BC Ferries releases feedback from eight-week Fall public input questionnaire
Eight-week long BC Ferries public consultation cost $700,000
BC Ferries looked to the public for input on developing new working strategies to save money.
Maintaining basic levels of ferry services, reduction of round-trip sailings and construction of bridges on several routes are among the suggestions gathered during an eight-week long BC Ferries consultation process last Fall.
The input gathered from the public will be used to develop new working strategies that will help BC Ferries save $26 million by 2016 by adjusting services.
The Coastal Ferries Consultation and Engagement report released Tuesday includes responses of 500 residents but doesn’t make any recommendations.
A little less than half (45 per cent) the respondents have stated maintaining basic levels of ferry services is the top priority.
Nearly 58 per cent of people have consented to reduced round-trip sailings as a measure cost savings.
When asked to suggest some long term measures to make the coastal ferries system sustainable, 67 per cent said they were in favour of alternative ferry technologies including cable ferries and passenger-only vehicles.
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While 63 per cent of respondents have expressed approval of constructing bridges on some routes, an overwhelming 73 per cent are calling for better cycling connections or transit services between communities and ferry terminals.
Four out of five people who filled in the feedback form agree to using economically viable alternative fuels, and 83 per cent are in favour of standardized vessels and docks to allow for vessel switching between routes.
At the same time, there is a strong resistance to increasing property and fuel tax in coastal communities to fund BC Ferries.
While 48 per cent of respondents disagreed with increasing property tax, 51 per cent said they were not in favour of hiked fuel taxes.
BC Ferries is overwhelmed by these responses. It has said it will spend some time to thoroughly review them all before making any final decisions on service changes.
“The high level of participation in this process reflects the importance the people of B.C. attach to the coastal ferry system,” said transportation minister Mary Polak. “We will carefully consider this report and take some time to determine how best to move forward to ensure that coastal communities are connected in an affordable, efficient and sustainable manner.”
More than 2,000 people participated in the consultation process through public meetings and a webinar between Oct. 29 and Dec. 21 last year.
People from 30 communities sent approximately 2,000 submissions on how the coastal service can be improved, and at the same time save money.
The consultation process cost taxpayers $700,000 and attracted much criticism.
Category: British Columbia
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Management of th Ferry Systems in BC is the responsability of those hired to do so. It is not the publics place to react to situations that affect others which they feel based on their view of the world is perfectly okay. It is common knowlege now that raising fares is are the most negative impacting issue with the Ferry System and still they insist on squeezing it up more and more. Next April we are in for another hit. There is a long enough history to determine what is required for scheduled sailings year round. Those slacker periods have to be targeted to make sure the peak periods aren’t subsidizing the low end periods. Even if they were to average annual sailings with reduced sailings they could save about 10% of their operating budget. They could also determine how long a sailing should be delayed if a break even scenario is not present at scheduled times and as long as it is not excessive I think most travellers would be happy with that. The pressure comes for those making connections and in that case their fare should be on a reservation basis only so the operators can say yes we are sailing as scheduled. Failure to reserve puts your convenience at risk and so it should because of your lack of participation.
I have been using the Ferry System for a relatively short time but in that time I’ve seen millions spent on new boats, new facilities at Departure Bay, Horseshoe Bay, Twawassan and Swartz Bay. Governments collect taxes on this enterprise from, properties, retail sales,fuel taxes, Port Taxes, Incometaxes, Materials taxes, Carbon Taxes, licenses, permits and fees. This revenue is never reported but in some way it is returned to some extent by the $128 million dollars taxpayers are asked to subsidize a very poorly managed operation. The Prince Rupert Run for example in itself could be eliminated as air and land transit systems exist to service 90% of those along the route.