The Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, Todd Stone held a press conference in Victoria on Wednesday February 5 at 11:30am to announce "government's decision on coastal ferry service levels, and speak about the report that summarizes the most-recent community engagement on the B.C. coastal ferry service undertaken by the B.C. government and BC Ferries".
The Minister confirmed that service reductions will take place this spring. He advised that "BC Ferries will meet with designated community representatives to refine the schedules on the affected minor and northern routes, taking into account the community input received during engagement. For example, on some routes, there are opportunities to eliminate mid-day sailings in favour of retaining early morning or late evening sailings. The final schedules will be made public by the end of March".
BCFerries issued a news release following the Minister's news conference that advised that, "in an effort to obtain as much meaningful feedback as possible on ferry schedule refinements from the communities affected, BC Ferries has committed to soliciting public opinion regarding sailing schedule options through online and telephone surveys," and that "based on the online and telephone feedback on the draft schedules, BC Ferries will meet with community leaders, including Ferry Advisory Committee members, to discuss the feedback received in order to implement the revised schedules for April 28, 2014."
To read the full BCF news release go to http://www.bcferries.com/bcferries/faces/attachments?id=838171
Minister Stone also confirmed that seniors travelling on Mon-Thurs will pay a half-price passenger fare. In the past the BC Government has paid BCF the full fare for seniors travelling on Mon-Thurs.
The Summary Report on the Fall 2013 Engagement Process was also released. For those wanting to read Minister Stone's news release and the 2013 Engagement Report please go here.
Alison Morse
Vice Chair Bowen Island Transportation Advisory Committee
