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Post by Nucksrule on Mar 19, 2010 17:53:33 GMT -8
How about a route between Tsawassen and Powell River? And I would also love to see a downtown Vancouver port someday, I really don't mind where it goes.
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Post by DENelson83 on Mar 21, 2010 21:42:46 GMT -8
I don't think people driving through Downtown Vancouver will appreciate having to negotiate their way through ferry traffic to and from a Downtown terminal.
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Post by hullnumbers on Apr 2, 2010 16:30:30 GMT -8
Don't know if anyones said this but a dream route from Port Hardy to Skidegate is an idea of mine. Then we would have a route between prince rupert, and the Q. Charlotte Is to choose from the north part of vancouver island.
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Post by Curtis on Oct 26, 2010 23:24:26 GMT -8
Word has been swirling around Powell River that Westview Terminal is due for upgrades soon. When this does happen, Saltery Bay will turn into a three route operation running Routes 7, 17, and 18. What is interesting though, is that when this happens, the word is that the Burnaby won't run to Little River. Instead, she will run toward the south end of Texada, turn to open water from there and dock at of all places, Buckley Bay.
Now this is enough to cause discussion all on its own but the thing that gets me is that it is almost more worth it for BCFS to run the Burnaby from Saltery Bay to Departure Bay. She could easily utilize Berth 1 at Departure Bay if there is no vessel occupying the berth already. The only side effects might be that Route 17 commercial traffic would be diverted, issues would be present at Departure Bay during high congestion periods, and of course, the biggest factor stopping it, Crewing. Though you must admit, it would be nice to have this happen.
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Oct 27, 2010 8:07:59 GMT -8
Word has been swirling around Powell River that Westview Terminal is due for upgrades soon. When this does happen, Saltery Bay will turn into a three route operation running Routes 7, 17, and 18. What is interesting though, is that when this happens, the word is that the Burnaby won't run to Little River. Instead, she will run toward the south end of Texada, turn to open water from there and dock at of all places, Buckley Bay. Now this is enough to cause discussion all on its own but the thing that gets me is that it is almost more worth it for BCFS to run the Burnaby from Saltery Bay to Departure Bay. She could easily utilize Berth 1 at Departure Bay if there is no vessel occupying the berth already. The only side effects might be that Route 17 commercial traffic would be diverted, issues would be present at Departure Bay during high congestion periods, and of course, the biggest factor stopping it, Crewing. Though you must admit, it would be nice to have this happen. Whoever started this silly rumour has clearly never been to Buckley Bay. It barely has room for the Denman/Hornby traffic at times. Dream route, indeed.
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Koastal Karl
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Post by Koastal Karl on Oct 27, 2010 9:04:27 GMT -8
Why would the Burnaby go to Buckely Bay?? I agree Westview needs upgrading! I was there yesterday and it looks like it could use an upgrade!
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Post by Curtis on Oct 27, 2010 15:23:00 GMT -8
You also have to note that Little River might be due for an upgrade in the near future too. So in a way, Buckley Bay may be the only option for continuing service considering it is close to Comox for crew. Take this with a grain of salt, but don't take my word for it, for all we know this could be complete rubbish. It does bring to light how they would continue Route 17 service during berth upgrades though.
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Nick
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Post by Nick on Oct 27, 2010 15:26:29 GMT -8
You also have to note that Little River might be due for an upgrade in the near future too. So in a way, Buckley Bay may be the only option for continuing service considering it is close to Comox for crew. Take this with a grain of salt, but don't take my word for it, for all we know this could be complete rubbish. It does bring to light how they would continue Route 17 service during berth upgrades though. The berth at Buckley Bay would never be able to take the Burnaby without modifications. It's floating, which means the anchors are sized for a Q barge, not B class. I can think of a whole bunch of other issues with this scenario, but that's the thing that sticks out right now.
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CFG
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Post by CFG on Oct 27, 2010 16:29:00 GMT -8
Well said Nick. Not to mention that the southern route described above would be about 55-60 miles. Around the north end of Texada to Buckley Bay would be about 35-40 miles both compared to the normal route about 18-20 miles makes this scenario not likely... Also an interesting note, Departure Bay to Saltery Bay is about 45 miles... On the Burnaby that would make for about a 3 hour sailing...
