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PACIFIC COACH SUSPENDS COACH SERVICE
YVR Airport to/from Nanaimo
Pacific Coach Lines (PCL) has suspended its coach service between Nanaimo and YVR (Vancouver International Airport)
via Duke Point effective September 29, 2009. The route featured four daily departures, Thursday through Monday from Nanaimo
via Duke Point to YVR, and provided direct connections with Nanaimo Regional Transit in the Regional District of Nanaimo
at Transit Exchanges. Tom Choe, Vice President, Operations &
Planning, Pacific Coach, stated “…it should be recognized that PCL is always attempting to connect our communities
closer together..”. The decision to suspend operations was based on the current economic climate where business and
leisure traffic levels cannot sustain this direct coach service between Nanaimo and YVR Airport. PCL wishes to recognize the outstanding partnership of B.C. Ferries and the Regional District
of Nanaimo and the support of the tourism communities in Nanaimo, Parksville & Qualicum and Tofino Bus.
European Villain : Michael O’LearyOnce in a while,
it pays to remember that it's not just Canada that experiences sharp practice in transport, as this article from
New Transit magazine in the UK demonstrates
"Low cunning with venom" - New Transit Magazine,
29 September There is much to admire about Michael O’Leary, the infamous chief executive
of budget airline Ryanair. Many of those involved in surface passenger transport will commend his achievements in building
Europe’s largest short-haul airline from nothing, challenging the status quo of complacent state-owned or former state-owned
airlines and airport operators along the way.
You can’t deny
his influence. Public transport operators have certainly drawn inspiration from Ryanair’s “pile ‘em high
and sell ‘em cheap” business model. Where did Stagecoach’s Brian Souter get the idea for Megabus from?
Likewise, would National Express East Coast have thought of slapping
a controversial £5 charge on seat reservations if it wasn’t for Ryanair? You wonder whether desperate National
Express managers even considered O’Leary’s plan to charge passengers for using the toilet!
This is why O’Leary is this month’s ‘villain’. The fiery Irishman takes
lean and mean too far, showing contempt for passengers and “environmental whingers”. O’Leary has picked
many, many fights over the years and most recently he attacked plans to build a new high speed rail network in the UK. Transport
secretary Lord Adonis believes high speed trains can replace the need for short-haul flights. O’Leary says this is “insane”.
“On [return] domestic flights from Glasgow to London, passengers
are paying £20 in taxes while they continue to subsidise the shit out of the railways,” he said. “Substituting
one form of transport that is heavily taxed for a form of transport that is heavily subsidised is not the answer.” He conveniently neglects to mention the £10bn a year tax break that airlines receive by not
paying fuel duty or VAT on the fuel for their planes.
If O’Leary’s
vision for a small country like the UK is to continue to have 46 million domestic flights a year then Lord Adonis is right
to say he has his “head in the sand”. Poor customer service and an inability
to relate his business to the concerns of the wider world.
Need another example of villainy? In 2004 he purchased
a hackney plate for his Mercedes-Benz to enable it to be classified as a taxi. This was so that he could legally make use
of Dublin’s bus lanes to speed his car journeys around the city.
Island projects win government funding
On September 24, 2009, the Governments of Canada and British Columbia announced 174 infrastructure
projects across the province valued at $719 million. The announcement represents a partnership between the federal,
provincial and municipal governments which allows the Province of British Columbia to leverage every available dollar under
the federal government infrastructure programs.
Projects announced today are helping
to create jobs, get work underway, and ensure Canada's economy emerges strong during a global economic downturn.
Further announcements will be made pending final project approvals.
The province of British Columbia has
partnered with the Government of Canada to ensure smaller communities with populations of less than 100,000 have access to
infrastructure funding. An important step was taken this year to “top up” this fund and provide additional
funding to communities of this size.
In total, 84 projects are being funded today under the Communities
Component of the Building Canada Fund valued at $376 million. This represents an investment of $117 million from the
Government of Canada, and $117 million from the Government of British Columbia. Local municipalities are providing the balance
of the remaining costs. A list of projects on Vancouver Island and the gulf islands is below.
The Johnson Street bridge replacement in Victoria did not get approved. Victoria was seeking
two-thirds funding to replace the 83-year-old bridge which engineers say will not withstand an earthquake of any significant
magnitude. A spokesman for the premier’s office said that Victoria’s request represented about 20 per cent
of the available funding for the province and the decision was made to fund many projects throughout the region rather than
one large one.
