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Post by cascade on Dec 21, 2005 11:05:00 GMT -8
Is it on or off?
Lot's of money has been spend on a number of reports /studies - feasibility - well call it what you like someone somewhere got rich...
Is there a need for a FastFerry from Squamish to downtown Vancouver?
OK - let's drop the talk of a rail link or even highway improvements - again lot's of reports on these subject - more money from somewhere to someone???
Why wouldn't a ferry route work from this location ?
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Post by NMcKay on Dec 21, 2005 11:16:45 GMT -8
apparently its been axed. because of the money being spent on the Sea to Sky.
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Post by Ferryman on Dec 21, 2005 11:18:44 GMT -8
As far as I know, it's off. But I think it would work, because there are alot of people who commute from here to Vancouver everyday. Seeming it would be a fast ferry, it could get people to Vancouver in almost the same amount of time if they drove. Plus it would be a good scenic route for tourists to go on. Are there talks about trying to make it happen again, Cascade? Also, I think this is appoximately where they wanted the terminal to be, with a new dock and everything of course. This is just an old dock that was for the Nexan Chlorine Plant that is now long gone. ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/chris_iscool2001/detail?.dir=7e4a&.dnm=fab3.jpg&.src=ph |
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Post by cascade on Dec 21, 2005 11:22:20 GMT -8
Sea to Sky is the road network - correct?
Then why all this money been wasted - if that is the case- on Fast Ferry concepts / ideas. Just doesn't make sense, But I may add to that one report was commissioned by BCFS - so let's keep this in the family. The conclusion from that report in 2001 - was that the route would make money for the "operator". Maybe BCFS style money - like a lost.
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Post by Ferryman on Dec 21, 2005 11:31:28 GMT -8
Yeah, Sea to Sky is just the nickname for Highway 99 between Horseshoe Bay and Pemberton, beyond Pemberton it's just plain simple Highway 99 again.
Maybe someone is building up a proposition for the District, as I believe it was the Mayors decision to scrap the idea. It really suprises me because they're going to be spending alot of money in the area they plan to develope in time for the Olympics. They plan to make a bunch of new businesses and residential complexes, and suprisingly a few 20 story buildings. Yeah, that's not a typo...20 story buildings in Squamish are coming... I don't know, there's something wrong with the people here, always rejecting everything that can bring good to this town. Like the rejection of the Gondola up the Chief....As I said before, this Ferry could work, but only if they gave it a chance seeming there seems to be opportunities still.
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Post by Retrovision on Dec 21, 2005 14:33:03 GMT -8
I think that the province's reasoning for focusing on the land route instead of the water route probably has a few facets:
-Their financial investment in the road (including such projects as the Eagle Bluffs diversion and, atleast mentioned in earlier plans, imbedding the rail line into the road bed for certain sections).
-Not wanting to be in breach of the contract they signed with CN Rail by diverting passengers from the old BCR line. Although not a typical passenger service, a new luxury passenger service will soon be offered between N.Van and Whistler (and North?), running on the old BCR line. We can assume that during (and possibly during the busy months leading upto and after) the 2010 games the rails will also be used for no-frills mass-tranportation trains.
-Their number crunchers probably see more versatility in road based transport such as buses.
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Post by Dane on Dec 24, 2005 0:34:56 GMT -8
I had a long post about this, somewhere about 4-5 months ago but I can't remember why.
It's off.
It was NDP.
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Doug
Voyager 
Lurking within...the car deck.
Posts: 2,213
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Post by Doug on Dec 24, 2005 3:03:09 GMT -8
Squamish is growing eh. Well that sounds good, at least it can't become TOO big because of the geographical technicalities. But how often do you see a large city nestled between mountains and ocean (literally, Vancouver is close, but not quite)? Might need some good tourist attractions to encourage the tourist growth, though.
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Post by Ferryman on Dec 24, 2005 11:14:24 GMT -8
Yeah, it's growing pretty fast here. Not as fast as say Langley or Surrey, but it's growing fast still. Wal-Mart and Home Depot are coming next year...
