brief and Regional Disruptive Mobility Strategy, identify transportation projects and priorities to help build a healthy transportation future with sustainable options for connecting the Central Okanagan.
The RTP included a recommendation to complete a Central Okanagan Goods Movement Study. The study was completed in 2023 and provides strategies and recommendations to support the safe, efficient and sustainable movement of goods as the region grows.
The RTP also included a recommendation to conduct the Okanagan Travel Survey (OTS) on a regular basis to ensure high-quality data is available to inform transportation planning and travel demand modeling. The OTS is one of the largest public surveys undertaken in the valley which provides a comprehensive picture of how people move around the Central Okanagan and Vernon. The survey takes place twice a decade; 2007, 2013 and 2018, with the next survey planned for fall 2024.
The 2024 Okanagan Travel Survey will be conducted by invitation in October 2024. A randomized selection of households in the region will receive an invitation letter from Ipsos to participate. Participation, although voluntary, is vital to ensure an accurate picture of regional transportation patterns.
| 2013 Okanagan Travel Survey |
| The 2013 survey gathered information from resident households to ensure evidence-informed planning and development of local and regional transportation services. The comparison of the 2013 survey results to the 2007 data set also allowed for the monitoring of changes in travel patterns between those years. |
| 2018 Okanagan Travel Survey |
| The 2018 survey was the third such survey and gathered information on household and demographic characteristics relevant to understanding travel patterns. |
Regional Transportation Governance
From 2013 until its dissolution in 2020, the Sustainable Transportation Partnership of the Central Okanagan (STPCO) provided a coordinated approach to transportation matters in the region. The RDCO is currently exploring taking these functions on in the future.