Projects on Vancouver Island that did get funding include: • $4 million David Foster
Arts Centre in Saanich • $2.7 million upgrade to the Royal B.C. Museum First People’s gallery •
$1.8 million for upgrade of Archie Browning Sports Centre in Esquimalt • $5 million for steel watermain in Victoria •
$7.6 million for sewage system in the Uplands in Oak Bay • $5.6 million for Kinsol trestle bridge rehabilitation •
$13 million for improvements to the South Island Highway near Campbell River • $10 million for Nanaimo airport
runway extension • $18 million for Campbell River airport runway extension • $3.4 million for Highway
1 Cedar Road to Nanaimo River Road centre median
VIU looks at alternative transportation
Nanaimo Bulletin : September
18, 2009
Vancouver
Island University is helping encourage alternative forms of transportation during ALTernative TRAnsportation Week (ALTRA)
Sept. 21-24. The event is organized by VIU students who share the belief that cycling, busing and walking is a critical component
of a healthy transportation system and promotes a healthier lifestyle and community. “We
want to educate and encourage commuters at VIU about the benefits of alternative transportation,” said Rebecca Martin,
a bike enthusiast and organizer of the event. “Taking the bus, riding your bike or walking to work is a positive
choice for so many reasons. Not only is it better for the environment, it can help you save money, reduce stress and create
a healthier lifestyle for yourself and for your community.” As a campus that serves
19,000 students, staff, and faculty, VIU has a significant environmental impact due to its commuter demographic. The university
wants to reduce its impact and become a greener campus, as well as promote the idea that sustainability starts with the individual.
Activities during the week-long event will include a bike wash/tune-up station, interactive games, the ALTRA parade, and Bikers
Breakfasts (Tuesday to Thursday from 7-8 a.m. in front of the Students’ Union and free to all ALTRA commuters or by
donation). Participants can also ride their bikes and take part in Critical Mass to increase drivers’ awareness
of bikes on the road and ride as a group to the Bowen Park Farmers’ Market, meeting every Wednesday at 4:30 p.m., at
Fourth Street and Wakesiah Avenue. There will be prizes including bus passes and bike
and running paraphernalia. The week will conclude with a “bike-in” movie – Veer – an inspiring film
of twists and turns of urban bike culture. Details about the event are available online
at www.solutions.viu.ca or e-mail viusolutionsnetwork@gmail.com for more information.
Comox Valley Echo : Tuesday, September 15,
2009After bottoming out in January passenger numbers at the local
airport are beginning to creep back up. The Comox Valley Airport followed up a record July (30,958 passengers) with a seven
per cent increase, year-over-year, in August passenger numbers (32,598). Those two strong months buck the trend so far this
year, which has seen passenger numbers at the airport dip nine per cent compared to 2008. Airport administration had predicted
a 10 per cent drop in passenger numbers this year. The nine per cent dip actually represents a significant summer jump considering
that the airport was 15 per cent off last year's pace as of June. "We've
been slowly pulling back," said Ian Heselgrave, the airport's acting CEO. "June was pretty good but then July
was outstanding. "As of the end of August we're doing a little bit better than we thought." The moderate improvement in passenger numbers over the summer months might be due to Western Canadians remaining
closer to home for more affordable vacations or, in tourism industry parlance, 'staycations.' "That's what
we're trying to sort of put our fingers on," said Heselgrave. "Are we getting those who aren't going to
Disneyland? "That's sort of hard for us to tell. We had a great summer -- for us, moving 65,000 to 68,000 people
is an excellent summer. I think we bucked the national trend this summer." While
passenger numbers have improved moderately over the last couple of months, Heselgrave said it would still be some time before
the airline industry begins to see strong growth. "The full recovery hasn't happened yet," said Heselgrave.
"The prevailing opinion is we're not out of the woods yet, there are going to be some soft spots. The shoulder seasons
can typically be weak. "It's going to be hard to predict and then hopefully through
2010, 2011, 2012, we'll get back to that normal growth."
Greyhound eyes subsidy to continue bus service in B.C.Nanaimo News
Bulletin - September 14, 2009
Falling ridership and profits has left Greyhound Canada in a financial bind and the company wants
a subsidy from the government to continue operating in B.C. Stuart Kendrick, senior vice-president of Greyhound Canada, said
government policies and increased competition from subsidized municipal transit on profitable routes are tying the company’s
hands.
Rural routes are the least profitable but government policies require Greyhound to offer a minimum number
of routes. The company is facing tough options – it either has to reduce the number of routes, receive a government
subsidy or cease operations. Greyhound has already given notice in northwest Ontario and in Manitoba it is ceasing operations
this fall.
To find a solution in B.C., Greyhound representatives are meeting with Shirley
Bond, transportation minister, Tuesday (Sept. 15). Bond said it is a national issue and the federal government needs to get
involved, but the parties will meet to discuss Greyhound’s barriers. She said the province doesn’t expect to offer
a subsidy and it’s too early to speculate whether there will be service losses. Hermine
Hicks, founder of the Nanaimo Bus Riders Association, said Greyhound should be subsidized until it weathers the financial
storm. Hicks regularly uses the service to travel to Victoria for medical appointments and knows other seniors who do as well.
Kendrick said Greyhound doesn’t want to disrupt the network and realizes how important
the service is, especially to rural communities. He said Greyhound has lost money on routes for the past three or four years,
but the recession has made things worse. In May, Greyhound applied to reduce a number
of routes on Vancouver Island. It also applied to reduce the Nanaimo to Campbell River route from three trips to two. The
B.C. Passenger Transportation Board is still reviewing those applications. Greyhound is also reviewing its operations in Alberta,
Saskatchewan, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories.
