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E&N station restoration ready to go
By Jenn Marshall - Nanaimo News Bulletin,
April 29 2009
The owners of Nanaimo’s historic E&N train station are presenting a unique opportunity for businesses.
The Island Corridor Foundation is recruiting companies to do business in a fully restored heritage train
station nestled in the heart of the Old City Quarter, alongside traffic from the E&N railway. Doug Backhouse, ICF executive
director, said the final designs for the $2.5-million project are complete and approved by Parks Canada as suitable for a
historic site restoration.
“We’re basically where we could start the development process,” he said. “The one
thing that is missing is we need to find some market tenants for the building.”
Backhouse said more than $800,000 of the money needed is expected to come from VIA Rail’s insurance.
The rest of the restoration will be financed through a commercial mortgage and lease agreements for 5,500 square feet of commercial
and office space in the station.
In August 2007, a fire partially gutted the 88-year-old station on Selby Street. Fire officials determined
the early morning blaze was arson. VIA Rail, which leased the building to use as a waiting area for train passengers, confirmed
its insurance would cover the damage. The foundation took the opportunity to jump-start plans to fully restore the aging building.
“It’s a true heritage restoration, but all of the building’s systems will be upgraded,”
Backhouse said. “It’s going to be quite a nice space when we’re done. As soon as we get these leases in
place, the project will be off and running.”
The central portion of the station will still be a waiting area for train passengers. Backhouse said it’s
a golden opportunity for retailers to take advantage of this traffic as well as Old City Quarter shoppers. He said the foundation
also expects traffic from the E & N rail line to increase significantly in coming years.
The province is conducting a $500,000 study to determine the costs and viability of upgrading the rail
line infrastructure for increased freight and passenger travel.
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BC FERRIES’ NORTHERN EXPEDITION TO MAKE INAUGURAL SAILING
ON MAY 18
BC Ferries New Release, 23 April 2009
VICTORIA – BC Ferries is pleased to announce the Northern Expedition
will make its inaugural sailing on Monday, May 18, carrying customers for the
very first time on the Inside Passage route from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert.
The 150-metre cruise-ferry boasts 55 modern staterooms, and will accommodate
600 passengers and 130 vehicles. Spacious passenger areas such as the Canoe
Cafe, Vista Restaurant and the Raven and Aurora Lounges will offer customers plenty
of comfort as they take in the beautiful north coast scenery during their voyage.
“The Northern Expedition offers a cruise-like experience, which takes
our service to a whole new level, greatly enhancing the customer travel experience,”
said David L. Hahn, BC Ferries’ President and CEO. “This ship, along
with the Northern Adventure, which services the Queen Charlotte Islands, will
offer local customers reliable service and tourists an adventure travel getaway.”
Experience B.C.’s north coast this summer aboard BC Ferries. Affordable
five and eight day travel deals are now available. “In addition to a beautiful
cruise up the Inside Passage or a trip to the mystical Haida Gwaii on the Queen
Charlotte Islands, packages also include grizzly bear and whale watching tours,
ocean and river fishing, as well as museum and cannery tours,” said Janet
Carson, BC Ferries’ Vice President of Travel Services.
Make the summer of 2009 your time to explore beautiful northern B.C. Reservations
are now available for the inaugural sailing and all other sailings. Call 1-877-982-1453
or for more details, visit http://www.bcferries.com.
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New restrictions begin June 1 at border crossings
By John Colebourn, The
Province, April 22 2009
Visitors to the Pacific Northwestern parts of the United States are reminded that
they will not be allowed across the border without proper paperwork, starting June 1.
The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) means only a passport or selected
WHTI-compliant document will be acceptable for U.S. and Canadian citizens entering the U.S. WHTI-compliant documents
include the B.C. enhanced driver's licence, NEXUS/FAST/SENTI cards and U.S. Passport Cards.
According to Tom Schreiber, chief of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the new document
requirements and the $107-million Peace Arch Land Port of Entry Redevelopment project will help move traffic much faster through
the busy border crossing.
"Our goal is to be a welcoming neighbour," he said of the changes. Schreiber said
they are expecting to see major traffic increases during the World Police and Fire Games in Vancouver in July and the 2010
Winter Olympics in February.
Schreiber had additional advice:
"If you can, plan your trips to arrive early and stay late," he said of the non-peak
travelling times in which border waits are much less than at peak times. With the new border facility at the Peace Arch crossing,
Schreiber said, "we now have the building to keep up with the demands."
