A BC ferry crossing Howe Sound to Sunshine Coast / Shutterstock
The province will launch an online engagement process in the new year to help develop a long-term vision for coastal ferry services, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure announced Friday.
The goal, Transportation Minister Claire Trevena said in a release, is 鈥渢o develop a broad provincial vision so we can be sure that we have the right ferry services in place in the future.鈥�
To start the process, Trevena will meet with stakeholders in a number of coastal communities, including the Sunshine Coast, Nanaimo, Victoria, Vancouver, Salt Spring Island, Haida Gwaii and Comox.
鈥淭hese meetings will help inform the broader visioning process,鈥� said the ministry鈥檚 release, which lists some of the ideas that could be explored: supplementing current services with passenger-only ferries, expanding transportation choices, and finding ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Developing a long-term vision was one of the key recommendations contained in a review of coastal ferry services by formal deputy minister Blair Redlin, released last winter.
鈥淲ith recent amendments to the Coastal Ferry Act to better support public interest, a vision will help guide the BC Ferries commissioner and the BC Ferry Authority in making decisions that also best serve the travelling public,鈥� the ministry said.