Harbour
City Star, Friday, September 11, 2009New bus shelters
will soon be installed at a number of Nanaimo's major bus exchanges, thanks to federal gas tax revenue earmarked for Canada's
municipalities. The Regional District of Nanaimo, which operates the city's public
transit system, has invited bids for a $300,000 contract to replace 14 aging bus shelters at Woodgrove Centre, Nanaimo North
Town Centre and the Prideaux Street transit exchanges. Dennis Trudeau, general manager
of transportation at the RDN, said the funding for the new shelters, expected to be in place by the spring, comes from $1.7
million the district received in funding from federally collected gas tax revenues over the past 2 years.
Brad
Bird, Oceanside Star - Thursday, September 10, 2009About 50 parents and children turned out yesterday in the rain in downtown Qualicum Beach to protest school
board bus policy. "We're here because we're trying to get our buses back,"
said Louis Beckingham, 14, a Grade 9 French Immersion student at Ballenas Secondary. The
Qualicum Beach resident is one of more than 800 pupils who have lost their bus ride owing to recent school board decisions.
The board has decided to remove eight older buses to conform with provincial rules. It is also living by its rider policy. "My mom has to drive me all the way to Ballenas (in Parksville), I guess,"
Beckingham said. Classes resumed Tuesday. "We would like the routes to be reinstated,"
said parent Celyne Gagnon, a Get on the Bus organizer who has two children in school.
Oceanside Star : Monday, September 07,
2009
There will be a peaceful demonstration
by parents and students of the Qualicum-Parksville School District 69 on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 7:30 a.m. at the school bus
depot on the corner of Memorial Avenue and Fern Street in downtown Qualicum Beach. Parents
and students will rally to protest the recent board of trustees' decisions to remove eight school buses from the district's
transportation system and enforce new walk limits to determine students' eligibility for bus transportation. As a result of these decisions, over 800 students will be without bus transportation to attend their French
Immersion program, one of three district programs (the other two are the International program and Pass- Woodwind), as well
as their program of choice (music, soccer and football). Transportation has now been confirmed for students attending Pass-Woodwind
in the evening, while the fate of those attending the International program remains uncertain.
Parents' frustration
has been exacerbated by the board's "late announcement of the crisis" (late May 2009, despite being aware of
a budget shortfall for some years, given the funding the district receives from the Ministry of Education has been frozen
since 2002). This meant there was little time left for parents to contemplate alternative solutions, parents say.
Greyhound demands $15M to avoid route cutsFederal transport
minister accuses company of trying to bully provinces
CBC
News : Thursday, September 3, 2009
Greyhound Canada
said Thursday that unless it gets $15 million in government aid, it will cease passenger bus operations in Manitoba and northwestern
Ontario because it is being forced to operate unprofitable rural routes without government help.
The company, a subsidiary of Dallas-based Greyhound Lines Inc., also said it is reviewing its
operations in Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories. Despite
Greyhound's insistence that it is in "dire" financial straits, federal and provincial politicians called the
announcement a ploy. Passenger service in Manitoba will end Oct. 2 and routes in northwestern
Ontario will stop operating Dec. 2, Greyhound said, though parcel shipping will be unaffected. Stuart
Kendrick, senior vice-president of Greyhound Canada, said government is to blame for the company's financial situation.
Kendrick said current rules force Greyhound to run trips to unprofitable sites in small-town
Canada, which can no longer be supported through money-making routes and bus parcel operations, or through other revenue sources.
"Despite numerous attempts over the years to adjust this business model in order to gain a profitable
footing, Greyhound Canada has now run out of options," Kendrick said Thursday. "We have repeatedly
asked the federal and provincial governments to change the existing legislative and regulatory regimes that govern intercity
bus operations."
Greyhound is asking for a $15-million subsidy so it can break
even on its unprofitable routes over the next year while it negotiates with the provinces and Ottawa, spokesperson Karen Gordon
told CBC News. Gordon said the amount represents half the cost of operating the company's
non-profitable routes and the bus carrier currently receives no other public subsidies in Canada. Ottawa
has overall authority over intercity bus transportation but delegates regulatory power to the provinces. Provincial transit
boards "designate which routes must operate, at what frequency, and even which equipment," Gordon said. Bullying: transport ministerFederal Transport Minister John Baird said the bus line
is trying to bully the provinces by announcing the service cuts. The company is being "heavy-handed" in an effort
to get subsidies, he said. "Greyhound is a Texas-based multinational.… They're
seeking tens of billions of dollars of taxpayers' money as a subsidy." The company is
the largest provider of intercity bus transportation in Canada, serving 700 communities with 1,000 daily departures. It also
operates in Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Its service cuts would kill 200 jobs in Manitoba
and 30 in northwestern Ontario, according to the Amalgamated Transit Union, which represents drivers. B.C.
Transportation Minister Shirley Bond said Greyhound can't reduce or eliminate service in the province without a fight.
"This morning, my staff participated in a call with the federal government and other provinces
as together we sort out how we're going to deal with this issue. Greyhound is a company. It is a business. We aren't
going to speculate about subsidies today. We are going to reinforce the importance of service to rural Canadians," Bond
said.
