BIMTAC (formerly the Bowen Island Municipality Ferry Advisory Committee) meets with representatives from the BC Ferries twice a year. Our most recent meeting with BCF took place on Monday, April 8, (agenda and minutes will be on BIM website).
This report highlights key items. Some may have wondered what came out of the consultation program initiated by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, with a view to getting public input as to how to improve BC Ferries' service to ferry-dependent communities. Many Bowen Islanders who turned out to a town hall meeting last November were skeptical of the process, seeing in it an attempt by the government to soften up ferry-dependent communities for service reductions. In the end, the consultation process reached no conclusions. The report submitted by the consultant simply described the process. The ministry has postponed any further action until after the provincial election. But we are under no illusion that the new government, of whatever persuasion, will be looking for savings and revenue increases from BC Ferries. The government appears to have forgotten the principle of equity: communities in the interior have free access to a highway system, but coastal communities have to pay tolls to access their communities.
As some may know, the Queen of Capilano will be going in for her mid-life refit in 2015. BC Ferries has scheduled the refit from January to May 2015. BC Ferries, during our meeting, acknowledged that replacing the Cap with the Bowen Queen for this extended period would not be acceptable. They are looking at a number of options that include replacing the Cap with the Island Sky (which was originally designed for the Bowen run, capacity 125 cars), or running two ferries, the Bowen Queen and another small ferry.
BIM staff briefed BC Ferries on the proposals for ferry marshalling in Snug Cove. In addition to planning issues, there are concerns about ferry turn-around times in Snug Cove. If BC Ferries is trying to find operational savings, the process of getting foot passengers and vehicles on and off the ferry has to be streamlined. BIMTAC has asked BC Ferries to assign engineering staff to liaise with us as to what improvements can be made to the Cap during the refit.
BIMTAC registered its disapproval about the increased buy-in levels for the BC Experience card. This is an issue that unites all of the Salish Sea communities it is effectively a tax on less wealthy residents.
An ongoing issue is the integration of the Blue Bus timetable with the ferry schedule. BIMTAC has been working with both administrations, and while all are amenable to scheduling improvements, the devil is in the details, not the least of which is the fact that BC Ferries now has three separate sets of schedules for the Nanaimo run winter, shoulder and summer. This includes cut-off times, particularly for foot passengers arriving by bus. The Langdale ferry advisory committee shares our concerns.
At the beginning of the meeting BIMTAC welcomed its newest member, Jane Kellett. She brings to the committee a much-needed perspective about the single largest group of Bowen ferry users the high-school students. BIMTAC meets once a month and all meetings are open to the public. For dates, agendas and minutes please see the BIM website.
ADAM HOLBROOK
FERRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
