Category Archives: Transportation

Transportation

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. →
Health, Housing, Politics, Transportation

Eby talks transport, toxic drug crisis and short-term rentals at economic summit

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Transportation, short-term rentals and disorder related to the toxic drug crisis in city centres were the top issues raised with Premier David Eby at the State of the Island Economic Summit on Thursday. 

After addressing the crowd at Nanaimo’s conference centre, Eby fielded questions and concerns from business and industry leaders, politicians and communities on the key issues hurting economic development across Vancouver Island. 

Continue reading Eby talks transport, toxic drug crisis and short-term rentals at economic summit →
Transportation

Vancouver Island transportation survey highlights key connectivity gaps for communities

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A lack of affordable, convenient, frequent and reliable options for travel between many Vancouver Island and Sunshine Coast communities was the top obstacle identified in a recent regional transportation survey.

Over the summer, the B.C. government funded extensive community consultations to study passenger transportation gaps faced by Indigenous, small, rural and remote communities on Vancouver Island and parts of the coastal mainland, as well as B.C.’s north and its southern Interior.

Poor connections between coastal communities, like ferries linked to transit, insufficient public transportation options to airports or harbours, and a lack of safe, accessible or low-emission services were other roadblocks highlighted in the Island Coastal Inter-Community Transportation study.

Continue reading Vancouver Island transportation survey highlights key connectivity gaps for communities →
Transportation

BC Ferries forced to gear down vessel electrification ambitions

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

BC Ferries has officially changed course, scaling down its climate ambitions to electrify its Island Class fleet and ability to achieve provincial emissions targets. 

In 2021, the provincial ferry service got permission for the first phase of its Island Class Electrification Program (ICEP) — to convert the six Island Class diesel-electric hybrid ferries it has currently in operation to 100 per cent battery-electric operations by 2025. 

Continue reading BC Ferries forced to gear down vessel electrification ambitions →
Transportation

The carbon footprint of longer distance travel to and from Cortes Island

The Friends of Cortes Island (FOCI) just released a report on the carbon footprint made by longer distance trips to and from Cortes Island. 

Many of their findings are to be expected. Taking a plane off the island creates a great deal more emissions than driving a car, and people who carpool or take a bus are responsible for only a fraction of that vehicle’s pollution.  

One of the biggest contributors to our local footprint is the Cortes-Quadra ferry, which creates approximately 1 kg of carbon emissions for every walk-on and 12 kg for every car. 

Continue reading The carbon footprint of longer distance travel to and from Cortes Island →