Nearly three quarters of respondents to a survey on student ferry travel to Vancouver Island are in support of an incremental rate increase to accommodate youth trips.
Councillor Karen Skadsheim told City of Powell River Council, during its Thursday, July 16 meeting, that the Northern Sunshine Coast Ferry Advisory Committee had conducted the online survey regarding student ferry travel during the month of June.
Skadsheim said the ferry advisory committee has noted that students in other ferry-dependent communities travel for free to sports and school-related events and Powell River area youth deserve the same benefit.
In order for BC Ferries to implement a program similar to what is in place currently for student travel on the Lower Sunshine Coast, a fare increase averaging 0.8 per cent would be required on Route 17 (Powell River-Comox) in order to offset the free student travel. This proposed increase amounts to approximately 10 cents for foot passengers, 40 cents for cars and trucks and about five cents per foot for commercial traffic.
The survey question was: Would you agree to an increase as noted above on Route 17 to enable students to travel to and from Vancouver Island for free to sports and school-related events?
The total number of responses received was 619, which Skadsheim felt was a good response. Of the respondents, the yes vote was 73 per cent, or 451 on the yes side, and 168 registering a no vote, for a 27 per cent total.
“BC Ferries is moving forward with a goal to having it in place for September,” Skadsheim said.
During council’s question period, Mark Hassett asked from the gallery whether the fare increase for student travel would apply one way or both ways to Vancouver Island.
Hassett was advised the fare increase would apply to travel in both directions. In the case of the Lower Sunshine Coast, the additional fare is only assessed from the Horseshoe Bay terminal because tolls are not collected at Langdale.
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