By the time the Olympics are staged, the Peace Arch crossing will have 10 lanes, up
from four lanes. A second lane will be added at the Lynden border crossing and another lane is planned for the Sumas crossing.
Schreiber warned about transporting illegal packages such as B.C. bud into the States.
"Don't bring it," he said. "There are severe penalties." The WHTI requirements were recommended by the 9/11 Commission.
The new stipulations are also designed to help eliminate the challenge faced by border
officers in trying to determine the authenticity of dozens of documents now being used as identification.
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Darrell Bellaart, Nanaimo Daily News, Wednesday
April 22, 2009
After hearing the federal government's explanation, coastal community representatives
are not convinced there is a need for new limits on carrying capacity for B.C. Ferry vessels.
Ferry Advisory Committee chairmen for Gabriola, southern Gulf and Saltspring islands
and the Sunshine Coast discussed new capacity limits with Transportation Canada officials last week.
The new limits took effect Jan. 1 on minor routes and FAC chairmen worry about even
higher fares on routes that have already risen faster than the main routes serving Vancouver Island and the Mainland. They
had questions about the need for the new rules, their sudden implementation and whether they are being applied evenly.
The changes resulted from a new interpretation
of legislation that had been on the books for years. They were originally scheduled to take effect in July 2008, but were
delayed while B.C. Ferries negotiated the changes. The regulations were suddenly put in place early in the new year after
negotiations ended.
The new regulations affect some vessels more than others. On the Gabriola run, it sets a maximum of 293 passengers, 100
fewer than before the regulations were changed. So far, the effects of the changes have been minimal, but Lemieux said schools
have been asked to schedule their field trips carefully to avoid conflicts with peak travel times.
FAC chairmen worry about rising costs after B.C. Ferries said it could hike fares
as much as 7%, on top of annual cost-of-living increases of 2.2% planned for April of each year until 2011.
B.C. Ferries spokeswoman Deborah Marshall said the corporation has cut passenger capacity
on most smaller and medium-sized vessels and increased crew sizes on only a few ships to avoid raising costs.
"This hasn't caused any passenger overloads 90% of the time," she said.
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A survey is being conducted with hopes of targeting potential riders of a proposed high-speed ferry service between Victoria
and Vancouver that would cost $150 million to start running.
Results from the survey are key to securing required funding for the 90-minute service on 500-passenger ferries, said Don
Stein, founder and CEO of Nautisol marine and aeronautical solutions.
"I have three major foreign groups ready to give me the $150 million," Stein said yesterday. He would not provide details.
"This is just a sweet project for this region."
The survey was posted on his website last week and has garnered 400 responses, he said. It will run until the second week
in May and Stein said the vast majority of respondents have been favourable.
It would be a tourist draw and bolster the local economy. Conference organizers in Vancouver could send hundreds of delegates
to Victoria using this service, Stein said.
If all goes according to plan, two 50-metre-long, hybrid hovercraft-catamaran ferries would be built in Vancouver and launched
late next year, he said. A third ferry, possibly serving Nanaimo or used on the main run during busy times, would be launched
six months later.
A one-way fare would be $50. A business-class ticket would be $85 and provide work stations and mini-conference areas,
Stein said. The first ferry of the day would depart at 7 a.m. Ferries would have wireless Internet service.
The vessels would offer a comfortable ride, he said, responding to a question about seasickness on catamarans. Based on
blueprints from Norway, the vessels could operate most days in our waters, Stein said. "It's the smoothest technology on the
planet."
These ferries would operate out of floating terminals in the harbours of each city, Stein said. The Victoria terminal would
be in the Inner Harbour "front row centre" but he would not give the location or say whether he has a signed lease.
The issue of marinas is a sensitive one in Victoria, where controversy is flaring over the merits of a proposal for a marina
for mega yachts in front of the Songhees neighbourhood.
Plans call for ferries to run six times daily, each way, Stein said, predicting that they would carry about one million
passengers a year. Today's changing economy has prompted people to look at existing costs to travel between the cities and
at how much their time is worth, Stein said.
Car ferries aren't needed on ferry runs anymore, Stein said. People can use public transport. "This is what they do in
Europe." Stein dealt with the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority more than two years ago, promoting the idea of harbour-to-harbour
service.