Island
Transport Solutions responds :
The provincial governments need to sit down with Greyhound and examine
the markets in which Greyhound is currently the sole provider. As a UK owned and US-based corporation,
Greyhound has the scale of infrastructure to be able to sustain long-haul coach transportation far more efficiently than the
majority of local transportation companies, who would struggle to resource the staffing of remote terminals and the provision
of back-up services for the inevitable breakdowns and delays that occur on long-haul operations. However, the sheer level of overhead costs associated with
long-haul operations simply blows Greyhound out of the market as a cost-effective provider of local services, which is where
the government would get a far better deal by awarding the route franchise to a local transportation company which is not
carrying the same level of overhead cost and can therefore operate more economically. Greyhound's prime market for long-haul
services competes with airlines and VIARail on its prime corridors; it is evident that Greyhound's market share has retracted
to the low-cost, no frills end of the market which is limiting it's ability to grow its business. Their success with BoltBus in the eastern US
and the growth of Megabus routes in eastern Canada requires high volume potential over comparatively short routes. That may
be difficult to replicate in Manitoba, Ontario and BC. The government would be ill advised to make a long-term financial commitment to
Greyhound, but finding an acceptable alternative will also take time and maybe a 1 year rescue plan is unavoidable.
BC FERRIES RELEASES FIRST QUARTER
RESULTS
Victoria
- 20 August 2009
British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. (BC
Ferries) announced its first quarter results today. Net losses were
$3.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009 compared to
net earnings of $8.4 million in the first quarter of the previous fiscal year. In the first quarter, vehicle traffic was down 1.0 per cent and passenger traffic was down 0.4 per cent compared to the same period last year. In the first quarter, revenues
increased by 3.7 per cent to $178.3 million, with total expenses increasing
11.3 per cent to $181.9 million, compared to the first quarter last fiscal year. The increase in expenses was largely due to an increase of $11.2 million in amortization and interest expenses for new vessels and a $5.4 million increase in maintenance costs reflecting variations in vessel refit schedules. “As expected,
our earnings from operations were down this past quarter, which reflect increased
amortization and financing costs for new vessels. Although our earnings decreased, cash provided by operations remains strong,” said David L. Hahn, BC Ferries’ President and CEO. “I’m pleased that we are now reaping the benefits of the efficiencies
and cost containment initiatives we implemented last fall.”
During the first quarter, BC Ferries invested $17.0 million
in capital assets. Capital expenditures included $6.3 million in new
vessels and vessel upgrades; $5.2 million in terminal building upgrades
and equipment; $4.0 million in information technology; and $1.5 million in terminal marine structures. Significant events during or
subsequent to the first quarter include the return to service of the
Queen of New Westminster after a $52 million upgrade and the decommissioning of the Queen of Vancouver and the Queen of Prince Rupert. Additionally the new northern vessel, the Northern Expedition commenced service on the Port Hardy – Prince Rupert route; and fares were reduced as fuel rebates were increased from 5 per cent to 8 per cent on the minor routes. Fuel rebates will be further increased on the minor routes to 10 per cent effective
September 1, 2009. The decrease in economic activity, international tourism and higher level of unemployment negatively impact discretionary travel as well as the commercial market. BC Ferries continues to review and update its financial and operating plans to weather the reduced traffic levels and current economic downturn, in order to continue to have a viable, profitable future.
Beginning Friday 21 August, a free shuttle bus service will be test run in
downtown Victoria. The hop-on, hop-off rubber-wheeled trolley will be funded by the Downtown Victoria Business Association
on a trial basis for 30 days.
It will run a downtown circle route with stops at Sam’s Deli, and Monty’s
on Government Street, Capital Iron and Ocean River Sports on Store Street and the Regent Hotel on Wharf Street. The service
will run between 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Ken Kelly, DVBA general manager, told councillors that discussions about
a free downtown shuttle were initiated by the DVBA earlier in the year, but due to a variety of constraints neither the city
nor B.C. Transit were able to contribute financially. Kelly said the DVBA will lease the bus and run the trial to assess the
demand and viability of the service for operation next year.
The idea of the service, he said, is to offer residents
the convenience of moving around downtown and provide visitors the opportunity of exploring more of the downtown instead of
just lingering by the harbour or strolling the first few blocks of Government Street. Council approved the trial and gave
the DVBA permission to replace existing Circle Tour signs with new signs.
Greyhound service cuts - decision awaited 
BC's Passenger Transportation Board has yet to reach a decision following the
conclusion of public consultation on Greyhound Canada's proposals to reduce the number of services it provides on Vancouver
Island. Greyhound's proposals were published May 6th by the PTB and the deadline for
submissions from the public expired on June 17th. A decision on a similar application earlier this year took 4 months
from closure of consultation to the publication of a decision - so it could be October before the final outcome is known. Greyhound Canada's proposals include: - Reducing the number of services
between Vancouver and Nanaimo from 8 trips per day to 6 in each direction
- Reducing the
number of services between Victoria and Nanaimo from 5 trips per day to 4 in each direction
- Reducing
the number of services between Nanaimo and Campbell River from 3 trips per day to 2 in each direction
Westerly News : Thursday, August 13, 2009
Drivers
who use Highway 4 can expect asphalt resurfacing, barrier improvement and surface repairs to the route over the next six weeks
after the government announced the $1.9 million project Aug 11. The work will focus on a stretch starting 37 kilometres west
of Port Alberni to the junction. The improvements are meant to increase highway safety for West Coast residents and
visitors alike, according to BC's Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, Shirley Bond. The contractor, Okanagan
Aggregates Ltd., said there might be delays on the highway of up to 20 minutes, but that it will keep them to a minimum. The
project is funded through the province's three-year, $14 billion capital infrastructure program, intended to create up
to 88,000 jobs.
