BC Ferries will consider improving Texada Island ferry service after Northern Sunshine Coast Ferry Advisory Committee (FAC) passed a formal motion at its meeting on Thursday, May 25.
BC Ferries CEO and president Mark Collins and several members of his executive team were in Powell River for a meeting that covered many topics, including the replacement of Powell River-Texada Island ferry North Island Princess, service improvements and Salish Orca’s rough start.
Former FAC representative for Texada Island Chuck Childress presented on an idea for a two-month summer trial that would have Salish Orca stop at Blubber Bay on its first run to Comox on Wednesdays and Saturdays. He said the change would shave off five hours of travel time and make it easier for Texada seniors to attend medical appointments on Vancouver Island.
“It’s not the first time Texada has brought this to the table, but what is somewhat frustrating is that you go back a year ago and I was standing here making the same presentation,” Childress told the committee.
Collins said BC Ferries heard Childress’ idea when it was first presented.
“We understand the rationale, the ask and what’s being proposed,” said Collins. “We just didn’t have a formal request from the FAC.”
Collins added that BC Ferries had already started investigating, looking at logistics and engineering, but would not be responding without a formal request.
FAC chair Kim Barton-Bridges said the reason why the request was not previously made was because there was no formal procedure in place and, now that there is, the request will be made as soon as possible.
BC Ferries director of fleet operational strategy Peter Simpson said at the meeting that the concept has potential.
“It is something we’ve been investigating,” said Simpson. “It has its challenges, but also its opportunities.”
BC Ferries said that because it has already looked at a potential trial, it may not take the regular 90-day period to investigate FAC service improvement requests.
After the meeting, Childress said he was “cautiously optimistic” about the response from BC Ferries.
With Texada’s aging demographic and the need for its residents to access Vancouver Island for medical reasons, Childress said giving people the ability to cut travel time each way will go a long way toward improving service.
Current Texada FAC representative Sandy McCormick said it was significant that BC Ferries was considering the change.
“For probably close to 20 years Texada reps on the FAC have been asking for a triangle run,” said McCormick. “Whether it transpires or not, it’s a major step in the progression toward a pilot.”
Texada Chamber of Commerce president Cindy Babyn also attended the meeting and said the business community supports the triangle run.
“We are getting to Comox from Texada, but it is so frustrating that it takes five hours each way,” she said. “We can see Comox from west shores of Texada.”
At the meeting, Collins also announced that BC Ferries was in discussion with shipyards to construct the North Island Princess replacement ship and that the announcement will be formally made in the coming month.
Collins also said with recent overloads on MV Tachek, which is currently standing in while North Island Princess has maintenance work completed, BC Ferries will be adding an extra morning sailing to help handle traffic volume. MV Tachek has roughly half the capacity of North Island Princess.
In response to questions from Barton-Bridges on recent difficulties BC Ferries has had with the new Salish Orca, Collins said all new vessels have challenges, even the large Spirit-class and Coastal-class ships.
“Salish Orca is no different, but we don’t see anything that goes to basic design,” he said. “We are a little surprised by the sorts of things that are giving us trouble. If you’d have asked me two years ago ‘What’s your biggest worry?’ I would have surely said LNG. I never would have said the electric door to the sundeck.”