Also the Texada route would go from about 5 miles to about 25 miles. At 10kn thats 2.5 hours on the NIP
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Post by lmtengs on Oct 27, 2010 20:26:13 GMT -8
Is the berth at Texada able to fit the QoBurnaby? In some weird emergency circumstance could the QoB berth there and load or offload traffic?
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Post by WettCoast on Oct 27, 2010 20:46:35 GMT -8
I understand that the Queen of Sidney once made scheduled triangle runs between Westview, Blubber Bay & Little River. If they could accommodate the Sidney then there is a good chance they could also handle the remaining B class.
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Kam
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Post by Kam on Oct 27, 2010 21:42:57 GMT -8
I understand that the Queen of Sidney once made scheduled triangle runs between Westview, Blubber Bay & Little River. If they could accommodate the Sidney then there is a good chance they could also handle the remaining B class. Its true, I was on one many moons ago
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Koastal Karl
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Post by Koastal Karl on Oct 27, 2010 21:46:38 GMT -8
Why would the NIP go from Texada to Buckley Bay??? That makes no sense! Wouldent she go from Texada to Saltery Bay??? She dosent go from Texada to Comox so why would she go to Vancouver Island.
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CFG
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Post by CFG on Oct 27, 2010 22:28:39 GMT -8
Why would the NIP go from Texada to Buckley Bay??? That makes no sense! Wouldent she go from Texada to Saltery Bay??? She dosent go from Texada to Comox so why would she go to Vancouver Island. Apparently I should have been more clear... The 25 miles I stated above is from Blubber Bay on Texada to Saltery Bay... Not to Vancouver Island..
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D'Elete BC in NJ
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Post by D'Elete BC in NJ on Oct 28, 2010 3:24:26 GMT -8
I understand that the Queen of Sidney once made scheduled triangle runs between Westview, Blubber Bay & Little River. If they could accommodate the Sidney then there is a good chance they could also handle the remaining B class. Its true, I was on one many moons ago Me, too. It was a great addition on the Circlepak...I will have to confirm with my dad whether the Burnaby has done this too as a relief measure during upgrades. Somewhere in the back of my head niggles a thought that she has. Why would the NIP go from Texada to Buckley Bay??? That makes no sense! Wouldent she go from Texada to Saltery Bay??? She dosent go from Texada to Comox so why would she go to Vancouver Island. Apparently I should have been more clear... The 25 miles I stated above is from Blubber Bay on Texada to Saltery Bay... Not to Vancouver Island.. Again, if memory serves me correctly, this scenario of servicing Texada from Saltery Bay has occurred in the past...I will confirm with my dad.
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D'Elete BC in NJ
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Post by D'Elete BC in NJ on Oct 28, 2010 9:18:50 GMT -8
Its true, I was on one many moons ago Me, too. It was a great addition on the Circlepak...I will have to confirm with my dad whether the Burnaby has done this too as a relief measure during upgrades. Somewhere in the back of my head niggles a thought that she has. Apparently I should have been more clear... The 25 miles I stated above is from Blubber Bay on Texada to Saltery Bay... Not to Vancouver Island.. Again, if memory serves me correctly, this scenario of servicing Texada from Saltery Bay has occurred in the past...I will confirm with my dad. Okay, I have the answers: As far as my dad can recall only the Sidney ever stopped in Blubber Bay, and it could be a bit of an issue manuevering the ship as the slip lacks a turning dolphin for the larger vessels. I found out, too, that the triangle route was discontinued due to the distinct displeasure expressed by the Powell Riverites when stopping at Texada...anecdotal evidence of significant booing was supplied! ;D In 1990, the Westview terminal was being rebuilt and the NIP (or substitute) was tasked to a route between Blubber Bay and Saltery Bay. The trip took approximately 2 hours each way.
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Post by metrotownqueen on Nov 29, 2010 21:06:18 GMT -8
I have always thought that direct Powell River - Vancouver service would work. One ferry ride instead of two would be great. Westview to Horseshoe Bay with possibly a pick-up only stop at Langdale.
