Waterbus to compete with Seabus

[Scott]

www.theprovince.com/Waterbus+plan+proposes+transit+routes/1582032/story.html

The above link is to a Province article about two guys wanting to start up a "Waterbus" service out of Lonsdale to various other points in the city (including Bowen Island ... haha, good luck). Interesting that the city's "waterways" are finally getting some attention. I doubt it work out unless it's run/subsidized by the government and integrated into the region's transit system. But I do agree that the city's waterways are underutilized in terms of passenger transportation.

[Dane]

I think they might actually be on to something. There are stacks of studies that say this sort of thing would be viable, but nothing has ever come of it. Sure Bowen might not be the best idea, but the rest of the destinations seem wise and feasible. Saying it competes with SeaBus is a bit of a stretch. Oddly enough I actually heard about this outside my transportation-friend circle as there has been some interest where I live (Deep Cove, N. Van) about this potential service.

[Nickfro]

Passenger ferries may link North Shore with the rest of Metro Vancouver

By Kelly Sinoski, Vancouver Sun
May 11, 2009

VANCOUVER - A proposed private passenger ferry service linking the North Shore with the rest of Metro Vancouver could be running as early as this summer.

North Vancouver city staff is studying the proposal, pitched by Simon Fawkes and Scott Jutson, which would see ferries run between the North Shore and Deep Cove, Belcarra, Coal Harbour, Granville Island, Bowen Island and Jericho Beach.

The proposal requires approval from North Vancouver city council for 24-hour use of the floating St. Roch dock at the foot of Lonsdale Avenue for passenger pickup and drop-off.

Mayor Darrell Mussatto said staff is considering safety and insurance issues but he doubts council will stand in the proponents’ way.

“It would be another way to have people, if they're students, go to UBC or go to work downtown without taking their automobile,” he said. “At one time [ferries] were the main way people got across the inlet.”

Dubbed the Waterbus, the proposed ferry service is expected to significantly reduce travel times on all routes with an estimated passenger volume in excess of 200,000 passengers in the first year and 600,000 passengers in year four.

In a presentation to city council last week, Fawkes and Jutson cited a 2004 TransLink study that suggests there’s a demand for ferry service to meet growing passenger volumes.

It also lists other cities which have several water transport systems, such as Sydney, Brisbane, Seattle, New York, San Francisco, Auckland and Dubai.

“Vancouver is blessed with extensive navigable waterways and a growing population that is rapidly overwhelming existing infrastructure,” the report said.

It added the service would need only a minimal investment for the ferries.

Link to article HERE.

[Northern Exploration]

I know some people drive because the transit just adds too much time. So if someone could cut across the Inlet in various routes by boat and tie in with transit in key places, I think some traffic could be relieved on the bridges. I know refering to NYC is a bit of a red herring as the flood of people coming into that city is massive everyday. But you can cross the west side of Manhattan in numerous places on numerous routes by a couple of companies.

[fargowolf]

This sounds interesting in principal. However, I do have questions about using 12 (Possible typo?) boats. That's fine for the overnight period after regular service has shut down for the day, but I can see obvious problems during the day, capacity wise IF the boats do indeed only carry 12 passengers.

[ferryrider]

This is quite something. Last year all Bowen Island had was BC Ferries.

Fast forward to this summer. There is GIWT and CLF running and now this new service proposed. So soon they will have three services for that small island.

I don't know how things are now but last we heard GIWT averaged 3 passengers a trip, CLF averaged 12. Both existing operators look to be in the red every month. So now a new person wants to spend their money.

It is a free enterprise world so everyone has the right to do what they want, but it just seems crazy to me what is going on with Bowen Island.

Do these folks see something that is not so clear to the rest of us?

[Neil]

When I read that these folks were thinking of serving Bowen Island, I had an eye-rolling 'here we go again' moment. I had to wonder if they'd just got out a map and went, "Gee, wouldn't it be neat if there was a ferry from here to here..", and I wondered if they were even aware of the two companies currently serving Bowen's passenger only market.

You know those newspaper stories about promising cancer cures that are based on the results of tests on half a dozen mice? I'm afraid that's about the excitement level I get from most of these ferry entrepreneur tales. I'm still waiting for the results from the 'market research' done by the group looking for investors for their warp drive vessel they were planning for the cross-strait market.