Tag Archives: Michael Lynch

Transportation

Ferry Advisory Committee: Cortes and Quadra talk to BC Ferries

Cortes Island’s Ferry Advisory committee met (via Webex, a Zoom-like conferencing app) on the afternoon of Wednesday September 27th at 12:30pm. The meeting had originally been scheduled as a “town hall” style event at Mansons Hall; however, at the last minute BC Ferries announced that their FAC meetings would be held online, due to threats of violence from the public.

Though such threatening behaviour seemed unlikely on Cortes Island, BCF’s policy apparently applies across the board. The last-minute change of venue caused some confusion, but approximately thirty people joined the videoconference call on Wednesday (including BC Ferries staff and FAC members).

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Transportation

Changes coming to the BC Ferries for Quadra and Cortes Islands

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The two much anticipated Island Class hybrid e-ferries are now in operation on the Campbell River to Quadra Island route. The new ferries will be sailing between Campbell River and Quadra Island approximately every half hour between 7:30 AM and 5:50 PM. A single vessel will serve this route in the early morning and evenings. 

“This was a long time coming for all of us, but we’re pleased to have the vessels going and seeing the throughput at the both ends of the terminals. There has been some bumps along the road for sure. We’ve had to make some minor adjustments with the way we stage traffic at the terminals. We’re exploring different options, trying to keep the on-time performance and the traffic moving as fast as we can” said Megan Caldwell, the Terminal Manager for BC Ferries.

Mark Vonesh, the Regional Director for Cortes Island had a different perspective, “We live on Cortes because we like to  have that isolation and sense of distance from the urban centers. That’s something that makes Cortes special, but we rely on the ferry. It’s an essential service for us. We require it for groceries, for medical, for appointments. It’s something that we rely on, and it’s a bottleneck for us. The new ferries that are coming on board obviously created some issues for Cortes.” 

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Transportation

Cortes Island-bound ferry traffic loses priority loading status, locals concerned

CKTZ News, through an LJI grant from Canada-info.ca

BC Ferries’ two-ferry service that began on the Quadra Island-Campbell River route on Jan. 18 was deployed for convenience and speed, but some Cortes Island passengers are concerned with their recent experiences.

The loss of a priority loading lane for Cortes-bound traffic was mentioned in a news release by the company Jan.16. Traditionally, vehicles en route to Cortes were directed into lane 7 at the ferry terminal in Campbell River, and they board and disembark first. This would assist the drivers in arriving at the other ferry terminal on Quadra in time to catch a connecting 45-minute ferry home to Cortes—ferries that only sail every two hours.

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Transportation

Local Ferry Advisory Committee welcomes increased ferry service this month

By Greg Osoba, CKTZ News, through an LJI grant from Canada-info.ca

Jan. 18 heralds the start of tandem ferry service between Campbell River on Vancouver Island and Quadra Island: the number of sailings per week on the route will increase from 105 to up to 210 during peak hours.

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Business

Cortes Island Stores Granted Assured Loading

For Curt Cunningham, of the Squirrel Cove General Store, it means not having to leave at 5 AM to ensure he can board the first ferry leaving Cortes Island on Monday mornings. He can stay in bed for another two hours. Cunningham will no longer worry about the consequences of being forced to wait for another sailing on the trip home. (Three loads of ice cream melted in the ferry parking lot last year.) There will be no more nights when he is forced to sleep on Quadra, or Campbell River, because there was no room for his truck on the last ferry. He will not have to ask an employee to open the store in the morning. BC Ferries granted assured loading to Cortes Island’s commercial food trucks.

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