November 9, 2016

Do We Need a Sunshine Coast Fixed Link? – 6

The last in a series by John Whistler:
The BC Government review of the Sunshine Coast fixed-link options is treating the existing BC Ferry services as the baseline. They have not provided the option of improving the ferry services for discussion purposes. This is unfortunate as this option may be a low-cost solution that can stimulate economic development while preserving the “island” lifestyle that is attractive to many residents.
It is also unfortunate that the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) does not normally fund related initiatives that will mitigate the negative impacts of their projects. As such, it usually falls on the municipalities and regional districts which typically do not have the resources to manage unintended consequences.
Support will be needed for public transit to adapt to the impacts from any fixed link. Increased subsidies will likely be needed. A solution to manage long-distance public transit from Powell River to Vancouver is also important. It is unfortunate that MoTI is focused only on highways and they do not take advantage of the synergy of incorporating public transit into their projects.
bcfIn the case of the Langdale fixed-link options, the provision of a passenger ferry service from Gibsons to Vancouver or Horseshoe Bay would be helpful. This would retain an important origin/destination for local public transit, would maintain the long-distance link for the southern coastal area and would facilitate other transportation options.
Support to encourage rental and affordable housing is also needed as a fixed link is liable to drive up housing costs. In addition to social equity reasons, this is also needed to ensure that there are homes for the trades people that will be needed to build the additional homes that can be expected. Perhaps there is an opportunity for MoTI to partner with BC Housing as a routine strategy to manage their projects. The negative impact to housing affordability is not unique to the Sunshine Coast proposals.
It will be interesting to see if the announcement that the final investment decision to proceed with Woodfibre LNG will impact the route options and implementation timeline. This development would likely favour the Langdale road link as it would allow for road access to Woodfibre and because of the marine impacts of the bridge link.
The BC Government consultation process ends on Tuesday Nov 8. Now is the time to give your comments.

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  1. Public Transit BOTH a Fast ferry or Express Bus from Gibsons to Vancouver would take about 75 minutes. The crew ,fuel and capital cost of a fast ferry would be more than double that of a bus However of course the proposed bridge would have to be paid for .

  2. It’s not necessarily the affordable capital and operating costs of passenger ferries linked to pubic transit (compared to a fixed link), but the quality of service that could generate a new wave of combined marine and land transport. A ticket for a regular passenger ferry shuttle from Sechelt and Gibsons to Waterfront Station would be a helluva lot less than for the standard ferry with a car.
    “Fast” ferries are relative. You don’t need a hydroplane with water jets when off-the-shelf diesel with innovative versions of standard propeller propulsion will still get you going 8 knots faster with a fraction of the per-passenger fuel consumption of the lumbering Queen, Coastal and Spirit traffic-belching highways on the seas.

  3. Passenger ferries would be cheaper from both the capital and operating sides compared to our current floating traffic inducers. There is no comparison of any ferry system to the proposed fixed link; the latter is far costlier.
    A regular, direct downtown harbour 30-knot passenger shuttle between the three major Sunshine Coast communities and Vancouver’s Waterfront Station, especially with decent on-board services, could become one of the most attractive and affordable ways to travel, especially with good quality transit connections as reiterated above. One could have a family home in much more affordable Gibsons or Sechelt with an apartment in Vancouver with its greater employment opportunities, and catch up on emails or read the news on the weekend ferry.
    http://www.ibsglobal.com.au/images/photos/passenger-ferry.jpg

  4. Passenger ferries would be cheaper from both the capital and operating sides compared to our current floating traffic inducers. There is no comparison of any ferry system to the proposed fixed link; the latter is far costlier.
    A regular, direct downtown harbour 30-knot passenger shuttle between the three major Sunshine Coast communities and Vancouver’s Waterfront Station run by BC Ferries with a break even mandate, especially with decent on-board services, could become one of the most attractive and affordable ways to travel, especially with good quality transit connections.
    One could have a family home in much more affordable Gibsons with an apartment in Vancouver with its greater employment opportunities, and catch up on emails or read the news on the weekend ferry without bothering with a car.
    http://www.yeongnam.co.kr/Photo/2007/04/11/M20070411.010110738450001i1.jpg

  5. Passenger ferries would be cheaper from both the capital and operating sides compared to our current floating traffic inducers. There is no comparison of any ferry system to the proposed fixed link; the latter is far costlier.
    A regular, direct downtown harbour 30-knot passenger shuttle between the three major Sunshine Coast communities and Vancouver’s Waterfront Station run by BC Ferries, especially with decent on-board services, could become one of the most attractive and affordable ways to travel, especially with good quality transit connections. One could have a family home in much more affordable Gibsons with an apartment in Vancouver with its greater employment opportunities, and catch up on emails or read the news on the weekend ferry.
    http://www.yeongnam.co.kr/Photo/2007/04/11/M20070411.010110738450001i1.jpg

    1. Why would you need an apartment in Vancouver if there was a fast ferry to Gibsons? Having a home in Gibsons and an apartment in Vancouver is perfectly doable now, for anybody who has the money to afford the two homes.

    2. The “fast” passenger ferry idea is meant to demonstrate a viable affordable alternative to fighting against coastal geography with cars.

  6. My goal was to illustrate that there are affordable alternatives to allowing the coastal geography to be subsumed by car traffic, floating or landed.
    One additional benefit is that land use, planning and urban design can change to suit a more pedestrianized 21st Century. Coastal towns needn’t freeway up when passenger ferries delivers human beings directly to the core.

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