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Post by Retrovision on Dec 24, 2005 21:25:52 GMT -8
Squamish is growing eh. Well that sounds good, at least it can't become TOO big because of the geographical technicalities. But how often do you see a large city nestled between mountains and ocean (literally, Vancouver is close, but not quite)? Might need some good tourist attractions to encourage the tourist growth, though. Yeah, it's growing pretty fast here. Not as fast as say Langley or Surrey, but it's growing fast still. Wal-Mart and Home Depot are coming next year... Yeah, but as my dad and I were chatting about, without Squamish's current/former #1 employer (Woodfibre mill), After the Olympics are gone, the only real attraction of Squamish (other than the possibility of the Royal Hudson becoming a viable tourist attraction... again) will be as a stop over on the way to Whistler and as a bedroom community to Vancouver. Sutherland (Squamish's mayor) and his council are smart to be planning those 20 story buildings now, rather than after the crowds from the Olympics have come and gone, and seen what Squamish has (or doesn't have) to offer. |
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Post by Ferryman on Dec 24, 2005 23:25:31 GMT -8
Yup, you're absolutely right Grahame. There is another chance for people people here to get jobs again, from what I read in the Newspaper after reading all of the articles about Woodfibre. Squamish means "Big Wind" in the Native Language, if you didn't know, and it's called that because of the huge winds we get up here in the summer. Also this is the best place to come to go windsurfing in the summer (apparently). What I'm trying to say here is, there has been talks to Generate Power with the wind. So that means there would probably be several large Fans planted all over the Sound I would assume. So there is still potential here for work, just not with the Forest Industry. That's what the Mayor thinks this town needs to get away from. Jordan will like this. There has also been talks about putting another Ski Resort here. I'm not exactly sure where, but I think it would be right on the extinct Volcano, Mount Garibaldi. But that's an old rumour, and it doesn't even seem like that would happen either. But anyways, I don't know why else people would want to come here, just to be surrounded by mountains I guess. Oh well, I'll be out of here in a matter of months.  |
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Post by Balfour on Dec 25, 2005 11:39:26 GMT -8
Garibaldi would make a good ski resort. It has good elevation, so snow conditions would be reliable, but there has to be terrain to install a chalet, and begginner terrain for a snow school to use. Maybe Stuart Macgloughlin. (my rich lord and master, Owner of Grouse and Kicking Horse) Could start what he did in Golden when he built Kicking Horse from the massive income Grouse makes year round.
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Post by Quinsam on Dec 25, 2005 20:54:42 GMT -8
Don't you guys think the fast ferry would be like the Mill bay ferry route with a Harbourlynx style vessel on it? Might be a good getaway from the Sea to Sky Highway, but is it worth it?
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Post by NA on Dec 26, 2005 18:01:47 GMT -8
The plan to axe the fast ferry to squamish was not the mayor's fault (even though he is a dimwit) he wanted it. He once stated on this issue to the Squamish newpaper "the Olympics are for Vancouver and Whistler and no place else". And it was not axed because they are spendeing too much on the sea to sky highway, they are doing it becuase buses are just cheaper!
And by the way tsawwassenterminal Chief Engineer, Squamish has more "real attraction"s than just the olympics!
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Post by Retrovision on Dec 26, 2005 19:01:59 GMT -8
And it was not axed because they are spendeing too much on the sea to sky highway, they are doing it becuase buses are just cheaper! ... -Their number crunchers probably see more versatility in road based transport such as buses. ----------------------------------------------------------------- And by the way tsawwassenterminal Chief Engineer, Squamish has more "real attraction"s than just the olympics! It's not that I don't think they have any good attractions, I for one really enjoy their railway park, it's that, if you base Squamish's attractiveness on its promotion of itself, Squamish is only really considered a pit stop on the way to Whistler. |
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Post by cascade on Dec 27, 2005 6:03:33 GMT -8
If there is to be a population boom before and possibility after the Olympics - then what is there to hold the people in Squamish? If they are building these new buildings are they for business or people ?
Losing a ferry service - and therefore having to look at either rail or road transport - is that the best they can do?
Why was the Ferry service killed off - apart from the financial side of the $ input that the Mill gave? What about a Fast Ferry route - why was it killed off?
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Post by Scott on Dec 27, 2005 11:07:06 GMT -8
Why was the Ferry service killed off - apart from the financial side of the $ input that the Mill gave? What about a Fast Ferry route - why was it killed off? The ferry service was killed off because it was exclusively to the mill (and some trails as well, but the mill operated the ferry). As for Squamish, I don't really see a reason for going there. There's the Squamish Chief, which is an attraction for some people, but not long term. Cheaper housing close to Whistler might attract a limited number of people, but still, that's kind of seasonal. The town has a beautiful setting, but as far as it's economy, it doesn't seem to have much going for it. |
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Post by Retrovision on Dec 27, 2005 17:26:12 GMT -8
Losing a ferry service - and therefore having to look at either rail or road transport - is that the best they can do? Why was the Ferry service killed off - apart from the financial side of the $ input that the Mill gave? What about a Fast Ferry route - why was it killed off? I think we might all be talking about different ferry services. The short-hop ferry service accross Howe Sound (from just south of Squamish) to the Woodfibre Mill is provided using the Garibaldi II, still owned by, but not on the fleet list of, BCFS. From the sounds of it, the (possibly 'fast') ferry service proposed to run from Vancouver to Squamish was an NDP idea from back in the day. I can't stress enough that even if that Van-Squmsh ferry route is financially viable, the BC "Liberals" did just sign a contract with CN for use of the old BCR line, which probably includes possible legal ramifications for diverting passenger traffic away from the rail line, let alone the fact that if the NDP planned it, the BC "Liberals" see an opportunity to make the NDP look bad (or simply an opportunity to not condone anything the NDP endorsed). |
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Post by Cas on Dec 30, 2005 8:46:23 GMT -8
I understand the input that the Mill had - regards revenue towards the operations of the service, but the two recent reports where in 2001 and 2004 - so not really NDP type - let's keep it open for the Mill concept.
