(This letter was sent to the Times Colonist on March 31, 2025 – Published in Letters April 2, 2025)
Dear Editor,
The BC Ferries Commissioner approved four of the five new vessels requested by BC Ferries, essentially keeping capacity status quo.
And yet I read: “There has been no major change to the capacity or service levels of these major routes for about 30 years since the Spirit-class vessels entered service.”
Population grows regardless. How would highways on both sides of the Salish Sea manage a 15-50% increase in traffic from the ferries?
It’s easier to pack boats full of people than vehicles, so my next question is: Is it a more efficient use of taxpayer money for Government to connect and augment public transit with rail stops at all major terminals on the Island and Lower Mainland.
The Galloping Goose could be reactivated as a rail plus trail to Swartz Bay, and the Island Railway extended to Duke Point. This would unleash huge capacity in our transportation system to serve the millions of passengers essential to the Island economy.
Mainland terminals are within spitting distance of active rail infrastructure. BC Ferries started as CP Rail, maybe a return to those roots is smarter than saddling BC Ferries with boat loads of debt.
Sincerely
Chris Alemany