island transport solutions

A round-up of transport news items from Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands  February / March 2011 For earlier items, visit our News Archive

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Float plane association board members split over mandatory use of life vests on flights Friday March 25, 2011 One month before the inaugural meeting of B.C.'s Floatplane Operators Association, board members have split over the critical safety issue of mandatory wearing of life-vests during flights.   read more Officials announce expanded bus service for Salt Spring Island Friday March 25, 2011 Elected officials, BC Transit executives and local transportation staff and committee members were at ArtSpring Tuesday to announce increased funding and expanded service for Salt Spring’s transit system.   read more VIA plan on track to run trains south in the morning Thursday March 24, 2011 Plans to have Via Dayliner passenger trains travel south from Nanaimo to Victoria early each morning for the first time by the beginning of 2012 are still on track, says Graham Bruce, executive director of the Island Corridor Foundation.   read more PDBA seeks city funding for shuttle Thursday March 24, 2011 The free shuttle bus launched by the Parksville Downtown Business Association last summer will likely return this year but it may not be entirely free for City taxpayers.  read more Quadra Queen II resumes service Thursday March 24, 2011 Following an 11-month, $15 million refit and upgrade, the new-look Quadra Queen II resumed service on the Port McNeill, Sointula, Alert Bay route this morning.  read more Deadly floatplane crash linked to 'aerodynamic stall' Wednesday March 23, 2011 A 25-page Transportation Safety Board report released last week confirms that an “aerodynamic stall” shortly after take-off from Saturna Island’s Lyall Harbour led to the fatal crash of a Seair de Havilland Beaver on Nov. 29, 2009.  read more Safety First : Nanaimo floatplane operators have already implemented some recommended changes  Tuesday March 22, 2011 Nanaimo floatplane operators are already ahead of safety recommendations issued Thursday by the federal Transportation Safety Board.   read more Once more around the block : further study recommended for Gabriola bus route  Monday March 21, 2011 The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) Transit Select Committee (TSC) has recommended that the RDN board receive and review a report in which staff recommended the exploration of the full financial implications of a bus route on Gabriola.   read more Seniors' free ferry trips 'perfectly backwards' Monday March 21, 2011 The least travelled time on the Gabriola ferry is Saturday and Sunday, and yet seniors are charged to travel those days while they can travel for free Monday to Thursday – which are the peak days for ferry commuter traffic.   read more Wearing PFDs on floatplane flights could cause more harm than good, says CEO  Thursday March 17, 2011 Floatplanes should be equipped with doors and windows that come off easily after a crash and all passengers should wear lifejackets, says the Transportation Safety Board after reviewing a 2009 crash at Saturna Island that killed six people, including a baby.    read more Gray Line cuts workers and shuts garage Tuesday March 15, 2011 Gray Line West, saying it faces another poor tourism year, has handed out pink slips to 48 employees. It has also been told that it must vacate its yard at 4196 Glanford Ave.   read more Fewer student riders during VIU strike could be trouble for transit riders Saturday March 12, 2011 A protracted strike at Vancouver Island University may force the Nanaimo Regional Transit system to reduce the number of buses it runs to the post-secondary institution.    read more Petition calls for BC Ferries to be public Friday March 11, 2011 A petition to return B.C. Ferries to provincial government control is being organized by a Gabriola Island mother and business owner. Doris Gallas, a house cleaner, is collecting signatures using an online petition website.    read more Consumer Assiciation joins fight to get back $1.2 million in pre-paid fares taken by BC Ferries Wednesday March 9, 2011 The Consumers' Association of Canada is consulting a class action lawyer and calling on the B.C. government to curb B.C. Ferries' confiscation of $1.2 million in prepaid ferry trips.  read more BC Ferries to increase fares on April 1 Tuesday March 8, 2011 BC Ferries will increase passenger and vehicle fares on all routes from April 1.  Prices will increase by 3.38 per cent on average on the three major routes connecting Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland and 6.71 per cent on average on the remaining routes   read more Transportation Board approves Greyhound request to reduce route to Vancouver Friday, March 4, 2011 Travellers crossing the Strait of Georgia between Nanaimo and Vancouver may not be able to count on Greyhound bus service after a recent decision by the Passenger Transportation Board approved an application to eliminate the route from its schedule.   read more Black Ball Ferry Line purchases Victoria Express business operations Thursday, March 3, 2011 Black Ball Ferry Line, which operates the MV Coho between Port Angeles and Victoria, is purchasing the business operations of the Victoria Express from Victoria Rapid Transit, the companies announced today.   read more Airport negotiates to begin direct flights to the US Tuesday  March 1, 2011 Travellers planning trips to Las Vegas, Palm Springs and even Disneyland could soon go via Bellingham from the Nanaimo Airport. Negotiations are now underway with an as-yet-unnamed carrier to provide regular scheduled service to the Washington state city.  read more Trustees set committee to study bussing options Friday February 25, 2011 Despite months of public meetings, research and discussion, the Comox Valley School District still can't decide how to solve its busing woes.  Last Tuesday, trustees agreed to create an ad hoc or temporary committee that will explore options to bus students next September.  