TRAVELLERS that rely on B.C. Ferries are applauding a move by the province to put more money into the ferry system and make the corporation more responsive to public concerns.
But the moves may still not be enough to fend off future fare increases and service cuts.
This week, the province introduced legislation that will inject almost $80 million in extra cash into operations of the ferry corporation over five years. The quasi-private corporation has recently been navigating through rough seas of sliding ridership and increasing costs.
The extra cash is meant to buffer the need for dramatic fare increases, which have gone up almost 80 per cent on some minor routes and 47 per cent on major routes since the ferry system was privatized nine years ago.
"It's not a whole bunch of money, but anything will help," said Alison Morse, a Bowen Island representative on the corporation's ferry advisory committee.
The money is on top of about $150 million in subsidies paid by the province to the ferry corporation each year.
But Transportation Minister Blair Lekstrom warned this week further cuts may still be needed, pointing out that some routes in the ferry system operate at less than 30 per cent of capacity while others are losing millions of dollars each year.
Among the changes up for discussion are cutting some late-night and extra sailings and running passenger-only ferries on some runs.
The changes to the provincial legislation will give the ferry commission more authority to consider those options, and to balance the financial needs of the ferry corporation with the interests of taxpayers and ferry travellers.
"At this point it's a step in the right direction," said Morse. "It's very much 'Stay tuned.'"
Under the new legislation, B.C. Ferries will be allowed to use profits on major routes to help subsidize losses on less profitable routes. The ferry commission will also be responsible for approving major capital expenditures of B.C. Ferries.
The changes address several recommendations made earlier this year in a report by independent ferry commissioner Gord Macatee.
Macatee also recommended the ferry system adopt a reservation system for cars similar to airlines and consider options like replacing car ferries with passenger ferries on some runs.
A private water taxi service for passengers already operates between Bowen Island and downtown Vancouver plus Granville Island. Some other passenger-only services have operated on ferry routes but eventually folded when they ran into financial trouble.
