For long-time Islanders, trips to the mainland between January 2 and February 4 2018 will likely bring back memories as the Queen of Capilano will be in the shop, and the old Bowen Queen will take its place. Built in 1965, the Bowen Queen has a real retro-feel, no elevator, no hot-chocolate dispenser and less car capacity than the Queen of Capilano. This could mean more overloads for the month, but BC Ferries and the Municipality have both made provisions to try and decrease traffic for the period.
BC Ferries Public Affairs Manager Darin Guenette says the month of January was chosen specifically because ferry traffic levels are lowest this time of year.
“Last month, traffic was up almost every day, and there was usually a daily overload in one of the morning and one of the afternoon commuter runs,” says Guennette. “The 7:30am and 5:30pm ferries were most frequently overloaded. We recognize that commuter traffic is not likely to slow down, which is why we have come up with ways to try and reduce the amount of vehicle traffic for the month.”
One of those ways is assured loading for high-occupancy vehicles. This means that up to 10 vehicles carrying four or more people will be assured loading onto the ferry.
“They have got to be there at least 20 minutes before departure time,” says Guenette. “We tried this the last time the Bowen Queen was doing the run between Snug Cove and Horseshoe Bay, and the uptake was not high. That said, even if this can cut the number of cars loading by two or three per-sailing, it will help.”
The commuter express bus, run by Peter King, will also be up and running with capacity for 45 passengers, which is an increased capacity of 20 people from the bus that ran through the fall. King adds that he sees the new schedule, which will be in effect January 2, as an advantage for commuters using his service.
“Like the summer schedule, we should be able to make a nice time advantage for people heading downtown and back,” says King. “Also, we’re hoping to make life a bit easier for people heading into North Van by coming down Capilano Road and making a stop at Garden and Marine Drive. This will allow people to hop on either the 239, which stops at the Sea Bus, or the 255, which stops at 15th and Lonsdale. Ultimately, both of these buses end up at Cap U.”
BC Ferries will also be offering a reduced parking rate in Horseshoe Bay - $10 for 24 hours in the surface lot, or $100 for a month in the parkade.
Here on Bowen, the municipality will be keeping the commuter lot beside the General Store open for commuters, and Metro Vancouver will be opening up the Bowfest Field lot for temporary commuter parking.
Darin Guenette says the work being done to the Bowen Queen, which includes an overhaul of both engines and a cleaning of the sewage tanks, will mostly not be noticeable for people riding the ferry. What passengers will not fail to notice is its changed arrival and departure times. The very busy 5:30pm run from Horseshoe Bay will no longer be a problem, because there won’t be a ferry at this time. Instead, there will be 4:45pm and 5:45pm sailings – be sure to check the BC Ferries website so you know when to you’ll be able to get off or back on Bowen.