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Post by lmtengs on Jan 18, 2011 20:34:08 GMT -8
There are quite a few places on BC's coast that don't currently have vehicle-ferry service, but might need it in the near future. So, here's another mass question for everybody to take their turn answering. Note that this is quite different from the 'dream ferry routes' thread, in the way that here, we are speculating into places that may need service, while in the other thread we are dreaming up our own rubbish So, the big question: Within the next 60 years, where on the Coast do you think BC Ferries might open a new car-ferry route?
Some potential locations that do not yet have car-ferry service. Note that there are MANY others, too. Howe Sound area:-Gambier Island 1-Keats Island 1-Anvil Island -Woolridge Island -Bowyer Island -Woodfibre 2Georgia Strait and Southern Waters:-Hernando Island -Savary Island 1-Harwood Island -Lasqueti Island 1-North/South Thormanby Island -Mudge Island -Decourcy Island -Ruxton Island -Valdes Island -Prevost Island -Portland Island -Moresby Island -Piers Island -Coal Island -James Island -Sidney Island 1-D'Arcy Island -Chatham Island -Discovery Island Barkley Sound Area:-Bamfield 1, 3-Kildonan 1, 3-Tzartus Island -Sarita Bay 3West Coast of the Island:-Vargus Island -Flores Island -Hesquiat/Boat Basin area -Yuquot 1-Tahsis 1, 3-Zeballos 1, 3-Port Eliza -Kyuquot 1-Winter Harbour 1-Holberg 3North Island/Discovery Islands:-Hope Island -Nigei Island -Balaklava Island -Hanson Island -Tornour Island -Harbledown Island -Cracroft Island -Hardwicke Island -West Thurlow Island -East Thurlow Island -Sonora Island -Stuart Island -Maurelle Island -Raza Island -Read Island -West Redonda Island -East Redonda Island -Marina Island -Twin Islands 1: This location already has scheduled passenger-only service. 2: This location has had vehicle service in the past. 3: This location has road access, although the road may not be very driveable.
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Post by DENelson83 on Jan 18, 2011 22:24:48 GMT -8
I doubt very many of those locations will get car ferry service, for two reasons: A, cost; and B, NIMBYs.
Oh, BTW, you forgot Protection Island, off Nanaimo (Do they have cars there?).
I would, however, like to see Cortes Island connected to Lund via car ferry service one day.
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Post by glasseye on Jan 18, 2011 23:05:12 GMT -8
Howe Sound area:-Gambier Island 1-Keats Island 1-Anvil Island -Woolridge Island -Bowyer Island -Woodfibre 2 I could see Gambier or Keats being possible in the next sixty years. They both already have roads and room to develop. Anvil and Boywer aren't topographically suited to development to an extent that would allow population growth to the point of supporting a ferry service. Indeed, it'd be a hard project to even build roads on either of them, much less enough houses to make them viable ferry destinations. Woolridge is, according to Wikipedia, privately owned. Access should remain the owner's problem as long as that is the case. There are rumors that the folks interested in developing Woodfibre may build a road to Woodfibre from Squamish. If this happens, there will be no need for a ferry. (And, to pick a nit, there is already road access to Woodfibre--it just happens to be a logging road that reaches Port Mellon. Eventually. Another possible route not mentioned would be Bowen (west side) to Gibsons/Langdale. Both regions are growing pretty quickly and having easier access to each others' services would be a boon to both communities. Bowen would probably demand that BCF strongly deter people from using Bowen as a through-route between the Sunshine Coast and HSB, however. A dark horse possibility would be Langdale/Gibsons to Nanaimo. I would also not rule out the possibility of GVRD-centric routes in the next 60 years, either. The two bridges between the North Shore and Vancouver proper aren't getting any newer and the region is too dysfunctional to replace or upgrade them to keep up with traffic demands. If the province gets its way and develops the Highway 99 corridor into a north arm of Vancouver commuter country, all the new residents of the Howe Sound region will need some other way to get to the rest of the lower mainland. I wouldn't be surprised to see a route like HSB to UBC or Vancouver Airport seriously proposed at some point as a means to bypass Howe Sound traffic around downtown. A car ferry between Deep Cove and Belcarra might not be too far out of the question, although this would more likely be a Translink thing than a BCF thing. What would be the point given that all these places have road access? Serving any of these routes in the winter would involve sailing through open water in conditions far worse than what BCF will let the NorAd sail into. A ship small enough to serve these areas would fair worse in bad weather. The engineering challenges associated with designing a RORO ferry both small enough to serve those routes and capable of handling winter conditions off the west coast of the island in a manner safe for passengers lacking marine experience would be decidedly non-trivial. A west coast milk run from Tofino to Kyuquot via Vargas, Flores and Hesquiat might be technically viable in the summer, but the economics are another story. I couldn't see any of these routes being economically realistic even in the summer months, either. The communities are too small to justify service given the size of the subsidies that would be needed to support a ferry.
