BC Ferries wants to make changes to when and how Bowen Islanders get the ferry and the island's ferry advisory committee wants to know what islanders feel about those changes.
Most of the proposed changes involve changing departure times at the beginning and end of the day by five minutes, but BC Ferries also plans to close the pedestrian gate on Bay Street in Horseshoe Bay.
The proposed changes are as follows:
Changing the first sail time from Bowen Island from 5:35 to 5:30 year round. At present, it's at 5:35 in the off season and 5:30 in the summer. The proposed change is to allow more time for crew change so that the 6 a.m. ferry leaving Horseshoe Bay can improve its on-time performance.
Changing the last sail time to Bowen Island from 9:35 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. during the off season. The goal of the proposed change is to ensure the last ferry leaving Bowen Island at 10 can be on time and avoid crew overtime costs.
Extending the summer schedule to between the Victoria Day weekend and Thanksgiving weekend. Right now it's roughly from Canada Day to Labour Day. When the summer schedule is in effect, the last ferry leaving Horseshoe Bay is at 9:45 p.m. and the last ferry leaving the island is at 10:10. The goal of the proposed change is to improve the on-time performance of the Queen of Capilano when there are extra sailings on the Langdale and Nanaimo routes.
Closing the foot passenger gate to and from Bay Street. BC Ferries is building an elevated walkway to allow pedestrians to safely travel between the upper parking areas and Horseshoe Bay. Pedestrians crossing on the parking level may sometimes delay the discharge of vehicles from the unloading ferries. It wants pedestrians to use only the elevated walkways; the ground level pathway would be only for bicyclists.
The Bowen Island ferry advisory committee plans to meet with BC Ferries in early June and wants to be able to include feedback from the community as part of that discussion. Please send your comments to [email protected] attention BIMFAC (Bowen Island municipal ferry advisory committee.)