But if your building new tower blocks - either for Families or business - then there must be something to "hold" people in Squamish - apart from the Skiing. And if there is to be this increase in population - then they will need a service of some sort - won't they ?
What is the cheaper method ? But added into this mix is the capital cost - and with that in mind a Fast Ferry wins..
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Post by Retrovision on Jan 1, 2006 0:58:25 GMT -8
But if your building new tower blocks - either for Families or business - then there must be something to "hold" people in Squamish It seems that we now know what Squamish hopes will 'hold' people there: Wind power! Apparently Squamish is quite optimistic about the new project where not only will wind power will be generated, but the blades for windmills will also be manufactured. According to Sutherland, Squamish's mayor, the new project would not only make up for the number of lost woodfibre mill jobs, but will surpass that number. |
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Doug
Voyager
Lurking within...the car deck.
Posts: 2,213
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Post by Doug on Jan 1, 2006 1:32:46 GMT -8
The Howe Sound receives quite a bit a wind I believe. I think it's a great idea.
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Post by cascade on Jan 3, 2006 8:01:10 GMT -8
They are playing around with wind and sea / tidal movements for power gen - I guess after the Russian pulled the plug on the gas into Europe - we need to generate power from some where.
As for job creations - well not really sure - as it is only the university types and then a few sub contractors - when they go to install what ever it is that they want to install - so jobs which will take over from a Mill.....don't think so,,,,,sorry to be negative on the job front.
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Post by cascade on Jan 3, 2006 8:15:08 GMT -8
When you think of the money been spend on these types of reports - studies, you really wonder.
For Squamish - I have found 4 reports - very detail - over the last 4 1/2 years which I would think cost around $200,000 each plus.
The Government in September 2005 granted a fee of $250,000 for a Victoria company to look at the Malahat and see what could be done - which also included the Ferry route.
Just these few reports - studies - has kept a few companies very busy - earning a shed load of money - I would think in 5 years there must of been spend around $2M on just simple reports - "jobs for the boys" I think...
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Post by Not available on Jun 2, 2006 18:00:08 GMT -8
Again Squamish has much to offer, sorry that there is more to squamish then ferries, just like peoples lifes. Squamish offer much, mountain biking the test of meatle is big. Climbing on the chief and elsewhere is exceptional. Windsurfing is getting bigger. The "boom" is the highway so many woodfibre jobs are now on the highway, and all the houseing project in Squamish. I can think of at least 15 projects being built now/almost done/planned and approved. There is lots of hiking and backcountry skiing in Squamish. Their is camping whether it be family, backcountry or backroad. What about the kyaking. There is hunting & fishing. It is the "outdoor recreation capital of Canada"! Ian Sutherland is a dimwit. The ferry going up Howe sound is quite pointless. The terminal at Nexen beach is still their. Forestry is not dead in this town in upper squamish there are two mills, there are still two major dry land log sorts, there are 10 logging and related companies in Squamish. The idians have started to get the logging back in tree farm 38 on track. Squamish Terminals can have many employees when ships are in, the school district (now after woodfibre the towns SINGLE biggest employer). Squamish is aslo has the eagle watching. Ther are many Ipps around Squamish (proposed ones to.) Brohm rigde wont happen anytime soon, it has been an ideal for ever. The problem is that the runs would not be very long. Much much better than grouse (or should I say grose). Squamish is growing and that growth is ecconomical. Recreation counts as part of the ecomomy, recreation is growing very fast. I know Squamish I lived here all my life, while some parts of our wonderful forestry industry may be gone life goes on. My dad was a tree faller in Squamish at interfor and has retiered from it (sooner then expected), both of my neighbours and uncle worked at woodfibre. My grandfather and aunt worked at interfor frick I ve gone to work their. It was a part of me that is gone (inc. the ferry).
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