BC Ferries has released a “what we heard” report summarizing the company’s Salt Spring Island engagement for the Crofton and Vesuvius terminal upgrade projects — a 90-minute event with a dozen participants.
And despite assertions the Dec. 2 session at Harbour House was an opportunity for the ferry company to inform the public of its plans, that handful of islanders clearly came with the idea they would be heard as well.
From 12 participants, according to BC Ferries, “key themes” included homeporting concerns — plans to keep both of what will soon be two vessels overnight on the Crofton side, a change that has met with strong opposition from the community — as well as worries the ferry company was insufficiently prioritizing local traffic over tourism.
BC Ferries said there were questions “outside of the project scope” of the engagement session, and so provided “consolidated” responses Thursday, Jan. 16, which were emailed to the 64 people currently subscribed to the project’s occasional newsletter.
Ridership data show the ferry company carried 309,708 passengers and 180,912 vehicles on the Crofton-Vesuvius route last year.
On the issue of prioritization, the ferry company said its system is not designed to screen passengers based on where they live or their reason for travel, and that as a publicly funded part of B.C.’s transportation system it strives to serve “broad public interest” and meet the needs of all travellers.
“Prioritizing residents or certain types of travel could improve service for some users, but it would reduce access for others,” according to the engagement summary report response. “Tourism operators and business owners have raised concerns that limiting visitor access could negatively affect local economies and people travelling to see family and friends.”
BC Ferries has neither enumerated that feedback, nor said from what businesses — or from what part of its service area — those concerns were raised.
Along with its responses, BC Ferries included several paragraphs explaining the intended nature of the engagement session, which it said was framed around the IAP2 Spectrum of Public Participation’s “inform” level; IAP2 is a professional organization that accredits and trains engagement facilitators. The “inform” level of engagement, according to that organization, has the least impact on a decision being made within the spectrum.
The ferry company said it expects construction to begin mid-2026 and be completed by early 2027.
For updates visit bcferriesprojects.ca.