At that time, the harbour authority entered a six-month letter of understanding with Stein to put together a detailed business
plan. Paul Servos, harbour authority CEO, said the letter of understanding expired and the authority has not heard from Stein
since May 2008.
Harbour-to-harbour service was tried in the early 1990s when Royal Sealink Express ran catamarans between the cities but
the vessels were blamed for causing seasickness and the service was eventually halted.
Web survey is at: http://www.nautisol.com/limesurvey/index.php?sid=71633&lang=en
Comment: The success of passenger-only fast ferries is
determined by the quality and availability of good public transport links at either end of the route, guaranteeing
connections if the ferry is delayed. There are few passenger-only catamaran services operating on ocean waters around
Europe; those that do have yet to overcome the problem of seasickness... so we must hope that Mr Stein has found the answer!
THREE SURPLUS BC FERRIES FOR SALE
BC Ferries News Release - 21 April 2009
VICTORIA – With the decommissioning of the Queen of Prince Rupert
from its fleet yesterday, BC Ferries announced that three surplus vessels are now currently for sale.
The Queen of Vancouver, Queen of Saanich and Queen of Prince Rupert are
all being offered for sale. The vessels range in age from 43 to 47 years old.
Last year, three new Coastal Class vessels joined the fleet. This year
the MV Island Sky, an intermediate size ship entered service in February and the Northern Expedition, a 600-passenger northern
ship will enter service next month. These new ships allow for the retirement of some of BC Ferries’ older vessels.
“These ships have served our passengers well for over four decades.
We are pleased to welcome new state-of-the-art ships with enhanced customer amenities and modern technological and safety
features to our fleet,” said David L. Hahn, BC Ferries’ President and CEO. “At the same time, we recognize
the many years of outstanding service that were provided by the Queen of Vancouver, Queen of Saanich and Queen of Prince Rupert.”
BC Ferries is seeking expressions of interest from prospective buyers.
Market demand will dictate the price. Prospective buyers should contact BC Ferries immediately at shipsforsale@bcferries.com.
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QUEEN OF PRINCE RUPERT OFFICIALLY RETIRED FROM BC FERRIES’
FLEET
BC Ferries News Release, 20 April 2009
VICTORIA – After 43 years of valuable service, the Queen of Prince
Rupert was officially retired today from BC Ferries’ fleet at a special ceremony in Prince Rupert attended by over 200
members of the public.
The arrival of the brand new Northern Expedition, which will enter service
on the Port Hardy – Prince Rupert route next month, allows for the retirement of the Queen of Prince Rupert.
This picture shows BC Ferries’ Northern Expedition, Northern Adventure
and the Queen of Prince Rupert in Prince Rupert Harbour on April 19, 2009. This is the only time that all three vessels were
in the same location together.
Looking to get the most for their stretched dollars, municipal politicians
took a first hand look at sections of the proposed E&N Trail yesterday. They face a tough task. Not only is the $20.2-million
project short $9 million in funding, work also has to be co-ordinated with major road projects planned in coming months in
View Royal, Esquimalt and Victoria.
That has Oak Bay Mayor Christopher Causton, who chairs the Capital Regional District parks committee, looking for consensus
among municipalities over what sections can and should be developed first.
Causton, who took part in a bus tour to key spots along the proposed trail, is suggesting
the project be split into two phases.
He's also suggesting that bids be sought for the work now, because the economic climate
might bring a good price for the job. "But we've got a lot of constraints and we've got a budget that is showing that we're
short several million dollars on this project," he said.
The plan ultimately would see a 17.5-kilometre biking and walking trail wind its way
through five municipalities, extending from the Johnson Street Bridge in Victoria to Goldstream Park in Langford.
The trail would run along the E & N rail line, linking downtown Victoria to destinations
such as Thetis Lake and Goldstream Park through Esquimalt and View Royal.
The trail, with an initial cost estimate of $11.3 million, was to be financed almost
entirely through federal gas tax dollars. But once detailed engineering was completed, the cost estimate almost doubled to
$20.2 million.
Causton would still like to see the trail substantially completed by 2010.
The original plan was to start the trail in Victoria and proceed down Esquimalt Road.
But now that Victoria is considering replacement or refurbishment of the Johnson Street Bridge, that plan is uncertain.
The new idea is to start the trail work where the rail line crosses Esquimalt Road
heading into Vic West.
Road improvements in other municipalities could also affect the trail.
