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Mayors Demand Action on BC Ferries Reliability

The mayors of Gibsons and Bowen Island have reached out to British Columbia’s premier, calling for immediate measures to enhance ferry reliability.

Both communities depend heavily on ferry services originating from Horseshoe Bay and have recently encountered significant challenges.

Just this Monday, a mechanical failure on a vessel servicing the Sunshine Coast left numerous passengers stranded for hours, leading to multiple cancellations and the necessity to dispatch water taxis.

Earlier this year, Bowen Island experienced several days of disrupted ferry service due to damage to its dock caused by severe weather.

Additionally, BC Ferries has been grappling with various mechanical troubles affecting its key southern routes.

“Our ferry service issues have been serious, affecting both the Sunshine Coast and Bowen Island,” remarked Gibsons Mayor Silas White. “The reliability of service on Bowen Island has been declining significantly in recent years,” echoed Bowen Island Mayor Andrew Leonard.

Leonard further expressed frustration, stating, “Despite our ongoing efforts to engage with BC Ferries regarding operational changes and service improvements, we have not received a substantial response.”

Continued Commitment from Premier

The mayors noted that Premier David Eby had pledged in 2023 to prioritize BC Ferries; however, the communities continue to experience unreliable service, adversely impacting residents’ travel, health, and livelihoods.

The mayors’ letter outlines four specific requests to the provincial government:

• Create an “accountable governance table” comprising local officials, BC Ferries leadership, and regulators.
• Improve transparency regarding BC Ferries’ operational data, including both real-time and historical performance metrics.
• Implement immediate enhancements to ferry services on their routes, such as increased vessel redundancy and a timeline for necessary vessel and terminal upgrades.
• Restore “meaningful community engagement” through a new Ferry Advisory Committee to replace the one that was recently disbanded.

In addition to these requests, the mayors are seeking a meeting with Premier Eby and Transportation Minister Mike Farnworth to discuss the issues further.

Meanwhile, BC Ferries is embarking on a significant vessel replacement initiative, aiming to introduce new diesel-battery hybrid ferries to replace older vessels, including the Queens of Alberni, New Westminster, Coquitlam, and Cowichan, which are among the oldest in operation. While the company had requested the procurement of five new ferries, the independent British Columbia Ferries Commissioner has approved only four. The first of these new vessels is expected to enter service by the spring of 2029.

Source
globalnews.ca