Darrell
Bellaart, Nanaimo Daily News : August 12, 2009
Ladysmith's one-bus transit
system started in early August, even though delivery of a trolley bus ordered from an Indiana manufacturer was delayed. To
compensate, La Rosa Gardens retirement home loaned the town its bus until the new trolley arrives next week. Ladysmith
Mayor Rob Hutchins says until this month, his town was the largest municipality in B.C. without bus service. The service is
possible with federal gas tax money to buy the bus and $200,000 raised by the community for operating costs. For now,
residents can go nearly anywhere in town free (or by donation) riding the bus, which passes the 49th Parallel Store 20 times
during its 10-hour day. Ladysmith may have to raise taxes in two years to keep the service going. Residents are using
the service, and in doing so they're reducing greenhouse gases and traffic. Although the date has already changed a few
times, town officials say the new trolley will finally be in service Tuesday. "Transit has been on the back burner
for some time," said Ladysmith Mayor Rob Hutchins. "The community spoke loudly with generous donations." Businesses,
service clubs and the community all pitched in for the fundraising effort. Donors ranged from Ladysmith's credit union
and realtors through Rotarians, the hospital auxiliary and residents. Some children even emptied their piggy banks for the
cause. Residents have been enjoying bus services from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily since Aug. 4. Each day the bus makes five
passes over a 40-kilometre circuit taking in seven routes. Each pass takes 100 minutes. The circuit was developed to service
the entire community, from north to south, from the waterfront through downtown and Coronation Square. For riders, route maps are available at businesses and transit information is available at 250-245-6400 and at ladysmithtrolley.com. "It's been positive," said Hutchins. "So far we've had great ridership. I think we're averaging
something like 60 passengers a day." He said he expects it to rise over time. "It connects people, not only to shopping
districts but also the waterfront, Transfer Beach, the marina, the hospital, the lodge on Fourth (retirement home) and the
doctor's clinic." The trolley cost the town approximately $178,000. The town allocated $200,000 in federal
gas tax revenues toward the project and plans to use the $206,000 raised to cover operating costs, budgeted at $120,000 a
year. That's enough to last 18 months. Beyond that, Hutchins said donations and advertising revenues should help. Transit
is expected to reduce congestion at Ladysmith's two shopping malls, while cutting air pollution. A bike rack will make
it greener and more appealing to cyclists. Longer term, the town hopes to link the service to the transit systems operated
by both the Cowichan and Nanaimo regional districts. Return to top of page
Comox Valley Echo : Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Comox
Valley Direction Society president Wayne Murphy stands in front of the passenger train at Courtenay station 95 years to the
day after the first train pulled in to the station back on August 6, 1914. Behind him, VIA Rail conductor Tony Brbot takes
tickets from passengers loading up for the trip back down Island to Victoria on Thursday.
The Courtenay train station celebrated a significant milestone on Thursday
when the daily VIA Rail passenger train chugged into the station. The arrival -- just five minutes late -- came 95 years to
the day after the first train steamed in to the station back on August 6, 1914, nine days after the outbreak of World War
One. The station has been around since before Courtenay was born -- the city was not officially incorporated until Jan. 1,
1915, about five months after that first train.
The historic station has been serving as the northern hub of the E&N
rail line ever since, becoming one of just three structures in the city officially protected through heritage designation.
The station has seen a lot of changes over its 95-year history.
Fifteen years ago, when the Comox Valley Direction Society began operating the station,
train ridership was low. But on Thursday the one-car train was packed from end-to-end as rail passengers queued up to take
the scenic journey down Island to Victoria.
"It's been a big tourist attraction for quite a few years here," said Wayne Murphy,
president of the Comox Valley Direction Society. "The station was about ruined when we first came. It was a shambles. "About
the last four or five years, it's built right up."
The directions society operates the station, providing food, shelter and information
for weary travelers. The station, like the entire rail line, is owned by the Island Corridor Foundation. The station needs
a new roof and it is hoped that money from the federal and provincial governments will be granted to refurbish the rail line
and, as part of that work, also refurbish some of the old stations along the route.
There is one train a day between Courtenay and Victoria. From Monday to Saturday,
the train arrives in Courtenay at 12:45 and leaves at 1:15 p.m. On Sundays, it arrives at 2:45 and leaves at 3:15.
Return to top of page
Oceanside Star : Thursday,
August 06, 2009
About 25 parents told the school board Tuesday at an informal meeting they
remain unhappy with plans to cut bus services for students. In September, about 880 students will not be eligible for
buses because eight older vehicles -- not five, as previously stated -- have been taken out of the fleet, District 69 secretary-treasurer
Bernice Hannam said Wednesday. The 880 figure includes about 400 students who live outside the catchment area of the school
they wish to attend. The rest live within the catchment area of their school but until now had been bused anyway. A big issue for parents in the Arrowview area is their ability to send students to French Immersion at Parksville
Elementary. The board's position is that parents chose the program knowing that transportation is a parental responsibility.
