Monday, 5 November 2012
Coastal Ferries Engagement
Coastal Ferries Engagement
Why a Bridge Link System should supersede the old
ferry service.
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Cost.
Accessibility. Sustainability.
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Wednesday, 10 October 2012
October 6, 2012.
October 6, 2012.
B.C. Ferries is again raising fares, in spite of a
declining user group; not the usual business decision.
The Ferry system is not your usual business, because BC
Ferries is obliged to cover major losing runs, such as the Gulf Islands.
According to the figures reported in the Annual report of
the BC Ferries Commissioner, the annual revenues for twelve months to March 31
2012 are $51,495 million for the Islands Trust area south of Cortes Is. The
annual expenses BC Ferries has to absorb are $76,224 million, thus showing a
loss/subsidy of $24,729 million. Clearly this is not sustainable.
Referring to the Gabriola ferry service only, the
revenues are $5,672 million, with expenses of $7,425 million and a subsidy of
$1,753 million annually. The revenue is more than adequate to pay for a 100 year bridge
system, thus releasing the BC Ferries from their unsustainable expense.
If the subsidy is shared by all inhabitants of an island,
the following examples are illustrative of the problem.
The Gabriola Is. loss/subsidy, shared equally by the 5000
or so inhabitants, works out to approximately, $1,134 per person. Another example is Thetis Island, with
approx. 350 inhabitants and a loss/subsidy of $2,695 million, works out at
$7,700 per person.
We will leave the Saltspring Is. issue alone for now,
with its three ferry services and the use of six terminals.
The Islands Trust Act is for preserving and protecting
the Islands for the Province as a whole, not just the inhabitants, who, on
average, own ½ acre. What does the rest
of the Province think of paying for such an unsustainable ferry system in the
present economic climate, when for Gabriola at least, the ferry can be replaced
by a far more sustainable bridge system.
Thursday, 13 September 2012
Cost effective bridge compared to expensive, unsustainable ferry.
Cost effective bridge compared to expensive,
unsustainable ferry.
A recent estimate of a bridge system to replace the
Gabriola ferry, by the previous minister of Transportation, Blair Lekstrom, was
$100 million. This is up from $35 million when the NDP created the Islands
Trust and incorporated into the Official Community Plan in 1974. Since that
time millions have been spent on ferry fares by Gabriola residents and their
service providers. We are left with a ferry, that will have to be replaced and
future fuel, labour, and terminal expenses that are unsustainable.
At the present time $6 million is spent annually for the
Gabriola Ferry service, $5 million by the user group, and the balance by the
Provincial taxpayers. This money could pay off the cost of the bridge system in
about 20 years leaving a very inexpensive transportation system that could be
supported by tolls. There would be a need for a passenger only service to
downtown Nanaimo and a bus service that would use the bridge.
Why are we being forced to accept an expensive,
unsustainable ferry option, compared to a far more effective bridge system?
The Province has just let the contract for a Public
Engagement Process, to canvass coastal communities for their opinions on the
future of the Ferry system. The Southern Gulf Islands, largely Saltspring
Island, have an annual subsidy of $26 million and this does not include the
collected fares by the user groups. In the case of Saltspring Island we are
talking about $1 billion going down the drain every 20 years! Not sustainable
in a competitive world.
Individuals that want to keep the ferries should pay the
largest proportion, those that would prefer an inexpensive bridge system,
should pay a lot less.
Monday, 10 September 2012
Duke Point not closing!
Duke Point not closing! Unless the Government says,
“Close the Terminal”.
In the Nanaimo Daily News article discussing the proposed
closure of the Duke Point Terminal, the writer referred to an upcoming Public
Engagement Process. I will take that opportunity to present the case for
eliminating the Gabriola Ferry/two terminals/ the subsidy and replacing the
service with a bridge system similar to the one put forward by the NDP in 1974,
but without the mainland ferry terminal.
The current estimate for a bridge system from the
Ministry of Transportation is $100 million. Gabriola residents and their goods
and services providers, spend $5 million a year for the ferry costs. The bridge
construction debt could be paid down in approximately 20 years. The bridge
system would have a 100 year life span, giving us 80 years of inexpensive
transportation.
The big question is: why, if we know the most cost
effective way of transporting goods and services, are we being forced to use
the most expensive way?
Sincerely, Jeremy Baker.
Gabriola Island.
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