Latest news with #AndrewLeonard
Global News
26-04-2025
- Business
- Global News
Mayors of Gibsons and Bowen Island issue ‘urgent' demands on ferry reliability
The mayors of Gibsons and Bowen Island have written to British Columbia's premier demanding 'urgent action' on ferry reliability. The two communities are both heavily reliant on ferry service out of Horseshoe Bay, and have both dealt with recent headaches. On Monday, a vessel serving the Sunshine Coast route had mechanical problems that left passengers stranded for hours and resulted in multiple sailing cancellations and the deployment of water taxis. 2:39 Mechanical issue leaves BC Ferries passengers floating In February, Bowen Island went without ferry service for several days when its ferry dock was damaged in rough weather. Story continues below advertisement The company has also faced a recent litany of mechanical woes across vessels serving its major southern routes. 'We've had very severe ferry service issues, both on the Sunshine Coast and Bowen Island,' Gibsons Mayor Silas White told Global News. 'We've seen a deterioration of service on Bowen Island over the last number of years,' added Bowen Island Mayor Andrew Leonard. 1:51 Bowen Island ferry remains out of service 'Despite repeated attempts to get their attention, to see operational changes, to see capacity changes and to see them address the issues our residents are facing … we haven't gotten a meaningful response.' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The mayors say Premier David Eby committed in 2023 to making BC Ferries a 'top priority,' but that they continue to deal with unreliable service that is affecting both residents' travel plans, health and livelihoods. Story continues below advertisement The letter makes four demands of the provincial government. The mayors want an 'accountable governance table' that would include local governments alongside BC Ferries leadership and regulators. They also want more transparency on BC Ferries operational data, including real-time and historic performance metrics, along with immediate service improvements on their two routes, including better vessel redundancy and a timeline for vessel and terminal upgrades. The mayors are also calling for the reinstatement of 'meaningful community engagement' to replace the disbanded Ferry Advisory Committee. 0:56 Queen of New Westminster ferry out of service until October Along with the demands, the mayors say they want a meeting with Eby and Transportation Minister Mike Farnworth. Global News is seeking comment from the provincial government. Story continues below advertisement BC Ferries is in the midst of launching a major vessel replacement program, with new diesel-battery hybrid ferries to replace the aging Queens of Alberni, New Westminster, Coquitlam, and Cowichan, which are the oldest major ships still in use. The company applied to procure five vessels, but the independent British Columbia Ferries Commissioner approved four. The company is aiming to have the first of the new vessels in service by spring 2029.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Here's the plan to run electric ferries between downtown Vancouver, Bowen Island and Gibsons
A plan to run two all-electric, 150-passenger ferries between downtown Vancouver, Bowen Island and Gibsons by 2027 is one step closer after City of Vancouver officials announced motions to expedite land use at Harbour Green Dock. On Friday, representatives from all three levels of government enthusiastically endorsed Greenline Marine Inc.'s plan, which has been in the works for three years. "An option that takes cars off the road, releases congestion in the Upper Levels [Highway] and connects Bowen Island residents to the mainland and the mainland visitors to us is long overdue," said Bowen Island Mayor Andrew Leonard, flanked by two Vancouver Park Board commissioners, one city councillor, a Green MLA and Liberal MP. Leonard cited the hardship created for his community this week after ferry service was cut off. Greenline aims to run two high-speed, all-electric, passenger-only ferries between docks on Bowen Island, Gibsons and Vancouver's Coal Harbour, where there will be charging infrastructure. Three daily round trips are planned between Vancouver and Bowen Island, with a sailing time of 40 minutes. Four daily round-tips are planned between Vancouver and Gibsons, with a sailing time of 70 minutes. Designs from Greenline Marine Inc. show what its vessels and charging infrastructure might look like once they are in place at docks in downtown Vancouver, Bowen Island, and Gibsons. (Greenline Marine Inc.) The company's head said the project will cost about $60 million, has feasibility studies completed with funding through B.C. Hydro and will benefit from Ottawa's Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit. "This is a super exciting project," said Callum Campbell, founder of Greenline. "Greenline has the drive and expertise to make this real." Campbell is a naval architect who has designed and built car ferries for clients in North America. Before Greenline, he worked for the province as its director of inland ferries. "We're not building lounges. We're not building terminals," he said about the plans for Coal Harbour. "We're there to serve people. They'll board the ferry as the ferry charges, and then we'll be off and running." Campbell said his company's been doing engagement in all three communities and with First Nations. It has a financial partner, and the vessel design has been completed by naval architect firm BMT. There will be space on the ferries for 20 bicycles and four wheelchairs. A graphic from Greenline Marine Inc. designed to show what its vessels might look like. (Greenline Marine Inc.) Once operating, Greenline hopes to sell 1,000 tickets a day, which proponents say would reduce 500 car trips from B.C. Ferries destinations and ultimately save travellers about $20 per trip. "An electric passenger ferry could help Vancouverites sail past congestion in the downtown peninsula, reducing vehicle traffic downtown and alleviating congestion, improving air quality, softening sound pollution and contributing to the city's climate goals, " said Vancouver Coun. Rebecca Bligh. Bligh and Park Board commissioners. Brennan Bastyovanszky and Laura Christensen are bringing joint motions to council and park board at the end of the month that will look to have staff figure out how Harbour Green Dock can accommodate the Greenline ferries. "The Harbour Green dock has been a vital part of Vancouver's waterfront, but its potential has never really been fully realized," said Bastyovanszky. "That's why the park board is taking an active role in exploring how this public asset can support sustainable, low-carbon transportation while maintaining its recreational value." Bligh said the ferry service, once operating, could generate up to $1 million in revenues for the park board. If realized, the Greenline ferry service would be the second passenger ferry service to operate in Coal Harbour. In August 2023, Hullo Ferries began running a high-speed ferry service between downtown Vancouver and downtown Nanaimo.
