Special Update! - A Call to Action
Since the start of the Petition on December 22, 2021, the email traffic going and forth to our Elected Officials - Gary Holman - CRD Director, Peter Grove – Islands Trusts Trustee and Harold Swierenga – Chair of the Salt Spring Island Ferry Advisory Committee has been extensive. All three individuals are appointed to the Ferry Advisory Committee by BC Ferries.
In order to push this Petition Over the Top we need the support of these three individuals.
Background;
The Chair of the SSI Ferry Advisory Committee put a Service Request in last June for supplemental service this Summer in times of Peak Demand on Route 4 (Fulford – Swartz Bay) using the MV Quinitsa. That conflicts with this Petition from the standpoint those who are frequent Patrons of Route 6 are suggesting along with 1800 Petitioners the use of the MV Quinitsa year round.
We've been told that BCF would like to use the Quinitsa as a spare. What we suggested is with a little effort and money, keep the Bowen Queen serviceable as the spare and use it for Peak Demand on Route 4 in Summer as proposed by the FAC Chair.
The difference between our proposal and the Chair's, ours has overwhelming Community Support both on and off Island. This conflict would have never of surfaced if the FAC Chair had of used the protocol stated in the "Terms of Reference" from BCF and canvassed the Community for their input prior to his unilateral Service Request. June of last year is when the traffic madness started on Route 6 in earnest. It would have been the perfect time to engage with Our Community for input and a mutual way forward.
I asked one of the Member’s of the Committee last week if he would ask his FAC Chair to Poll the Committee on the Merits of the Petition with the hope we could find a United Way forward. Apparently the request was to be addressed this week but it appears the poll hasn’t happened or the results haven't been conveyed.
The Service Request does little for Route 6 while providing Summer relief for Route 4 to a degree. The request in this Petition attempts to mitigate traffic gridlock at all 3 Terminals while providing an increase of 13% in vehicle uplift at Vesuvius. It's a home run for all who use Route 6 and Route 4.
Using the Bowen Queen to supplement peak demand in Summer at Fulford it then becomes a Grand Slam.
Some ask why not put the MV Quinitsa on Route 4 year round? Well, It's painfully slow at 7.5 to 8 Kts compared to the Skeena Queen at 12 to 12.5 Kts. The stage length is considerably longer to Swartz Bay roughly 45 min. This makes the 20 to 25 min crossing to Crofton extremely cost effective for BCF. They won't repudiate that fact.
We came across on Sunday at 1805 from Crofton and the Ship's Master was making way at 5.9 Kts. Fuel Conservation? Not sure.
Everyone want's to know the proposed Schedule. It's the same as what BCF is doing on the New 2 Ferry Service on Route 19 - Nanaimo to Gabriola Island. Basically from 0600 - 1800 on the hour service. When peak demand is over one vessel is tied up and we are down to our usual 1 vessel service in the evenings.
If the FAC sits down and discusses the Merits of the above we think the way forward with this pragmatic solution is clear. In conversation last week with BCF there wasn't encouragement perse but it was conveyed the timing was perfect for requesting funding internally. Yes, they have their staffing issues like everyone else, which was disclosed this week.
Please write the above individuals to seek their support in - "The Fix For Route Six". This is a quote from our CRD Director in the Driftwood November 30, 2021 -
“We need to be more effective as a community to lobby the government to accelerate that plan”
Respectfully Mr. Holman that’s what 1800 Members of your Community have just done in a mere 3 weeks. The Question - when do you become effective and honour the express wishes of your Constituents and Community?
Gary Holman ssidirector@crd.bc.ca
Peter Grove pgrove@islandstrust.bc.ca
Harold Swierenga haroldswierenga@gmail.com
Thank you! The Patrons of Route 6
Below Our Sister Community that is all in when it comes to supporting the Fix and getting the New Crofton Ferry Terminal underway.