All posts by Pieta Woolley

Think ferry meetings are scary? Ha. Try City Council.

Editor’s Note: On February 3, 2024, BC Ferries held community drop-in meetings on Cortes and Quadra Islands. There were 25 and 34 participants, respectively. A big concern on Cortes is ‘assured loading.’ BC Ferries stated they need to monitor the effect of using two ferries between Campbell River and Quadra first, but will reevaluate loading procedures after the summer. The first steps towards full electrification of the Campbell River run (design and BC Hydro upgrades) have begun. The design work is expected to take a year. Some sailings on the Campbell River – Quadra route were cancelled because of a lack of crew members and BC Ferries is in the midst of the biggest recruitment campaign in its history.

Originally published on qathet Living

For the past several weeks, Kim Barton-Bridges has tried to figure out when – or whether – BC Ferries executives planned to come to Powell River for the regularly-scheduled spring Northern Sunshine Coast Ferry Advisory Committee meeting, which she chairs. 

The last one was September 21, at the Town Centre Hotel. That one was a little raucous, because some locals were angry about a summer of waiting for hours in hot parking lots, a reservation system that had failed, the cost of traveling, and sailing cancellations due to staffing problems and occasionally technical problems. Although ultimately, Kim noted, everyone at the meeting was relatively respectful. 

Continue reading Think ferry meetings are scary? Ha. Try City Council.

A new route from Sechelt to Lund: for humans, not cars

Editor’s note: It has been close to two years since Sue Bossley informed Cortes Currents that, as a result of the new water taxi service connecting Lund and Cortes Island, it was now possible for cyclists to pedal from Powell River to Lund, over Cortes and Quadra Islands to Campbell River, down to the Comox Ferry and back again. She called this the North Salish Cycle Route. (While Cortes Island is no longer listed as a regular destination, Access Point Marine Transportation does offer charter services. QXMC’s water taxi, Goat 1, has been sequestered to support the Klahoose Wilderness Resort from May until mid October, but is also available for charter in the off-season.) The story that follows takes this idea a step further, with a proposal to install cycling infrastructure on the route south from Lund.

Originally published on qathet Living

For the past few years, Sunshine Coast Tourism has been working on a plan to connect Sechelt to Lund with a safe, efficient route for cyclists, pedestrians, people using mobility scooters, and other folks choosing active transportation. It’s for commuters, tourists, and anyone who wants to enjoy the coast outside of a vehicle. 

In January, GJD Planning released the project’s second report. It breaks down the coast into 20 segments, and proposes infrastructure for each one. It also proposes which segments should get top priority. And, it notes that this will cost about $4 million per kilometre. 

Continue reading A new route from Sechelt to Lund: for humans, not cars

qathet’s get-around gang: what works, what doesn’t

Editor’s Note: While Cortes and Quadra Islands discuss alternate forms of transportation, it is of interest to see what another community in our broadcast area is doing.

Originally published on qathet Living

BC Transit Powell River

Public service funded by fares, the Province of BC, the City, qathet Regional District, and Tla’amin Nation. Administered by BC Transit. 

Advantage: Cheap and consistent. You can go from Saltery Bay to Lund and everywhere in between for $2.25, and to Texada for $8, including the ferry fare. Kids 12 and under travel free. The HandiDART system, also $2.25 a ride, offers door to door service for people with mobility challenges. 

Continue reading qathet’s get-around gang: what works, what doesn’t

Rural community transit woes: You can’t get there from here

Editor’s note: Transit worries are not unique to Powell River. On Cortes and Read Islands, the immediate challenge for people without cars is getting to Campbell River. The Klahoose Community Bus travels from Cortes to Campbell River and back twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. However there is no direct bus from Campbell River to Vancouver either. Instead, you can take IslandLink from Campbell River to Nanaimo, board a BC Ferry to Horseshoe Bay (as foot passenger), then catch a bus to Vancouver.

Originally published on qathet Living

Ever since Malaspina Coachlines died here, the dream was this: a BC Transit bus that ran regularly from downtown Powell River to downtown Vancouver. Fares would be affordable, service would be predictable, coaches would be accessible for those with mobility challenges, and costs would be shared between the Province, local taxpayers, and fares ​– ​​same as any other BC Transit bus. 

Continue reading Rural community transit woes: You can’t get there from here

Grrr. BC Ferries is getting better.

Originally published on qathet Living

If being crabby about BC Ferries’ bungling incompetence is what floats your boat, you’ll be disappointed with the newest set of sailing cancellation statistics. 

BC Ferries reports on cancellations quarterly. Mid-October, the corporation released the numbers for July through September. That was a period with unprecedented media focus on crewing shortages and other factors causing chaos during tourism season. 

Continue reading Grrr. BC Ferries is getting better.