Esquimalt is planning major work on the Colville-Admirals intersection and View Royal
has received funding for road improvements to the Island Highway near the Four Mile Pub. Both projects affect the rail trail
and while they could provide opportunities for cost savings, they also have an impact on trail construction timing.
Particularly daunting is a one-kilometre stretch in Langford in the Millstream-Atkins
area estimated to cost $4 million. That's because extensive retaining walls have to be built. To avoid that cost, it has been
suggested the trail could temporarily tie into the Galloping Goose Trail and then onto bike lanes on Wale Road and Goldstream
Avenue.
But Langford councillors Lanny Seaton and Lillian Szpak, both on yesterday's tour,
are resisting that plan. They said work on the trail should start in the West Shore and work toward downtown, and there shouldn't
be a detour.
"That's not even an option, putting it on Goldstream Avenue," said Seaton. "You're
putting people right into traffic."
CRD parks staff are to report back within a month on options, potential funding sources
and potential cost savings.
Comment : Public opinion on the proposal to spend
$20 million on the E&N Trail is deeply divided - with many critics calling for the money to be used instead to introduce
light rapid transit (LRT) services along the route. Unlike a cycle trail, a LRT system would require massive ongoing financial
support - and the evidence of likely use is, at best, sketchy.
Others have called for improvements to the E&N
train services to encourage commuters from further north (Duncan and Nanaimo) to travel by train instead of clogging the city's
roads. The present train journey takes 2 hours from Nanaimo - no faster than the Greyhound express bus - so the infrastructure
would need to be massively upgraded to make the train journey more attractive.
$1m per kilometer is a huge price to pay for a walking and cycling
trail along the E&N corridor. At that price, maybe the trail could be widened to give a traffic-free priority route
for buses and intercity coaches too?
BC FERRIES’ NEW NORTHERN VESSEL OPENS ITS DOORS TO
THE PUBLIC
BC Ferries News Release, April 16, 2009
Northern Expedition to host a series of open houses in the north
VICTORIA – BC Ferries will host a series of open houses in the northern
communities it serves to give the public an early preview of its newest ship,
the Northern Expedition. The vessel will officially commence service on the Inside
Passage route sailing between Port Hardy and Prince Rupert in mid-May.
“BC Ferries is proud to showcase the Northern Expedition and give
the public an opportunity to see the outstanding travel experience that awaits
them on the beautiful north coast,” said David L. Hahn, BC Ferries’
President and CEO. “When it starts service, this vessel will bring enhanced
service and an unparalleled travel experience to our local customers and those
visiting northern B.C. from around the world.”
The Northern Expedition will be available for public tours at the following
dates and times:
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Prince Rupert Terminal, 2000 Park Avenue Saturday, May 2 1:00 pm –
4:00 pm
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Skidegate Terminal, Queen Charlotte Islands Sunday, May 3 2:00 pm –
5:00 pm
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Bear Cove Terminal, Port Hardy Sunday, May 17 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
The 150-metre Northern Expedition has 55 modern staterooms and will accommodate
600 passengers and 130 vehicles. Two passenger decks offer spacious areas, such
as the Canoe Café, Vista Restaurant and reserved seating in the Aurora Lounge.
Three large screen TV’s in the Raven’s Lounge will offer customers
plenty of entertainment during their northern B.C. voyage.
Save the date in your calendar to come tour the Northern Expedition.
Comment : BC Ferries needs to market
this service very strongly to ensure a return on its investment. At a time when all-inclusive 7-day Inside Passage cruises
from Vancouver can be had for little more than $500 per person, charging $300 for a round trip on the Northern Expedition
(and another $210 for the cabin) just doesn't seem to add up. And that's without the cost of meals and hotel accommodation!
Annual Public Meeting at YVR - May 14, 2009
YVR Media release - 14 April 2009
Vancouver Airport Authority's Annual Public Meeting will be held on Thursday, May 14, at
3:30 p.m. in the East Concourse, departures level of the International Terminal of the airport. All YVR stakeholders, from
airline and business partners to government representatives and the general public are invited to attend.
The meeting is an opportunity for the Airport Authority to report to the public and the airport business community on the
past year's activities, including financial results, as well as share information on new or ongoing initiatives. Guests
have the opportunity to ask questions of senior management following the presentations.
The Airport Authority's 2008 Annual and Sustainability Reports will be available online at www.yvr.ca on April 30, and a summary brochure of the Annual Report will be available in printed format
at the meeting.
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