We are getting the runaround from BC Ferries. Have been for years. Take our passenger waiting facility in Snug Cove, for instance. Built in the early 80’s, and a poor cousin to any half decent bus stop on Fraser Street, it seats 4-5, maybe 12 people standing. That at a time when over 200 passengers waiting in the rain or snow is standard.
We were promised a properly sized new waiting room and toilets in 1992. It would be in the 1993 capital plan, for sure. Something happened to kybosh that, and again year after year- if it wasn’t feigned poverty, it was the separation of major/minor routes and a new administrative structure based in Little River. Then on hold pending a comprehensive review of overall Snug Cove planning. This led to a $40,000 McElhenny study, half of which paid by Bowen, that offered at least four options plus variants, none of which were endorsed by BC Ferries.
On top of this BC Ferry Corporation became BC Ferries Services. No longer a creature of government, but a quasi-corp. getting a government subsidy. This meant that, ohmygosh, there was no obligation to honour old promises. A new day, with service and facilities planning based on a ‘business model’ that heaped responsibility onto Bowen to provide such things as the road infrastructure unless we turned over control/ ownership of the land on which BCFS would build things.
But what of the passenger facility in all this? Well, BCFS has said, very piously, that they will not go ahead piecemeal until we have agreed what to do about car marshalling, design of roadways, utilities, etc. This, despite the fact that there is really only one likely location- on the lot where they are now located, owned by BCFS!
The truth is, they could start tomorrow, build contiguous to the south dock, and have land left over to construct a bus/taxi turnaround on the same lot. The argument that we have to decide to either carve up the park or widen Gov’t Rd. is simply a red herring. That may impact load times for a larger ferry, but does not have anything to do with footsies. Passengers deserve and need a place to wait out of the elements, period.
In fact, separation of vehicles and passengers is part of the BCFS mantra, so building the passenger facility now, with a connecting ramp to the south side dolphins and thence aboard, is a logical first step.
BC Ferries has yet to explain why it is that Bowen is supposed to provide onshore infrastructure that will allow 125-175 car turnaround in twelve minutes, yet BCFS will not warrant turnaround times, or even a safe, coherent loading system in Horseshoe Bay? Why should we pay the shot, when every other small terminus on the coast has had upgrades on the Ferries’ nickel? I’m tired of the smug assertion that the problem is at our end. They’ve been breaking promises and changing rules for decades.
Answer us that, demonstrate a bit of good faith, and perhaps we’d feel more inclined to sit down with the municipal chequebook in hand. Until then, we’re just chumps.
Ok-I’ve calmed down a bit. Of course there are things we can and ought to do. First off, we can fix up the roadway between the apron and Cardena. I tried to convince council to put this item in the 2005, then 2006 Public Works budget. Didn’t happen, because the mayor wanted a Traffic Demand study, others wanted to wait for an accord with BCFS. Notwithstanding, we should just do it. Widen the road one lane, improve the sidewalks, move the wall.
Second, buy the old Chevron bulk plant lot (corner Gov’t and Cardena) scoop out the sand fill, and presto- a new kiss’n ride. Some attendant roadwork on Cardena, a good covered connecting walkway to the ferry, and we have a serviceable inviting solution.
Third, negotiate a deal with GVRD Parks to obtain a strip along the north side of Gov’t Road and create some angle parking. 45 stalls can be made by just going between the hydro poles from the library lot to across from Rennison’s parking lot below the General Store. This can be done with grasscrete or plastic blocks, and does not destroy the grassy appearance. That would free up the south side parking lane for marshalling.
Fourth, fix up the south side sidewalk all the way up to the corner pub. Make it wheel chair safe and baby buggy friendly.
Do these things and we will have everything BCFS demands, plus amenities that we need.
Peter Frinton
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