"It's a very difficult situation for the trustees," said Hannam. When asked for the board response to
the concern of parents that children will be endangered by traffic from having to walk or cycle, Hannam said children are
the parents' responsibility until they are on a bus or in a school. In the past, the board disregarded its own policy
and bused children who did not actually qualify. The problem this year is the shortage of buses, which has required redrafting
the routes and sticking to the rules. "This year we can't provide cross-boundary transportation," Hannam said.
"We simply don't have enough buses." The board has agreed to bus Columbia Beach children, after parents
made clear the dangers of their crossing Highway 19A alone. Bowser children will be bused for the same reason, Hannam said.
Canada Line cuts Airport transit times
Vancouver Sun - 5 August 2009
The new Canada Line linking downtown Vancouver with Richmond and the airport will officially open to the public Monday
Aug. 17, three weeks before Labour Day and three months ahead of schedule.
The rides will be free on the 19-kilometre rapid transit line on opening day, from 1 p.m. until 9 p.m. TransLink spokesman
Ken Hardie said he expects 6,000 visitors an hour on the inaugural run, with the busiest stations likely to be City Centre,
Broadway-City Hall and Bridgeport.
"If everyone shows up for the free ride and to look, that's not out of the question," Hardie said. "We're planning for
that kind of volume and expect some people will have to wait a bit for trains."
Activities are planned for opening day, including a wheelchair basketball game at Lansdowne and an Olympic curling demonstration
at King Edward. The idea is "to show the Canada Line is linked to sporting venues," said Alan Dever, spokesman for Canada
Line Rapid Transit Inc., the overseer of the $2-billion project. "We expect it to be a very busy day. A lot of people will
be curious to find out what the Canada Line is like," Dever said.
The rapid transit line, which is one of the largest infrastructure projects ever built in B.C., will open for regular SkyTrain
hours the next day, with the first trains leaving Waterfront at 4:50 a.m., Richmond Brighouse at 5:05 a.m. and the airport
at 5:10 a.m.
The journey between Waterfront and Richmond-Brighouse takes about 25 minutes and costs a two-zone fare of $3.75 per single
trip. Airport passengers will pay only the regular two-zone fare for four months, but then a surcharge of $2.50 comes into
effect, bringing the fare to $6.25 per single trip. The premium tickets will be good for 90 minutes.
TransLink decided to defer the Canada Line-YVR surcharge until Jan. 1 because it expects the grace period will attract
more users, Hardie said. The $2-billion Canada Line is touted as equivalent to a 10-lane highway and is expected eventually
to take 200,000 one-way automobile trips off the roads.
See the Canada Line page in our travel section
Return to top of page
Province to review TransLink and BC Ferries
Vancouver Sun - July 28, 2009 1:01 PM
The province is launching a review of TransLink and BC Ferries, Finance Minister Colin Hansen and Transportation and Infrastructure
Minister Shirley Bond announced today.
The review of the publicly funded and independently regulated transportation authorities, requested by Bond, is aimed at
ensuring customers and ratepayers are receiving maximum value for services, a provincial government statement said.
"During these challenging economic times, we must ensure that services provided to ratepayers are done so in a way that
is financially sustainable and provides maximum value for all British Columbians," Hansen said in a statement.
"Both BC Ferries and TransLink have been mandated to provide vital transportation services for millions of people, and
we must ensure the governance arrangements are operating as efficiently as possible and the authorities are meeting their
service objectives."
Comptroller general Cheryl Wenezenki-Yolland will conduct the reviews of both companies.
The reviews, to be completed by Sept. 30, will look at all aspects of the operations, from regulatory environment to corporate
structure to financial performance.
A final report containing recommendations will then be made public.
Bond noted it's been six years since BC Ferries became a private operation, and two years since TransLink's governance
model was revised. "It is important we ensure both organizations are meeting their financial and service expectations that
came about with the new models," she said.
The review will specifically look at the division of responsibility between the province and the respective entities; the
size, composition, appointment process and compensation for the board of directors and the regulatory environment, including
responsibilities, authorities and powers of the Ferry Commission as well as the regional transportation commissioner and Mayors'
Council on Regional Transportation; and operating costs and service delivery models.
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BC FERRIES ADDS MORE SAILINGS
FOR REMAINDER OF SUMMER VICTORIA
– Starting with the B.C. Day long weekend, BC Ferries is adding even more sailings on
its two busiest routes right through to Labour Day. For the month of August,
extra sailings are being added from both Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay at 8 pm and
10 pm on Fridays and Sundays. In addition, extra sailings are scheduled on the
Horseshoe Bay – Departure Bay route on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. BC
Ferries posts on its website a calendar of historically busy long weekend travel times for
its major routes. This calendar is a tool customers can use when they are planning their ferry trips. If passengers desire a specific sailing as part of their travel plans, BC Ferries recommends making a reservation for the Lower Mainland – Vancouver Island, and Horseshoe
Bay – Langdale routes. Reservation space can become fully subscribed on
long weekends so BC Ferries advises to book in advance. Return to top of page
VIA Train Services to
Resume Late Sunday
Montreal -
VIA Rail Canada and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) have reached an agreement to go into binding arbitration.