read more McColl accepts Transport Canada Aviation Safety Award Thursday February 24, 2011 Salt Spring Air founder and co-owner St. Clair McColl received a prestigious Canada-wide award on National Aviation Day in Ottawa Wednesday. McColl was chosen winner of the Transport Canada Aviation Safety Award to honour his exceptional commitment to aviation safety in Canada. read more MV Mill Bay now for sale Thursday February 24, 2011 With the upcoming retirement of the MV Mill Bay in May 2011, BC Ferries announced today that the 55-year old ship is for sale.  read more Brentwood Bay - Mill Bay ferry to close through May for terminal upgrades Tuesday February 22, 2011 Ferry service between Brentwood Bay and Mill Bay will be temporarily suspended from Monday, May 2 to Tuesday, May 31 in order to conduct major berth modifications at both terminals and integrate the MV Klitsa into service on this route.  read more Express bus lanes could be here by fall Tuesday February 22, 2011 Transit buses could be whizzing past backed-up rush-hour traffic this fall if the Victoria Regional Transit Commission goes ahead with a plan for dedicated bus lanes. B.C. Transit staff have been directed to investigate establishing dedicated bus lanes or HOV (high occupancy vehicle) lanes by September as a way to boost ridership and fare revenue.  read more Rivals in flap over $12 fee at new floatplane terminal Friday February 18, 2011 A turf war for control of Vancouver’s new seaplane terminal has reached the wing-flapping stage. Rival bids have been sniping at each other and appealing to Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson as the opening date approaches for the Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre, a spiffy new $22-million terminal being built at the provincially owned Vancouver Convention Centre.  read more Drenched bus users still waiting for sheltered stops in Courtenay Friday February 18, 2011 As yet more winter rain lashed the Comox Valley this week, drenched people waiting for buses in Courtenay wanted to know why they were still also waiting for shelter. It's now ten months since Coun. Doug Hillian persuaded his city colleagues to set up a task force to get bus shelters put up at key stops.  read more Olympic buses blamed for Greater Victoria tax hike Friday February 18, 2011 Greater Victoria homeowners face a $28.50 increase in property tax, largely for new buses bought for the Olympics that B.C. Transit was compelled to buy, says Saanich Mayor Frank Leonard. But B.C. Transit officials argue that greater traffic congestion and a slump in ridership revenue are behind a need to increase the average homeowner's transit levy to about $122.50 annually.   read more Mayors to hear pitch for new floatplane hub Thursday February 17, 2011 Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson has invited counterparts from other waterfront cities to hear a pitch from seaplane companies for a transportation hub east of Canada Place. The meeting, scheduled for Friday, comes as float-plane operators and developers of a new $22-million terminal nearing completion at the convention centre are feuding over the costs of using the new facility.   read more Crofton, Chemainus ferry run hits snags Wednesday February 16, 2011 A potentially hazardous situation on board the MV Howe Sound Queen resulted in the cancellation of eight round-trip BC Ferry sailings between Crofton and Saltspring Island's Vesuvius Bay on Sunday.  "We had a problem with the sewage treatment plant," BC Ferries spokeswoman Deborah Marshall confirmed. "It backed up."   read more It's full steam ahead for trail beside the rails Tuesday February 15, 2011 All aboard! The first section of a new paved trail for walkers and cyclists alongside the rail tracks through Courtenay will definitely be built this summer.    read more FACC to suggest service revisions from the keel up Wednesday February 9, 2011 With so many unanswered questions about the future of BC Ferries’ routes, fares and ridership levels, it’s no wonder members of the Salt Spring Island Ferry Advisory Committee can envision scrapping everything and starting from scratch.  read more Ferry Commission issues ruling on BC Ferries' drop trailer service Monday  February 7, 2011 The BC Ferry Commissioner today released his decision under section 45.1 of the Coastal Ferry Act, which became law in 2010 and addresses situations of unfair competitive advantage for a regulated ferry operator.  Following an extensive review,  the commissioner determined that BC Ferries’ drop trailer service on its major routes has an unfair competitive advantage.  read more Steep BC ferry fare hikes not set in stone, Minister says Friday February 4, 2011 Transportation Minister Shirley Bond said it’s too early to say whether the government will intervene following speculation from BC Ferries CEO David Hahn that fares could go up as high as 20 per cent on major ferry routes over the next four years.  read more Rail on the Johnson Street bridge given brief reprieve Friday February 4, 2011 Rail on the Johnson Street bridge has been given a brief reprieve. Victoria councillors decided Friday morning to give Capital Regional District directors one last chance to contribute to the rail crossing before eliminating it as an option.  read more Nanaimoites looking for alternative ways to get around the city Tuesday February 1, 2011 In November, local and regional organizations met to discuss getting out of cars and into sustainable transportation options in Nanaimo.  The special forum raised the profile of car alternatives and promoted dialogue between groups seeking a balance between convenience, costs and sustainability.  read more 'Know before you go' with enhanced DriveBC website Tuesday February 1, 2011 DriveBC is the Province of British Columbia’s most popular website, and it’s been overhauled and improved to make it more user-friendly, Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Shirley Bond announced today.   read more

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