Ferry overloads and parking at the terminals in Horseshoe Bay and Snug Cove have been identified as key concerns islanders have when it comes to a national park reserve attracting more visitors to Bowen Island.
B.C. Ferries has now responded with a document that looks at issues related to the ferry travel between Horseshoe Bay and Snug Cove.
B.C. Ferries has taken the economic impact assessment undertaken by Parks Canada that estimates an increase of 5,000 incremental visitors annually by year 15 (the low and high volume scenarios are 2,330 to 8,330 respectively).
B.C. Ferries noted that this number of visitors represents less than one per cent of current annual traffic and does not "appear to have a material impact on the timing of increased vessel capacity on the route."
It says there's an average of 95,000 passengers per month. In August, the busiest month, the number swells to just under 120,000.
Even if the entire projected volume of park visitors were to limit their travel to July and August, the 15 -year- orecast represents a four per cent increase in August travel volume. The letter notes that traffic volumes have dropped approximately six per cent since 2004.
As a potential problem, B.C. Ferries sees the "incremental vehicle traffic overlapping onto the current high volume sailings." But the impact assessment took into account that the people visiting the proposed national park would typically be traveling counterflow to regular commuter traffic. While commuters leave the island in the morning and return in the evening, daytrippers are more likely to arrive in the morning and go back later in the day. Rather than increasing congestion for commuters, this would lead to more passengers on typically underutilized sailings. B.C. Ferries says that this could improve overall capacity utilization and effectively improve the financial performance of the route.
The exception would be weekend visitors travelling on Friday nights at the same time as the commuters. Parks Canada had indicated that park visitors would be encouraged to avoid travelling by vehicle which would reduce the potential for increased congestion during commuter times. In the event that traffic volumes would grow significantly during peak days, B.C. Ferries could consider the addition of an extra round trip during the gap in service between morning and afternoon operations. But that change would require consultation with the Ferry Advisory Committee and negotiations with the province.
B.C. Ferries also commented on the suggestion about private water taxi services. The letter states, "it should be noted that there is sufficient capacity on board the vessel for significantly more foot passenger traffic. The key areas of concern would be in the land-based travel to and from terminals."
B.C. Ferries' concern was that customers pay the round trip fare at Horseshoe Bay and do not pay when departing Bowen Island and that both fare structure and point of payment should be aligned should a water taxi venture be developed.
Congestion at terminals has been identified as a key concern by B.C. Ferries. The holding capacity inside the Horseshoe Bay terminal is limited to a one-vessel-load of Bowen traffic. When the vehicle traffic is held outside, it requires using a full 150-vehicle- lane raising safety concerns.
It has also been pointed out that Horseshoe Bay village has limited parking available and alternative park and ride options to link foot passengers should be explored. BC Ferries would be interested in reviewing this approach along with representation from West Vancouver and the ministry of transportation.
In Snug Cove, loading is currently done by single lane and backs up Government Road. There is already congested and conflicting pedestrian/vehicle flow during loading and unloading. B.C. Ferries suggest that traffic congestion would be eased through reconfiguring the holding area in Snug Cove to facilitate simultaneously loading of two lanes of traffic. At this time, B.C. Ferries is not considering an assured or priority loading product for minor route island residents.
The document was presented to council on October 11 and can be viewed at bowenpark.ca/bcferries.
