Category Archives: Transportation

Transportation

Cortes Island docks, local harbor authority recommend some easy steps to ensure security

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

Summer is the busiest time of year for recreational boaters, and docks on Cortes Island are popular.

Harbour Authority of Cortes Island Manager Jenny Hartwick anticipates one of the busiest seasons on record. She advises vessel owners to secure valuable items on board in a locked area and encourages them to call the RCMP if anything goes missing and to advise the Harbour Authority as well.

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Health, Transportation

Islanders worry they’ll be marooned if medical emergency strikes at night

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Editor’s note: the last ferry from Cortes Island, a 45 minute ferry trip away from Quadra, leaves at 5:50 PM

Residents of Quadra Island are worried about being stranded ashore when medical emergencies occur at night because BC Ferries can’t guarantee a crew for sailings to get ambulances across to the hospital in Campbell River.

A petition with close to 1,000 signatures is circulating in the community of 2,700 full-time residents calling on B.C.’s Transportation Minister Rob Fleming to work with BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) and BC Ferries to reinstate off-hour ferry service so ambulances can get patients to hospital in a timely manner.

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Transportation

BC Ferries offers large discounts on late evening Quadra sailings, but skips Cortes route

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

BC Ferries is launching a promotion for locals and tourists to enjoy the savings on some inter-island routes this summer but the Cortes Island route is not among them.

The goal of the promotion—a 75 per cent discount off vehicle fares—is to motivate customers to travel on later or earlier sailings by providing a discount, freeing up space on more popular sailings.

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Transportation

BC Ferry commissioner calls for greater engagement with local advisory committees in decision making

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

An independent report of the nine coastal BC Ferry Advisory Committees is calling for significant improvements by the ferry authority when it comes to public engagement and decision making. It points to weaknesses in the current format and understanding of the mandate of the committees, as well as how the ferry authority communicates and reports on issues, their resolution and how public engagement is measured.

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Transportation

Skeena Bulkley MP Bachrach welcomes release of rail safety report

By Kaitlyn Bailey,  Prince Rupert Northern View, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A rail safety report providing 33 recommendations was released by the House of Commons Transport Committee on June 2.

The report voices the frustrations felt by residents and leaders in Northwest B.C. with railway companies that ship increasing volumes of traffic through their communities, such as Prince Rupert and Port Edward, as well as detailing concerns with conditions and safety standards for rail line workers.

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