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Koastal Karl
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Post by Koastal Karl on Jan 18, 2011 23:17:36 GMT -8
Why would you have vehicle service to these places anyways??? Vargas Island for example there is nothing there! We used to fly in and land on the beach west side of the island when the tide was low. The other side of the island is a resort I think but that is all that's there. I dont think most of these places would need car ferries, lol!
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Post by DENelson83 on Jan 19, 2011 10:43:58 GMT -8
There are rumors that the folks interested in developing Woodfibre may build a road to Woodfibre from Squamish. If this happens, there will be no need for a ferry. (And, to pick a nit, there is already road access to Woodfibre--it just happens to be a logging road that reaches Port Mellon. Eventually. Heck, why not just go all the way and build a road from Woodfibre to Squamish, upgrade the logging road from Port Mellon to Woodfibre, and call it Highway 101? How 'bout that?
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bargain
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Post by bargain on Jan 19, 2011 12:00:27 GMT -8
Heck, why not just go all the way and build a road from Woodfibre to Squamish, upgrade the logging road from Port Mellon to Woodfibre, and call it Highway 101? How 'bout that? I've been watching for legitimate information on the so called "road/trail" between Port Mellon and Woodfibre for years...Have yet to see any concrete maps of the route. My general feeling has been it may have existed as a derelict logging road some 10, 20 or 30 years ago but has since deteriorated past a usable point for even the most aggressive 4x4. If someone did complete that trip I'd love to see the route information and photos. Google Maps of course does show some sort of route between the two - but we all know what that can be worth
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2011 15:20:05 GMT -8
There is No road from Woodfibre to anywhere but Woodfibre. There is a road up both valleys .... access to the water supply and dam as well as some logging areas. There is a gas pipeline right of way connecting the Sunshine Coast and Squamish, but it is not drivable. At one time, Mill management explored the feasibility of putting a road to Squamish but it was cost prohibitive and would require a bridge across the Squamish River some distance up the valley. Personally, I'd love to see another ferry running to Woodfibre! Ha Ha. In the early eighties, I was told that Highways was looking at a route from Bliss Landing ( North of Lund ) to Cortes Island. The Garibaldi II was considered for that . Generally, at that time the Islanders didn't want an increase in traffic. Lasqueti has roads but they also did not want vehicle ferry traffic. Most of the unserviced islands on the coast can be accessed by ramp barges, and many of them are, if there is a need for vehicle access. In the next sixty years, I can't see BCF opening up any more routes under their current operating parameters.
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Post by glasseye on Jan 19, 2011 17:16:53 GMT -8
Google Maps of course does show some sort of route between the two - but we all know what that can be worth I've traced the route out on Google's satellite imagery. There's a cleared route--cleared in the sense that it's not overgrown with trees--but the route doesn't always follow the 'road' shown on Google maps. The basic route is from Port Mellon, Rainy Road FSR, unnamed FSR to McNab Creek FSR, unnamed FSR from the end of McNab Creek to Woodfibre FSR via just south of Henriette Lake, and then down Woodfibre FSR. I have no idea if this route is actually passable, however. The link between Rainy Road FSR and McNab Creek FSR does not officially exist on iMapBC even though at least one person has supposedly used it. No one seems to have tried the McNab Creek FSR to Woodfibre FSR connection; it may well be completely impassible or non existent. @excapg2: Where does the road from Woodfibre to near Henriette Lake end?
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