The parties have also announced that VIA train services will resume Sunday.
“The process proposed by the mediator
will allow the parties to resolve outstanding issues and, most importantly, will get Canada’s passenger rail service
up and running again for our customers,” said Paul Côté, VIA’s President and Chief Executive Officer.
The
TCRC, which represents some 343 locomotive engineers and seven yardmasters at VIA, had been on strike since noon (EDT) on
Friday, July 24, 2009.
“The negotiations have been challenging and we appreciate the support shown
by our members during this process. We look forward to having our members back on the trains,” said Dan Shewchuk, president
of the TCRC.
Service will resume late on Sunday with full service on most routes by Monday morning.
Island rail route escapes strike threat
Montreal –
VIA Rail Canada and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference resumed negotiations this past Monday, with the assistance of a federally
appointed mediator. Talks continued until 1 am EDT this morning, July 24. Despite intense negotiations over the past four
days, the parties were unfortunately unable to reach an agreement, and the negotiations are currently at an impasse.
The
union, which represents some 340 locomotive engineers, earlier issued a strike notice indicating its intent to go on strike
as of noon EDT today, Friday, July 24.
Barring a last-minute resolution, VIA will have no choice but to cease operations
of Canada’s national passenger rail service as of Friday, July 24, 2009 at noon EDT. Trains on the Sudbury-White River
and Victoria-Courtenay routes will remain in service, as they are operated by third parties on VIA’s behalf.
Affected
passengers may obtain a refund of any unused tickets.
To obtain updates, customers may visit viarail.ca or contact VIA at 1 888 VIA-RAIL (1 888 842-7245) or 1 800 268-9503 (hearing impaired).
Since being named executive director of the Island Corridor Foundation last month, Graham Bruce has received many submissions
from people with ideas about what to do with the 290-kilometre stretch from Victoria to Courtenay.
Formed in 2005 by a coalition of 13 First Nations, five regional districts and 14 municipal governments, the ICF wants
to use the rail corridor as a way to decrease greenhouse gases, expand tourism and be an economic generator for Vancouver
Island. The ICF wants to bring the existing rail line, finished in 1886, to modern standards, at a cost of $103.8 million.
Though Bruce has numerous ideas about what can be done with the corridor, he said the ICF is waiting for the reports from
two studies commissioned by the B.C. government about whether it is feasible to upgrade the corridor, which he calls "essential"
to breathing new life into Island rail service and the Vancouver Island economy. Bruce points to extensive trail work by the
Regional District of Nanaimo and Capital Regional District as an example of some of the opportunities a revamped corridor
will open.
"They are now planning improved trails adjacent the corridor in the Comox-Strathcona Regional District," he said. "This
network of trails for hikers and bikers can be a tourism attraction. I can envision a day when people will arrive on the Island
with their bicycles and then hop on a Bud car (Dayliner) to go up to Courtenay and then cycling down to Nanaimo or Victoria."
As ecotourism grows more important to Vancouver Island's economy, Bruce said "the rail network on this Island is a priceless
asset and one that is becoming increasingly valuable." Despite the recession and what Bruce calls the E&N Dayliner's "inflexible
schedule," where the passenger train makes just one return trip daily from Victoria to Courtenay, "we are seeing an increase
in ridership which I would say is roughly 30%."
Of the $103.8 million ICF hopes to receive from senior levels of government, Bruce called it an "investment that makes
sense because it represents real benefits in so many high-profile areas, including improved opportunities for First Nations,
helping meet greenhouse gas reduction targets, new Island economic development, making the B.C. Gateway a reality for Vancouver
Island and opening up new health and fitness options for Islanders.
"This project wins on every front," he said. "There's no question that a revitalized rail line is the key to genuine economic
development. And it's just common sense that says if you've got a valuable resource like an existing rail infrastructure,
you should use it."
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Robert Barron, Nanaimo Daily News - Friday
July 17, 2009
Despite increased service levels in Nanaimo announced by B.C. Transit last week, the NDP claims the government promised
more.
NDP transportation critic Harry Bains said Nanaimo residents were told before the May election that the city would be getting
10 new or expanded bus routes, for a total of 24,500 new annual hours of service, but that has been cut severely.
A spokeswoman for B.C. Transit said services are not where they were planned to be, but said discussions for funding for
the increased services have yet to be held.
Transportation Minister Shirley Bond said she finds it "unbelievable" that the NDP would be making comments about B.C.'s
transit plan operation, considering the government intends to invest $14 billion into it by 2020.
"B.C. Transit's operating grant this year has been increased 14% from last year."
The planned service improvements are shown in the table below, which is taken from the RDN Transit
Business Plan published April 2008.
Canwest News Service : Monday, July 20, 2009
Travellers might soon be able to take a ferry directly from Vancouver to Port Hardy, a B.C. Ferries spokesman confirmed.
The company is considering a ferry service that would connect the Lower Mainland to the Inside Passage, linking Tsawwassen
terminal to the existing Port Hardy-Prince Rupert route. The route would be part of the company's plan to develop tourism
in the northern part of Vancouver Island.
According to Mark Stefanson, vice-president of public affairs with B.C. Ferries, if the company decides to go ahead with
the route, service could begin as early as next year. The ferry would run once every two weeks, and would use the Northern
Expedition, purchased earlier this year.
Stephanson said B.C. Ferries is in the process of reviewing the idea, analyzing costs, and consulting with staff and unions.
"No decisions have been made, but there are a number of definite pluses associated with the route," he said. "We're anxious
to expand tourism in the north. Once the tourism market comes back, we see the northern areas as a large, untapped area of
possibility for us."
Because the option is still being analyzed, Stefanson could not comment on travel time or fares for the route.
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Looking for an escape to Hawaii this winter? If so, here is a bit of good news: You will be able to fly non-stop
to Honolulu from Victoria International Airport.
WestJet plans to start weekly service in November, providing direct flights to yet another vacation destination. WestJet
had previously announced it would link Victoria with Puerto Vallarta and we have seasonal flights to Las Vegas.
We're getting more connected every year and our little airport in North Saanich is becoming more important all the time.
Increasingly, we do not have to shuttle to Vancouver or Seattle to catch a connecting flight. If you are heading to Toronto,
for example, you can choose from four flights a day. We also have two flights a day to San Francisco, a great destination
on its own and a hub for United Airlines. It's easier than ever for Vancouver Island residents to travel the world.
Some of these connections help bring vacationers here, of course -- but it is unlikely we will see a rush of tourists from
Mexico or Hawaii. Those flights will be filled with Islanders looking for an escape for a few days.
It is important to remember the dual role of the airport. It is a vital portal for arriving vacationers, but tourism goes
both ways. As we get more connections with the outside world, the Island becomes an even more desirable place to live.
The airport continues to be a bright spot in our economy. Yes, the global economic downturn has hurt passenger traffic.
But the drop here is minor compared to what has happened elsewhere in Canada.
Victoria is down just one per cent from last year, which saw a record 1.54 million passengers pass through the airport.
Saskatoon and Regina are both up, but Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Winnipeg and Ottawa have seen larger drops than
Victoria.
And traffic at our airport rose by 23 per cent from 2004 to 2008. A slight drop this year isn't a problem.
Weekly flights to Hawaii are nice. But with a longer runway, perhaps Air Canada could be convinced to start a regular service
between Victoria and London. In that case, we would no longer have to make a stop in another city when we want to visit England.
That might seem like wishful thinking -- but a few years ago, who would have predicted two flights a day to San Francisco
and four a day to Toronto?
When it comes to air travel, it pays to aim high.
Victoria International Airport continues to attract criticism for the lack of
public transit connections to the city in the evenings. One recent correspondent wrote:
On a typical weekday, no less than 15 flights arrive in Victoria after 6pm and 8 flights
depart.
Border agency gives green light to extra Amtrak train
By Garrett Zehr (The Hook) July 3, 2009
VANCOUVER - A second daily Amtrak train is set to roll between Vancouver to Seattle as a pilot project
beginning next month.
The Canada Border Services Agency announced today the necessary clearance for the train to run through
the 2010 Olympics next February.
“We are showing our commitment to the free flow of legitimate goods and people across the shared
border with the United States, by providing the flexibility necessary for the Canada Border Services Agency and Amtrak to
process increased demand for their services,” said Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan in a press release.
Amtrak has been lobbying for a second train from Vancouver for years.
In March 2007, the B.C. government agreed to pitch in for the necessary minimum track upgrade to build
a new rail siding in Delta.
The project was completed last year and a second train was expected to be running in August 2008.
But CBSA then demanded Amtrak reimburse the $1500 daily cost it said would be required for extra custom
services. Plans for the second train sat idle when Amtrak said they wouldn’t pay.
Today the border agency announced the fee will be waived for the duration of the pilot project.
Agency officials will evaluate the service after the Olympics to determine if the traffic volume justifies
the increased custom services.
Government officials emphasized the economic benefits as a major part of their decision to waive the
fee for the second train.
“This announcement clearly demonstrates this government’s commitment to tourism, and the
economic prosperity of Canada,” said Van Loan.
Garrett Zehr reports for The Tyee.
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Harbour City Star,Tuesday, May 26, 2009
For the second time in three years, Greyhound Canada has applied to reduce the number of bus trips between Nanaimo and
Campbell River. The company wants to cut the number of daily trips from three to two.
The proposal wold see two buses daily running north to Campbell River from Nanaimo and two each day coming south to Nanaimo.
Other communities between the two cities would also see a drop in service.
In 2006, Greyhound sought to reduce the number of daily trips on the same route from four to two. Public outrage over that
proposed change altered Greyhound's plan and it compromised on three runs each way.
The B.C. Passenger Transportation Board is receiving comments from the public on the latest proposal from Greyhound Canada
until June 17. To comment to the board can e-mail their submission to ptboard@gov.bc.ca or fax to 250-953-3788.
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